The story of a legendary New York nite spot – served up in a really wonderful way! The Pyramid was a gritty bar in the East Village in the 80s – a small spot, but one that served as a real crossroads for music, performance, and gender identity – a place that was experienced by few, but shared as a legend by many – with an influence that's recounted here by those who experienced the Pyramid during its glory days! The book is a mix of oral histories, but structured well by the authors – who were all involved in the club itself at the time – interspersed with all sorts of great visual documents, including photographs of key performances – one of which even includes a young Steve Buscemi! The club mixed theater, music, performance art, and other modes – and the book really gets at the unique spirit that fanned the flames during its important mid-80s run. The book also includes a very cool set of materials from vintage press releases, and lots more surprises too – and the softcover edition has a great sense of presentation, on many different-colored pages. Book

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A shot of tequila and a whole lot more – one of the few albums issued by the legendary Champs, a group who helped reinvent the sound of instrumental rock at the start of the 60s! The group's classic "Tequila" is a very familiar mix of raunchy sax, strutting guitar, and some slightly south of the border rhythms – and the other tunes here follow suit beautifully – offering up some of the grittiest side of late 50s/early 60s instrumental rock you could hope to find. The album's a definitely all-killer, no-filler set – and in addition to "Tequila", titles also include "Go Champ Go", "I'll Be There", "Sky High", "Lollipop", "Night Beat", "Robot Walk", "Midnighter", and "Train To Nowhere". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful wonderful wonderful work from the legendary John Coltrane – and even though it's probably one of his best-selling albums of all time, it's still a treasure – and has an essential place in just about any jazz collection! We've heard the original title version of "My Favorite Things" a million times – but it still blows our mind the way Coltrane hits this incredibly soulful modal groove, twisting and turning on soprano sax, always keeping things interesting, so that we're surprised that the cut's 13 minutes have gone by so quickly! The rest of the record's equally great – and the 3 other long cuts are "Everytime We Say Goodbye", "Summertime" and "But Not for Me". The other players include McCoy Tyner on piano, Steve Davis on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – and the whole album is as great today as when it was cut, and still one of Coltrane's most revelatory albums! LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful wonderful wonderful work from the legendary John Coltrane – and even though it's probably one of his best-selling albums of all time, it's still a treasure – and has an essential place in just about any jazz collection! We've heard the original title version of "My Favorite Things" a million times – but it still blows our mind the way Coltrane hits this incredibly soulful modal groove, twisting and turning on soprano sax, always keeping things interesting, so that we're surprised that the cut's 13 minutes have gone by so quickly! The rest of the record's equally great – and the 3 other long cuts are "Everytime We Say Goodbye", "Summertime" and "But Not for Me". The other players include McCoy Tyner on piano, Steve Davis on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – and the whole album is as great today as when it was cut, and still one of Coltrane's most revelatory albums! CD

Early funk from the Commodores – back in the days when Lionel Richie could still get up and groove! We'll be the first to admit that we're sometimes put off by the group, given their later hits, but it's records like this that actually remind us how great they could be – a mixture of funk and sweet soul, done with an incredibly well-crafted approach, and enough of a blend of the two styles to keep things interesting! The album's got a wonderfully tight quality – never slick or too smooth, but just nicely put together – commercial, but not so much so that it loses its soul. Titles include "Quick Draw", "Just To Be Close To You", "High On Sunshine", "Let's Get Started", "Can't Let You Tease Me", "Come Inside", and "Thumpin Music". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic slice of Jamaican roots – and an essential record from the godlike hands of Lee Perry! The set was produced by Perry at Black Ark – and instantly became the stuff of legend, even though the initial version of the album got very limited exposure – which has led to years of differing reissues and versions of the record! Yet the core sound is always very much in place, no matter what the setting – very spiritual lyrics from the group themselves, set to nicely stripped-down rhythms and instrumentation that are a great contrast to the wave of more polished international reggae releases that were garnering mainstream attention at the time. The lasting power of the set is proof that maybe when it comes to roots, you've got to really go to the roots to get it right – as you'll hear on classic tracks that include "La La Bam Bam", "Fisherman", "Congoman", "Children Crying", "Open Up The Gate", and "The Wrong Thing". 2CDs worth of material are gathered here, including extended mixes and hard-to-find B-sides, with a fat booklet filled with notes and photos. Includes the essential "Fisherman", "Sodom & Gomorrow", "Can't Come In", "Open the Gate" & "Congoman" (which is also served up in a 12" & Chant version), plus "Bring the Macka Back". 17 cuts in all! CD

One of the great lost groups of the UK scene of the 60s – not lost to UK audiences, or to hipsters over the generations – but still an act that never made the impact on these shores that they should! The Creation are step in step right up there with early material by The Who or Small Faces – and share a similar groundbreaking re-fusion of American roots into a new London groove – all with searing guitars, clever wordplay, and a cutting-edge spirit that may well have kept them off our charts – but which makes them so great to discover all these many years later. You might have caught a few of their songs over the years – thanks to soundtrack placement from directors like Wes Anderson, or covers by many of their bigger fans. This 2CD set features 46 tracks in all, with remastering overseen by original producer Shel Talmy – and the set includes early sides by The Mark Four, some alternate takes, and even new mixes – plus an 80 page hardcover book with scores of photos, other images, session and discographical details, and a new essay too. CD

One of the great lost groups of the UK scene of the 60s – not lost to UK audiences, or to hipsters over the generations – but still an act that never made the impact on these shores that they should! The Creation are step in step right up there with early material by The Who or Small Faces – and share a similar groundbreaking re-fusion of American roots into a new London groove – all with searing guitars, clever wordplay, and a cutting-edge spirit that may well have kept them off our charts – but which makes them so great to discover all these many years later. You might have caught a few of their songs over the years – thanks to soundtrack placement from directors like Wes Anderson, or covers by many of their bigger fans. This 2CD set features 46 tracks in all, with remastering overseen by original producer Shel Talmy – and the set includes early sides by The Mark Four, some alternate takes, and even new mixes – plus an 80 page hardcover book with scores of photos, other images, session and discographical details, and a new essay too. CD

All the great early albums from Creation Rebel – plus their excellent comeback too! The set begins with Dub From Creation – not just the debut album from Creation Rebel, but also a set that marks the first studio work from the young Adrian Sherwood – part of the long On-U Sound legacy to come, and a wealth of other wonderful music! There's a spareness here that's great – maybe a bit less dark than later Sherwood projects, but no less stark – with melodica and keyboards weaving nicely amidst the dubby rhythms! Titles include "Basic Principals", "Dub Fusion", "Liberation", "Rising Star", "Vision Of Creation", and "Creation In A Iration". Next is Close Encounters Of The Third World – an early part of the On-U Sound legacy, even if the set wasn't issued on the label – a key effort by Creation Rebel that features recording work done both in London and Kingston, layered together in a beautifully dubby way! The sound here is definitely underground – full of message-oriented lyrics from Crucial Tony, who sings in a style that definitely earns him his name – with great melodica and organ flowing through the mix next to Lizard's bass – topped with added horn work from The Arabs in all the right spots! The production is superb – flat on the drums, wide on the sides, which makes for a really wonderful groove – on titles that include "Know Yourself", "Conspiring", "Creation Fever", "Natty Conscience Free", and "Joyful Noise". Rebel Vibrations features early production genius from Adrian Sherwood – and a record that sets the tone for all the On-U Sound genius to come! The set's a huge step forward from even the previous excellent Creation Rebel album – as the way the sounds are layered together is incredible – almost modes learned from post-punk production, but used to deliver a pure, righteous dub album – one that drops out all the vocals, and allows you to concentrate even more on the totally wicked instrumentation! The set features stunning drums from Style Scott, heady bass from Lizard, and all sorts of very cool keyboard work from Clifton Morrison – used in these ways that float about like a swarm of sounds, especially when mixed with the melodica of Doctor Pablo. The whole thing's amazing – and titles include "Diverse Doctor", "Hunger & Strife", "Jungle Affair", "Rebel Vibration", "Black Lion Dub", and "Mountain Melody". Starship Africa is a brilliant Creation Rebel effort for On-U Sound from the dawn of the 80s – landing in the futuristic dub spacecraft that is their Starship Africa – percussion heavy and spaced out ingenuity from Adrian Sherwood & co! Tripped, echoey atmospherics that's cast as a soundtrack to movie that doesn't exist, the music is forward thinking, boundary busting dubby grooves exists out of time and sounds great to this day. Includes "Starship Africa" (Sections 1-5) and "Space Movement" (Sections 1-4). On Psychotic Jonkanoo, Crucial Tony is back in the mix for this righteous early 80s album from Creation Rebel – a set that has Adrian Sherwood only furthering his production genius as he layers together stunning instrumental work from the group! The presence of the vocals has the instrumentation slightly back in the mix – but there's still a great run of rhythms throughout, all driven by the mighty heady basslines of Lizard Logan! There's less keyboards than before, but still some nice electronic bits all over the place – and titles include "The Dope", "African Space", "Threat To Creation", "Highest Degree", "Mother Don't Cry", and "Drum Talk". From 2023, Hostile Environment is the first album in many years from this legendary studio project from On-U Sound and Adrian Sherwood – and one that makes us feel as if the passage of decades hasn't happened at all! Sherwood's production is still wonderful – and, if anything, maybe less showy, or more soulful, or less moody – just something that seems to let the work of the group come through with energy that's wonderfully warm and organic, while still resonating with plenty of touches that will make longtime label fans proud! Vocals are shared between Charlie Eskimo Fox and Mr Magoo, and the set also features guest appearances from Prince Far I and Daddy Freddy – on titles that include "That's More Like It" "Jubilee Clock", "Swiftly", "Stonebridge Warrior", "Crown Hill Road", "The People's Sound", and "Whatever It Takes". CD

Crucial Tony is back in the mix for this righteous early 80s album from Creation Rebel – a set that has Adrian Sherwood only furthering his production genius as he layers together stunning instrumental work from the group! The presence of the vocals has the instrumentation slightly back in the mix – but there's still a great run of rhythms throughout, all driven by the mighty heady basslines of Lizard Logan! There's less keyboards than before, but still some nice electronic bits all over the place – and titles include "The Dope", "African Space", "Threat To Creation", "Highest Degree", "Mother Don't Cry", and "Drum Talk". LP, Vinyl record album

The Cure get taken into dancefloor territory – but that's OK, given that most of these tracks are from the years when the group was already moving into clubbier sounds after the raw style of their post-punk beginnings! Yet Robert Smith continues to find the right way to bring melancholy to a groove – as you'll hear on the album's remixes of "In Between Days", "The Caterpillar", "Why Can't I Be You", "Pictures Of You", "Hot Hot Hot", "Never Enough", "A Forest", "Lovesong", "The Walk", "Close To Me", "Lullaby", and "Fascination Street". Cassette

A very hip batch of 60s soul jazz numbers – played with a hard, full swing by the combo of LA bassist Clarence Daniels – and featuring vocals on a few of the best tracks! Daniels' group has a sound that's full, but never too much so – a great mix of rootsier soul jazz modes and more sophisticated arrangements – with a depth that almost reminds us of Oliver Nelson at times – but also with a sound that draws on the earlier jump blues sound of the postwar LA scene, reforged a bit for the 60s! This fantastic collection mixes Clarence's one full album with some rare singles and a number of unissued tracks too – and about half the set is instrumental, with saxes from Curtis Peagler – and singers on the other tracks include Obie Jessie, Sandy Miller, and Clarence Daniels himself. Titles include "Hard Working Girl", "Daddy's Got A Shotgun", "I Got To Get Ready", "Instrumental #3", "You Dig It", "Hello California", "Do The Deal", "I'll Drive My Blues Away", "Street Girl", "What Can A Poor Boy Do", "Baby I'm Gone", "I'll Never Let You Go", and "Pastel". CD

Beautiful black and white photographs of contemporary Cuba – most shot at a level that really gets at the timeless quality of life in the nation after the US and west have left it behind! The images are from both urban and rural locations, and do a great job of getting past some of the overdone shots we always see from Havana – in part because the black and white is a nice change from the oversaturated color that's usually used to portray Cuba, and also because the mix of non-Havana locations really opens the book up with a good sense of variety. The handsome art book is hardcover, with dozens of fantastic photographs, and a small bit of text. Book

Betty Davis was one of the nastiest ladies in 70s soul – and this is one of her greatest albums – a killer batch of funky tracks all the way through! Betty has a sound like nobody else – and she takes heavy drums, throbbing bass, and ripping guitars – all as a hard and funky backing for raunchy, raspy vocals that are belted out with a slinky, sexy sort of sound! Davis' vocals are unlike anyone else we can think of – easily some of the most badass work you'll ever find on record – and the tracks are a mix of hip themes about sex, gal power, and struttin your stuff – all delivered by a righteous woman who can definitely do just that! The album features the classic break tracks "If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up" and "Steppin in Her I Miller Shoes", but every cut is a funky monster – including "Ooh Yea", "In The Meantime", "Your Man My Man", and "Anti Love Song". A great one if you dig hard female soul, heavy funky guitars, or both at the same time! LP, Vinyl record album

Betty Davis was one of the nastiest ladies in 70s soul – and this is one of her greatest albums – a killer batch of funky tracks all the way through! Betty has a sound like nobody else – and she takes heavy drums, throbbing bass, and ripping guitars – all as a hard and funky backing for raunchy, raspy vocals that are belted out with a slinky, sexy sort of sound! Davis' vocals are unlike anyone else we can think of – easily some of the most badass work you'll ever find on record – and the tracks are a mix of hip themes about sex, gal power, and struttin your stuff – all delivered by a righteous woman who can definitely do just that! The album features the classic break tracks "If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up" and "Steppin in Her I Miller Shoes", but every cut is a funky monster – including "Ooh Yea", "In The Meantime", "Your Man My Man", and "Anti Love Song". A great one if you dig hard female soul, heavy funky guitars, or both at the same time! This beautiful reissue features top-shelf sound, extensive notes and photos, and previously unissued bonus tracks that include "Come Take Me", "I Will Take That Ride", and "You Won't See Me In The Morning". CD

Betty Davis was one of the nastiest ladies in 70s soul – and this is one of her greatest albums – a killer batch of funky tracks all the way through! Betty has a sound like nobody else – and she takes heavy drums, throbbing bass, and ripping guitars – all as a hard and funky backing for raunchy, raspy vocals that are belted out with a slinky, sexy sort of sound! Davis' vocals are unlike anyone else we can think of – easily some of the most badass work you'll ever find on record – and the tracks are a mix of hip themes about sex, gal power, and struttin your stuff – all delivered by a righteous woman who can definitely do just that! The album features the classic break tracks "If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up" and "Steppin in Her I Miller Shoes", but every cut is a funky monster – including "Ooh Yea", "In The Meantime", "Your Man My Man", and "Anti Love Song". A great one if you dig hard female soul, heavy funky guitars, or both at the same time! This beautiful reissue features top-shelf sound, extensive notes and photos, and previously unissued bonus tracks that include "Come Take Me", "I Will Take That Ride", and "You Won't See Me In The Morning". CD

The biggest-label release ever cut by 70s funk legend Betty Davis – but a set that's every bit as hard and heavy as the indie dates that preceded it! Davis is at the top of her form here – bad-stepping amidst the heavy drums and freaked-out guitars that easily made her one of the funkiest folks working in the 70s – an artist who was definitely very much into her own bag, and who's only finally getting her due all these many years later! In a way, the groove is even leaner than before – especially the drums, which are turbocharged with energy, and set a badass vibe for the record throughout – mixing up equal parts of rock, funk, and soul – almost with the genre-busting modes that wouldn't really show up on the New York scene until a number of years later. The whole thing kicks ass – and titles include "Nasty Gal", "Talkin' Trash", "Dedicated To The Press", "FUNK", "Getting Kicked Off Havin Fun", "Shut Off The Light", "This Is It", "The Lone Ranger", and "Feelins". Great new pressing of the classic – with a 32 page booklet that includes liner notes, lyrics, and lots of cool photos! CD

The biggest-label release ever cut by 70s funk legend Betty Davis – but a set that's every bit as hard and heavy as the indie dates that preceded it! Davis is at the top of her form here – bad-stepping amidst the heavy drums and freaked-out guitars that easily made her one of the funkiest folks working in the 70s – an artist who was definitely very much into her own bag, and who's only finally getting her due all these many years later! In a way, the groove is even leaner than before – especially the drums, which are turbocharged with energy, and set a badass vibe for the record throughout – mixing up equal parts of rock, funk, and soul – almost with the genre-busting modes that wouldn't really show up on the New York scene until a number of years later. The whole thing kicks ass – and titles include "Nasty Gal", "Talkin' Trash", "Dedicated To The Press", "FUNK", "Getting Kicked Off Havin Fun", "Shut Off The Light", "This Is It", "The Lone Ranger", and "Feelins". Great limited pressing of the classic – with liner notes, lyrics, and lots of cool photos! LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderfully sweet groover from Dayton – a group that's equal parts modern soul and 80s groove – and outta site all the way! The album's big title hit is a remake of Sly Stone's classic "Hot Fun In The Summertime", done in such a way that it's got a cool skating stepper's groove to it – and set amidst some jazzy riffing and ensemble vocals that are totally great. The rest of the album follows in a similar mode – really bouncy and joyous, with mixed male and female vocals stepping out over a set of lean, mean 80s groovers that should have been huge! Tracks include "Hot Fun", "Patiently", "We Can't Miss", "Meet The Man", "Movin Up", and "Gunch". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the darkest soundtracks ever from the wonderful Francois De Roubaix – a moody, brooding score that really fits the solitary spirit of the main character! There's still plenty of those cool De Roubaix elements in the mix – even some weird melodies on organ and electronics – mixed with other piano or flute lines, all in these slow-stepping modes that have a wonderfully haunting vibe. Titles include "Laetitia Par Alain Delon", "Journal De Bord", "Enterrement Sous-Marin", "Acrobaties Aeriennes", "Hotel Sandwich", "Martey's", "Valerie", "Le Samourai", and "Le Destin De Costello". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge breakout album for Def Leppard – and a record that maybe set the style for so many other mainstream hard rock acts in the mid 80s – thanks to a mix of crisp drums, searing guitars, and screaming vocals with an anthemic feel that really sends things over the top! And sure, it's not art rock by any stretch of the imagination – but it's also a bit fresher than some of the hair rock imitators that copped the sound a few years later – with titles that include "Rock Rock Till You Drop", "Photograph", "Rock Of Ages", "Foolin'", "Billy's Got A Gun", "Action Not Words", "Die Hard The Hunter", and "Stagefright". CD

Includes the original concert film by DA Pennebaker, bonus videos, interviews with the band, the original concert audio on 2 CDs, hi-res stereo and surround mixes of the original album, plus a behind the scenes photo book and other goodies! CD

Guitarist Al Di Meola works here to really live up to the "splendido" title of the album – majestically bringing together all the best elements and influences he worked with in the 70s – including his love of Spanish guitar! The album's got this great balance of acoustic and electric elements – that combination of soaring energy and intimacy that made some of Al's 70s records so great – and he works here with a nice mix of contributors, including Philippe Saisse and Chick Corea on keyboards, Mingo Lewis on percussion, and even an appearance on one track from guitar legend Les Paul. Titles include "Alien Chase On Arabian Desert", "Silent Story In Her Eyes", "Two To Tango", "I Can Tell", "Spanish Eyes", and "Bianca's Midnight Lullaby". CD

Guitarist Al Di Meola works here to really live up to the "splendido" title of the album – majestically bringing together all the best elements and influences he worked with in the 70s – including his love of Spanish guitar! The album's got this great balance of acoustic and electric elements – that combination of soaring energy and intimacy that made some of Al's 70s records so great – and he works here with a nice mix of contributors, including Philippe Saisse and Chick Corea on keyboards, Mingo Lewis on percussion, and even an appearance on one track from guitar legend Les Paul. Titles include "Alien Chase On Arabian Desert", "Silent Story In Her Eyes", "Two To Tango", "I Can Tell", "Spanish Eyes", and "Bianca's Midnight Lullaby". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible album from Dinosaur L – the legendary New York dancefloor project of Arthur Russell! – fleshed out and expanded more than ever before by Sleeping Bag and Get On Down Records! The group's core sound is a punky, funky, chunky amalgam of bass thumping, guitar riffing, keyboard filling, and sax honking – all very much in the spirit of Russell's best quirky club work of the time, but with the added sound here of a more expanded approach – one that takes the tunes in a whole new territory than the more famous 12" singles! The tracks on the original set were simply numbered – "1", "2", "3", and so on – and come across almost as free-jamming instrumentals – but this reissue appends the songs with their 12" titles, so "#1" gets parenthetically entitled "You're Gonna Be Clean On Your Bean" and "#5" as "Go Bang!", plus this disc adds several 12" versions that were not on the original LP release, like Francois K's mix of 'Go Bang!" and Larry Levan's mix of "In The Corn Belt". Totally great stuff – as experimental as it is funky! This 2CD box set edition is amazing – coming in a heavy-duty box with each disc in an oversized gatefold style sleeve – and it includes more Arthur Russell collaborative and/or pseudonymous material for Sleeping Bag with or as Bonzo Goes To Washington, Felix, Sounds Of JHS Brooklyn and Indian Ocean. Other tracks include "School Bell/Treehouse" (Indian Ocean), "You Can't Hold Me Down (Extended Version)" (Felix), "5 Minutes (R-r-r Radio Mix)" (Bonzo Goes To Washington) and more. Also includes a nice booklet of photos, artwork and artist testimonials – plus notes by Russell biographer Tim Lawrence. CD

An incredible album from Dinosaur L – the legendary New York dancefloor project of Arthur Russell! – fleshed out and expanded more than ever before by Sleeping Bag and Get On Down Records! The group's core sound is a punky, funky, chunky amalgam of bass thumping, guitar riffing, keyboard filling, and sax honking – all very much in the spirit of Russell's best quirky club work of the time, but with the added sound here of a more expanded approach – one that takes the tunes in a whole new territory than the more famous 12" singles! The tracks on the original set were simply numbered – "1", "2", "3", and so on – and come across almost as free-jamming instrumentals – but this reissue appends the songs with their 12" titles, so "#1" gets parenthetically entitled "You're Gonna Be Clean On Your Bean" and "#5" as "Go Bang!", plus this disc adds several 12" versions that were not on the original LP release, like Francois K's mix of 'Go Bang!" and Larry Levan's mix of "In The Corn Belt". Totally great stuff – as experimental as it is funky! This 2CD box set edition is amazing – coming in a heavy-duty box with each disc in an oversized gatefold style sleeve – and it includes more Arthur Russell collaborative and/or pseudonymous material for Sleeping Bag with or as Bonzo Goes To Washington, Felix, Sounds Of JHS Brooklyn and Indian Ocean. Other tracks include "School Bell/Treehouse" (Indian Ocean), "You Can't Hold Me Down (Extended Version)" (Felix), "5 Minutes (R-r-r Radio Mix)" (Bonzo Goes To Washington) and more. Also includes a nice booklet of photos, artwork and artist testimonials – plus notes by Russell biographer Tim Lawrence. CD

The second album from the legendary Nick Drake – one of those records we could never ever live without – and a true piece of genius that's been turning on generations of listeners since Nick first recorded it back at the start of the 70s! The format is folksy, but the execution is something else entirely – filled with jazzy phrasing, hypnotic lyrics, and arrangements that really go far beyond any cliches or contemporary work you might expect. The great Joe Boyd produced – and really helps give a strong focus to Nick's vocals and guitar – and the cool mix of added instrumentation – which includes organ and celeste from John Cale, flute and alto from Ray Warleigh, piano from Chris McGregor, and guitar from Richard Thompson. Drake's work is impossible to describe adequately, but if you've ever heard him, you probably stopped dead in your tracks the minute you first caught his voice. We still do the same – and it's a pleasure to have this one in stock! Titles include "Fly", "At The Chime Of A City Clock", "Hazy Jane", "Poor Boy", and "One Of These Things First". CD

About as close as you'll get to a debut album from the great Dave Dudley – as the set takes his classic title track, mixes it with a few other indie singles – and adds in a few other truck-themed tunes from the Starday catalog for good measure! Dudley's got one of our favorite voices ever in country music – and his landmark "Six Days On The Road" set a whole new standard for road-based tunes – a winning track about a pill-popping, cop-dodging trucker heading home at the end of a long run! Dave sings some other great ones here – including "Last Day In The Mines", "Where Do I Go From Here", "It's Gotta Be That Way", "Cry Baby", and "Taxi Cab Driver" – and the set also features the instrumentals "Lee Highway Swing" by Chubby Wise, and "Hot Rod Guitar" and "Big Rig Guitar" by Joe Maphis. CD

About as close as you'll get to a debut album from the great Dave Dudley – as the set takes his classic title track, mixes it with a few other indie singles – and adds in a few other truck-themed tunes from the Starday catalog for good measure! Dudley's got one of our favorite voices ever in country music – and his landmark "Six Days On The Road" set a whole new standard for road-based tunes – a winning track about a pill-popping, cop-dodging trucker heading home at the end of a long run! Dave sings some other great ones here – including "Last Day In The Mines", "Where Do I Go From Here", "It's Gotta Be That Way", "Cry Baby", and "Taxi Cab Driver" – and the set also features the instrumentals "Lee Highway Swing" by Chubby Wise, and "Hot Rod Guitar" and "Big Rig Guitar" by Joe Maphis. CD

A fantastic first chapter from this legendary funk group – material recorded during their early years on the Phoenix scene, at a time when Dyke & The Blazers must have been the hottest act going down in Arizona! The group here begin with their Funky Broadway roots – taking on that track in their classic version, turning out some great original material of their own, and also jamming nice and long on some tracks here that really show that the group had a lot more energy than just the usual funky 45 combo – maybe more of the intensity of the James Brown Band! Dyke is great in the lead, but the overall sound is wonderful – and titles include "Funky Broadway (parts 1 & 2)", "Triple Funk", "Extra Funk", "Uhh (full length)", "City Dump", "She Knows It", "Tramp (parts 1 & 2)", "Funky Broadway Time (parts 1 & 2)", and previously unissued tracks "Why Am I Treated So Funky Bad (orig mix)", "Extra Funk (alt)", "So Sharp (alt)", "Call My Name", and "Broadway Combination (alt)". LP, Vinyl record album

A heady second chapter of a legendary funk group that were only around for a few short years, but gave us some great music in the process – presented here with 16 unissued tracks from their years in Los Angeles, including work from members of the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band too! With so much unreleased music, the set's like a fresh discovery of Dyke & The Blazers – adding new takes and versions to the material they recorded in LA before Dyke passed all too quickly – making for a long-overdue addition to their small body of recorded work. Titles unissued stereo mixes of "We Got More Soul (full length)", "Funky Walk (full length)", "The Wobble (full length)", "Let A Woman Be A Woman Let A Man Be A Man", "Funky Bull (full length)", "Booga Jivin", "Stuff (full length)", "Runaway People (full length)", and "Moon" – plus the never-issued "The Walk (part 1 east)", "Do It Together (orig mix)", "WUFO Radio Spot", "Day Is Comin (demo)", and "I'm So All Alone (alt)". Also includes the cuts "Black Boy", "It's Your Thing", "You Are My Sunshine", and "Shot Gun Slim" – all very funky! LP, Vinyl record album

Very groovy early work by El Coco – a cool mix of electric keyboards and fusiony touches, in a style that made the group a real standout on the dancefloor! At some level, the album almost operates like a jazz set – thanks to the strong keyboards of Michael Lewis and the percussion of Laurin Rinder – but there's also a smoother groove going on, and a definite shot at the clubs that stands out on some of the album's catchier tunes. The keyboards are in a very cool "spaced out" mode, and a few cuts even hit some great 70s exotica moments too. Includes remakes of "Mr Lucky" and "Quiet Village" – which should show some of the influences of the team – plus the tracks "Let's Get It Together", "Fai Le Chat", "Gimme Some", and "Put On Your Jeans". LP, Vinyl record album

The harder of the two Gil Evans albums on Impulse to find, and the best – really far-reaching material that has Evans coming into contact with some of the hippest jazz players of his generation! The record's got three incredible tracks written by Cecil Taylor – a very bold move for Evans, given Taylor's strongly out reputation even at this point in his career – and possibly even more bold, given that Taylor's on the tracks playing piano, alongside players who include Archie Shepp, Jimmy Lyons, Sonny Murray, and Henry Grimes. The material's fantastic, and is a key part of Taylor's work at the time, and shows a very different setting for his piano – a bit of tension with the larger Evans group, in a way that's almost more compelling than his own early dates as a leader! Taylor titles include "Pots", "Bulbs", and "Mixed". The other tracks on the album were written by John Carisi, who wrote the classic "Israel" for Miles Davis' nine piece group in the late 40s – but who here contributes "Moon Taj", "Angkor Wat", and "Barry's Tune". Carisi's tracks are a bit more subdued, but no less wonderful – and arrangements are by Taylor and Carisi, of their own music, presented with the Evans modern touch. If you ever needed a record to convince you that Gil Evans was a genius, this is it! CD

The harder of the two Gil Evans albums on Impulse to find, and the best – really far-reaching material that has Evans coming into contact with some of the hippest jazz players of his generation! The record's got three incredible tracks written by Cecil Taylor – a very bold move for Evans, given Taylor's strongly out reputation even at this point in his career – and possibly even more bold, given that Taylor's on the tracks playing piano, alongside players who include Archie Shepp, Jimmy Lyons, Sonny Murray, and Henry Grimes. The material's fantastic, and is a key part of Taylor's work at the time, and shows a very different setting for his piano – a bit of tension with the larger Evans group, in a way that's almost more compelling than his own early dates as a leader! Taylor titles include "Pots", "Bulbs", and "Mixed". The other tracks on the album were written by John Carisi, who wrote the classic "Israel" for Miles Davis' nine piece group in the late 40s – but who here contributes "Moon Taj", "Angkor Wat", and "Barry's Tune". Carisi's tracks are a bit more subdued, but no less wonderful – and arrangements are by Taylor and Carisi, of their own music, presented with the Evans modern touch. If you ever needed a record to convince you that Gil Evans was a genius, this is it! LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible album, and very unique! Sarah Webster Fabio was a hip 70s poet with a very righteous sound – and she's working here with funky backings by a tight group that includes family members, in a style that's similar to early 70s work by artists like Wanda Robinson and Camille Yarborough – both of whom also mixed together funk and poetry! The album's got a massive funky cut called "Sweet Songs" – the kind of groover we never tire of, with tight drums, great guitar, and wonderful vocals by Sarah herself. There's lots of other great tunes too – with titles that include "Juju For Grandma", "Still A Red Hot Axe", "Chromo", "If We Come As Soft Rain", and "Jujus/Alchemy Of The Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

The great Georgie Fame hardly sounds wounded here – as the singer's in the middle of a great return to form in the 90s – a decade that saw him cutting some tremendous albums like this! Fame's in his home turf of London – working with a small combo at Ronnie Scott's, and turning in songs that have a perfect blend of blues and soul roots mixed with Georgie's unique jazzy inflections – at a level that's even more sophisticated than his work in the early days! The group is great too – with Anthony Kerr on vibes, Guy Barker on trumpet, Alan Skidmore on tenor, and Peter King on alto – and Fame sings tracks that include "Cape Cuckoo", "If You Live", "Eros Hotel", "Abide With Me", "The Woodshed", "Zavolo", and "It Happened To Me/My Buddy". CD

One of the most open-ended Tal Farlow albums for Verve – and a wonderfully laidback set that lets him open up with that incredible tone, taking the electric guitar to a whole new place in jazz, and showing that the instrument has volumes to speak in both phrasing and tone! The group's a quartet – with Gerald Wiggins on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Chico Hamilton on drums – an interesting combo that swings with almost a bit more bite than you'd hear on some other Farlow albums, a sound that's every bit as striking as the album's unique cover image. Tal's sound is tremendous, and right out front in the mix – and titles include "And She Remembers Me", "Little Girl Blue", "Have You Met Miss Jones", and "Tal's Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A searing set of west coast psych from a very mysterious group – served up here on a record that was done as a bit of exploitation vinyl at the time, but which has gone on to achieve legendary status over the years! The set's got a raw, ragged energy right from the start – every bit as great as most of the work by labelmates The Seeds – with a similar sense of urgency and intensity that goes way beyond most garagey work of the time! Production is stark and simple, but really makes the best use of the fuzz in the mix – on titles that include "The Trip", "Love Special Delivery", "Talk Talk", "Journey's End", "Blood Beat", "Trip Maker" and "Pictures & Designs" – plus a really wild version of the New Orleans soul classic "Fortune Teller". LP, Vinyl record album

A wild little record, as you might expect from a group who named themselves after the place where Abraham Lincoln was shot! There's a lot of organ in the mix, next to the expected fuzzy guitar – and the group even uses a string quartet at points, to great effect – all with an ambitious sound that's very different than the usual sort of material coming out at the time! The set's even got a more complicated vibe than some of the other ABC releases of its type at the time – maybe in part because jazz great Bob Thiele produced the whole thing in the years before he launched his Flying Dutchman label, and really knows how to balance all the rich inspirations of the group. Titles include "From A Back Door Window", "Back To Philadelphia", "101 Harrison Street", and "Theme For The Masses". CD

A completely cooking little live set from Aretha Franklin – massively expanded here – and a crowning moment not just in her career, but for Atlantic Records soul in general! Aretha's working here before a very enthusiastic crossover crowd at the Fillmore West in San Francisco – getting tight backing from the combo of King Curtis (Memphis Horns, Billy Preston, and Pretty Purdie in tow!) – and hitting a groove that's often rawer, grittier, and more deep-soul tuned than some of her studio sides from the time! The recording quality is totally great – and goes out of its way to preserve the presence of the audience, and showcase Ac appearance on one track, but the whole show is really Franklin's own – a majestic little live date that features the tunes "Spirit In The Dark", "Respect", "Make It With You", "Don't Play That Song", "Dr Feelgood", and "Love The One You're With". Plus, the CD features full versions of 2 tracks that were originally edited on the album – as well as 13 more bonus tracks on CD2, alternates and unused songs that include "Call Me", "Mixed Up Girl", "Share Your Love With Me", "Don't Play That Song", and "You're All I Need To Get By". Lots of great notes, excellent photos, and a much-improved version of the original album! CD

The clubby jazz funk debut of Freeez – plus the Anti-Freeez remix album from a couple years later – issued together along with even more bonus material in this great 2CD set! Dancefloor ready live band grooving is the warmly beating heart of the Freeez sound at this early point – with heated drums and killer basslines driving it – clearly influenced by late 70s international club sounds, but with this great, tight energy and dexterous musicianship that could only come from a real, functioning, true band. Nice stuff! Disc One includes the original album & remixes: "Mariposa (Butterfly)", "Caribbean Winter", "Easy On The Onions", "Sunset", "Flying High", "Roller Chase", "First Love" and more from the original, plus bonus tracks including "Ainti-Freeez (Set Me Free) – Disco Version", "Fly By Night", "Flying High (12" Remix)" and more. Disc Two includes early singles, demos, instrumentals and the complete Anti-Freeez remix album from 1984 – with "Keep In Touch", "Hot Footing It", "Stay", "Roller Chase (1984 Remix)", "Alone (1984 Remix)", "One To One (1984 Remix)", "Caribbean Winter (1984 Remix)", "Say You Will Be My Lover (Previously Unreleased Demo)" and more. 30 tracks on 2CDs. CD

A pair of albums from Frijid Pink, plus bonus tracks too – all served up in a single set! First up is the self-titled debut – a heady set from the Detroit scene, yet one that also instantly has the group stepping away from their contemporaries! There's plenty of the freak and fuzz that you'd guess from bigger acts who emerged on the US scene from the Motor City in the years before – but the vocals from Tom Beaudry maybe have this more focused, soaring style that also prefaces some huge shifts in American hard rock at the time – soulful, but not with a soul influence, if that makes sense at all – and perfect next to the incredible guitar work from Gary Ray Thompson. Titles include "Drivin Blues", "I'm On My Way", "God Gave Me You", "I Want To Be Your Lover", "Boozin Blues", "House Of The Rising Sun", "Tell Me Why", and "Cryin Shame". Next up is Defrosted – a record that has some blues influences at the core, but which also really moves past that energy right away – by folding in some of the hipper, headier styles that Frijid Pink had picked up while working on the Detroit scene at the end of the 70s! The vocals are raw in a great way, and the guitar work follows suit nicely – on titles that include "Sloony", "I'll Never Be Lonely", "Black Lace", "Sing A Song For Freedom", "I Haven't Got The Time", "Pain In My Heart", and "We're Gonna Be There". CD features very detailed notes – and bonus tracks that include single mixes of "Heartbreak Hotel", "I Love Her", "Lost Son", "We're Gonna Be There", "Shorty Kline", and "Music For The People" CD

An incredible collaboration between Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot – one of Serge's first duet albums ever – and a gem all the way through! In the year before he cut "Je T'aime Moi Non Plus" with Jane Birkin, Serge recorded this great album with Brigitte Bardot in which he worked out many of the same ideas. The album is probably best known for the track "Bonnie & Clyde" – which has been sampled to great fame over the years – but there's loads of other great tracks on here, with a mix of styles that joins Serge's jazzy years with his softcore 70s work – very cool, very groovy, and years ahead of its time. Some tracks are duets, and some are sung individually by Serge or Brigitte, but they're all great, and titles include "Intoxicated Man", "L'eau A La Bouche", "Un Jour Comme Un Autre", "Comic Strip", and more! Arrangements by Alain Gourager, Michel Colombier, and Claude Bolling – and the cover's got a great shot of Serge & BB as Bonnie & Clyde! LP, Vinyl record album

A hell of a package – two key albums from Gang Of Four, plus lots of other rare material from these crucial years! At the core of the package is the classic album Entertainment – one of the greatest debut albums of all time – a record that hit the world like a comet when it was released, and which will continue to burn brightly for many decades to come! There's few groups who get things so right as Gang Of Four on this set – balancing the sharp edges of UK punk with a deeper political sense – but one that puts its message across in these short, sharp, shocks that are often given an extra punch by some surprisingly strong basslines! The mix of rawness, message, and surprising groove really sets this one apart from the pack – and that includes the work by legions of groups who've tried to imitate it over the years. Tracks include "Ether", "Natural's Not In It", "Not Great Men", "Damaged Goods", "Return The Gift", "Guns Before Butter", "Glass", and "Contract". Solid Gold is a stunning second set from the mighty Gang Of Four – and a record that's got all the power and politics of their famous Entertainment debut! The set's got some wonderfully heavy basslines amidst the scratchy guitar that makes the group so great – but nothing's too polished, certainly not as in their crossover club modes to come – and the call/response vocal style of Andy Gill and Jon King is tremendous – a very fresh way to deliver the message, and one that's still never been matched all these many years later. Titles include "Paralyzed", "What We All Want", "Why Theory", "If I Could Keep It For Myself", "Cheeseburger", "The Republic", "Outside The Trains Don't Run On Time", "In The Ditch", "A Hole In The Wallet", and "He'd Send In The Army". Next, you get an exclusive Singles album – the first-ever LP collection of all the early singles and b-sides – including tracks from the EP releases Yellow, Damaged Goods, and Another Day Another Dollar. Next is an another exclusive vinyl release – the 2LP set recorded Live At The American Indian Center 1980. Plus, the box features a 100 page full-color, hardcover book – with rare photos, contributions from group members, original artwork, and rare posters – plus essays from Greil Marcus, Michael Stipe, Jon Langford, and others. Also includes posters, flyers, and ephemera! CD

A legendary record from one of the most unique Latin groups of their time! In an early 70s world where many Latin combos were going for class and poise, the Ghetto Brothers moved in another direction entirely – working here with a fair bit of electric guitar alongside more familiar Latin rhythms – all to push along some wonderfully soulful vocals! The record's got a very different feel than most east coast Latin work of the time – one that's a bit like some of the Chicano soul of the west coast, but not nearly as smooth, and with a definite nod towards both funk and singer/songwriter work of the mainstream! The guitar's really upfront in the mix – riffing off at the start of most tracks – and the vocals have a slightly sweet quality, supported by harmonies from the rest of the group at times – making for a wicked blend of modes that's extremely compelling. A record that's as filled with soul and feeling as it is with hard-edge groovers – featuring titles that include "You Say You Are My Friend", "Ghetto Brothers Power", "I Saw A Tear", "Girl From The Mountain", "There Is Something In My Hearth", "Got This Happy Feeling", and "Viva Puerto Rico Libre". This great deluxe edition from Truth & Soul comes inside a beautifully done, 80-page booklet – full of rare photos of the band in action and behind-the-scenes – plus richly detailed notes. CD

A fantastic album – if only for the cover! The record features a rare cover image that's an obscure painting by Salvador Dali – and the back cover features a photo of Jackie and Dali shaking hands! The music's not as surreal as the image, but it's still got this amazingly baroque mixture of woodwinds and strings, floating in a pillowy sort of dream-like state. Titles include "There Must Be A Way", "Deep Purple", "I Wished On The Moon", and "Speak Low". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning book for any fan of 80s music – as this huge, oversized edition is filled with hundreds of images of stars in many genres – all presented without much else in the way of text, which really lets you dive into the images from the time! The book mixes portraits, stage shots, and a few more relaxed moments – and seems to feature just about every US and UK mainstream star we could imagine – both in these beautiful black and white photos, and full color images as well. Photographer Lynn Goldsmith really has an eye for the right moment – maybe no surprise, given that her work has been featured at MOMA, The Smithsonian, and the MCA in Chicago – and the book also begins with quotes from many of the photographic subjects, giving their opinion of the 80s music scene. Heavy, oversized, 352 pages, with images throughout. Book

The second part of Guns N' Roses' twin follow-up to the mindblowing and untoppable success of Appetite For Destruction! Use Your Illusion II has more piano, stadium-ready ballads and overall moodier takes on Guns' distinctive brand of LA sleaze rock – along with another surprising classic rock cover tune – their respectful Dylan's "Knockin' On Heaven's Door". Ultimately the record is kind of a weird mix of soul-baring hard rock ballads, straight forward rockers, and angry revenge tunes by this most uncontrollable band of rich misfits! Includes "Civil War", "14 Years", "Yesterday", "Get In The Ring", "Shotgun Blues", "Pretty Tied Up", "Locomotive", "Estranged", "You Could Be Mine", "My World" and more. CD

A true classic by Jimi with the original Experience lineup – the third of three straight up masterpiece LPs to come out in just over a year's time by the group! You could call the leftfield astral effects in the mix experimental if you had to – innovations in the studio with echo, that hallucinatory backwards sound effect and other stranger bits – but the passionate, naturally expressive playing and singing by Jimi makes it all fell just right, and the Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell still don't get enough credit for being at the heart of such greatness. A massive 2LP effort that includes "Voodoo Chile", "Crosstown Traffic", "Electric Ladyland", "Little Miss Strange", "Moon Turn The Tides", "Still Raining Still Dreaming" and "All Along The Watchtower". LP, Vinyl record album

A massive amount of music that definitely lives up to its title – not the debut album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, but instead 4CDs' worth of rare music, both live and studio – more than enough to deeply enrich your experience of the music of Jimi Hendrix! The package is a real delight to those who've been trying to track down bits like these on bootlegs over the years – a fully-licensed package put together with the Experience Hendrix folks, filled with unreleased alternates, live recordings, unusual mixes, and more! The set features a whopping 56 rare tracks, four whole new songs mixed with live tracks and alternates – and an 80 page booklet of rare photos and notes on the tracks. Titles include live versions of "Little Wing", "Red House", "Purple Haze", "All Along The Watchtower", "In From The Storm", "Fire", and "The Wind Cries Mary" – plus unreleased recordings of "Little Wing", "Slow Blues", "If 6 Was 9", "Title #3", "Hey Joe", "Highway Chile", and "Room Full Of Mirrors" – and alternate versions of "Sweet Angel", "Gloria", "Message To Love", and lots more! CD

A strong overview of tracks from their first years at RCA – a great mix of top-shelf musicianship, especially Jethro Burns on mandolin – and the duo's trademark knack for contemporary song parody! Titles include "Let Me Go Blubber", "Por Ol Koo-Liger", "I'm Movin On No 2", "Cold Cold Heart No 2", "Jam Bowl Liar", "Hart Brake Hotel", and "He'll Have To Go". LP, Vinyl record album

Early 70s psych folk from DR Hooker – looking pretty biblical in the cover photo – with a spiritual tilt to some of the lyrics, but in a pretty tripped out way – and a wild mix of styles, from easygoing, approachable folk pop, to untamed, fuzzed out psychedelia! We were expecting some laidback psych folk, and there is some of that, but also some full on psychedelic rock – with a mix of acoustic & electric elements, from guitars, to dobro, synthesizer, organ & piano, vibes & other percussion. Titles include "The Sea", "Fall In Love", "A Stranger's Smile", "Weather Girl", "This Thing", "Forge Your Own Chains", "I'm Leaving You", "The Truth", "The Bible" and "Falling Asleep". LP, Vinyl record album

A compelling new group from Japan – one who work in a mix of jazzy styles and gentler modes that reminds us a bit of the earliest grooves from Jazztronik! Hotel New Tokyo share a similar love of space and sensitive sounds with Jazztronik mainman Ryo Nozaki, but also know how to kick up a groove when they want – and the album balances sparer, more soundscapey tracks with fuller tunes that are awash in rhythm and have a playful mix of sound samples, voice snippets, and instrumentation. Titles include "Dun Dun", "Trip In Jazz", "PM 7:42", and others with Japanese titles! CD

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Excellent stuff! This is the great US issue of the fantastic first rare album of funky soundtrack stuff put out by Crippled Dick. In case you haven't heard it, the set's a mix of tracks from the funky scores to three wild lesbian vampire films from the late 60's, and the music is an excellent mix of organ grooves, funky breakbeats, and cool Now Sound sounds – with wild sitar, guitar, and electronics! The package comes with great notes, cool photos from the films, and excellent cuts like "Shindai Lovers", "Kamasutra", "Necromania", "Lions & The Cucumber", and lots lots more. Great stuff, very goofy, and very very funky! This LP copy comes with a cool tri-fold poster that's very very sexy, too! CD

A rare side from Keith Hudson, teaming up with Bullwackie Barnes for a mighty set – two of our favorite producers in one place – and one that's been painfully hard to come by for some time. Issued originally on the Joint International imprint in the early 80s, we can't remember the last time we came across a copy of this set, featuring deep space dub mixes, with gut rumbling bass and murky reverb following hot on the heels of their vocal accompaniment, voiced by Wayne Jarrett, the Lovejoys and Hudson himself. A dozen jams in all, including "Playing It Cool", "Playing It Right Dub", "Trust & Believe", "By Night Dub", "Not Good For Us", "Be What You Want To Be" and "Still Need You Dub". LP, Vinyl record album

Clasic toasting and freestyling from I- Roy, one of the most heavyweight DJs of all time! Riding some of the finest rhythms of Buny Lee & Keith Hudson mixed by dub master King Tubby & Errol Thompson, this collection features boasts and more conscious topics, too: "Hot Stuff", "Black Talk", "Sufferer's Psalm", "Superfly" and "Straight to Heathen Head". CD

A really cool book of rare jazz posters – most of them from the 70s, with images of posters from the US, EU, and Japan! The collection within is great – and there's so many unusual images that differ nicely from more iconic album covers – which are then mixed with more familiar shots, but restructured for use in posters – some with special information about new release records, concerts, and other events – some presented with spare images on their own! There's promo posters from labels like ECM or Three Blind Mice – and the book also has sections on spiritual jazz, free jazz, Japanese jazz, Brazilian jazz, jazz funk, and other topics related to jazz – including New York, movies, and concerts. The softcover book is 375 pages, and mostly images – presented in their original colors, or black and white if applicable – and there's a few short essays in both English and Japanese. Book

One of the wildest records of the early 70s – and it's still pretty darn hard to argue with the power of this one – even if the purists' issues with the production are nearly as legendary as the album itself! There's plenty of manic energy the original release mix – one that clearly inspired, if not altogether gave birth to the punk scene – and make the album one of those quintessential examples of great art being made under compromising circumstances. Fierceness personified! Includes classics like "Search & Destroy", "Death Trip", "Gimme Danger", "Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell (aka Hard To Beat)", "Raw Power", "Shake Appeal", and "Death Trip". This legacy edition includes the original 1973 David Bowie mix, now remastered, with a second disc featuring a previously unreleased hour long live set from Richards in Atlanta, recorded in October of 1973 (titled Georgia Peaches) featuring Raw Power tracks plus "Head On", "Heavy Liquid", "Cock In My Pocket" and "Open Up And Bleed". Includes 2 bonus studio tracks, too: "Doojiman" (Raw Power sessions outtake) and "Head On" (rehearsal performance). Also includes a 24 page color booklet with new liner notes and previously unseen photos. CD

Both classic albums from Luther Ingram – issued back to back on a single CD! I've Been Here All The Time is a tremendous little set from Luther Ingram – proof that the singer had way more to offer than just his famous southern soul singles! The record's got a really deep feel from the start – kind of a slow-burning sound that moves way past easy soul music styles, and offers up Ingram as one of the most mature singers of his generation. The Bar-Kays handle some of the backings, and they're also quite good here too – much rootsier at times than on their own records, but still with a hint of funk as well. Titles include "Ghetto Train", "I'll Just Call You Honey", "Since You Don't Want Me", "I'll Love You Until The End", "Be Good To Me Baby", "Ain't That Loving You", and "You Were Made For Me". The second album is wonderful mellow soul from Luther Ingram – and a record that gave the south one of its greatest soul anthems of the 70s! "If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Want To Be Right" is one of those genre-defining tunes – a slow-burning track that shows a new level of maturity for southern soul in the 70s – sweetly sad vocals from Luther right out front of the mix, supported with bubbling backings that ooze sex throughout – and a message of pride in the face of love that had an undeniable impact on a whole generation. The rest of the album's equally great – done with slightly fuller backings at times, and a more familiar Memphis soul groove at others – a perfect showcase for the mighty talents of Ingram at this high point of his career. In addition to "If Loving You Is Wrong", other titles include "Dying & Crying", "I Remember", "I Can't Stop", "Love Ain't Gonna Run Me Away", and "I'll Be Your Shelter". 21 tracks in all – and 14 pages of detailed notes and photos! CD

An amazing tribute to the late Michael Jackson – a beautifully done package that brings together all of his early solo albums for Motown – plus some great bonus tracks as well – all wrapped up in a book-styled cover with lots of notes and vintage photos! The music here is tremendous – the first stand-alone utterings of the King Of Pop, done in a style very similar to the Jackson 5 material at Motown, but sometimes a bit more pointed and personal too – a very different version of Michael than you may know from later years. The set features the full albums Got To Be There, Ben, Music & Me, and Forever Michael – plus two more albums of material recorded in the 70s, but released later – Looking Back To Yesterday and Farewell My Summer Love. There's a whopping 71 tracks in all – and bonus tracks include original mixes of "Melodie", "To Make My Father Proud", "Twenty Five Miles", "Here I Am", "Girl You're So Together", "Call On Me", "Farewell My Summer Love", "Touch The One You Love", and "Don't Let It Get You Down". CD

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A great mix of the talents of Michael Jackson and his famous brothers – and a set that's probably got an equal weight on the focus of both! There's a fair bit of Off The Wall-era Michael that informs this set – the kind of upbeat, grooving tracks that made that record so great – mixed with some newer takes on older Jacksons material, often revamped a bit with a slightly modern soul groove! There's a nice sort of liveness to the record – not as too-polished as you might imagine – and titles include "Can You Feel It", "Off The Wall", "Heartbreak Hotel", "She's Out Of My life", "ABC", "I Want You Back", "I'll Be There", "Rock With You", "Working Day & Night", "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", and "Shake Your Body Down To The Ground". CD

Deluxe 2017 reissue includes a new stereo mix, bonus tracks, and two CD's worth of live concert material from the '77 tour, plus 5.1 Surround mixes of all tracks on 2 DVD's – all in a great hardcover package filled with great notes and photos! CD

Jethro Tull's classic prog album–or is it a parody of a prog album? The LP-length "song", filled with dense lyrics, alternates between hard rock, English folk, and classical. Deluxe edition is packed with great notes and photos and includes a new stereo mix by Steven Wilson – available on both CD and DVD audio – plus DVD only surround mixes in 5.1 DTS and Dolby Digital surround, and a new hi res transfer of the original stereo mix. CD

Beautiful work from artist Ian Johnson – portraits of famous jazz, funk, and soul artists from the 50s through the 70s – served up in a mix of pencil and color, often with a very unique style! The cover image only hints at the pages within – which are often more detailed and iconic – as the portraits often take off from famous album covers or photographs, but then feature additional details added by Johnson – usually color touches around the black and white portrait at the core, which really creates a very vivid picture! Portraits include images of Herbie Hancock, Art Ensemble Of Chicago, Eric Dolphy, Phil Cohran, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Andrew Hill, Thelonious Monk, and dozens of others – and book is 94 pages, full color, and hardcover. Book

An overlooked, but very groovy soundtrack by Quincy Jones! The record has a mix of easy jazz and a few harder-edged themes – dramatic throughout, but with washes of crime jazz, bossa, and some floating easy scoring. Players aren't listed, but you can bet they're the usual high-level crop of jazzmen that Quincy would get for his mid 60s Mercury sides. Titles include "Dead Duck", "Purple Prose", "Boobie Baby", "Shoot To Kill", "A Shot In The Park", and "Turtles Last Lap". LP, Vinyl record album

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Even though the days of sleaze and sin are long gone, New York's Times Square still stands strong as one of the most vibrant spots in the world – a meeting place of so many faces, bodies, cultures, and styles – it's hard to think of any other place with so much going on! The images here are all contemporary, but they're really well-done too – and have a special eye for tying the Times Square of the present with currents of its past that still seep through – served up in an array of all black and white images, which really help create this time-shifting mode in the photos. The mix of images is great – street performers, solo individuals, and some really mindblowing full scenes that seem to have space folding in on itself – presented on lavish oversize pages, done in the best mode of art book giant Steidl press. Book

A shameless dancefloor cash-in move – but a record that's still pretty darn great as well! You all know the big title cut "Ladies Night", so we won't bother to describe it – but we can say that the group wisely hooked up with Deodato, who produced, mixed, and even played keyboards on the album. Deodato keeps a nice jazzy punch in the tracks, while still moving towards the slickly produced funk sound that was the group's main approach at the time of the record. JT Taylor's on vocals, and the album's even got a few mellow cuts – like the crossover easy number "Too Hot" – amidst the midtempo 80s grooves that really step out and make the whole thing move. Other tracks include "Ladies Night", "Hangin Out", "Tonight's The Night", "If You Feel Like Dancin", and "Got You Into My Life". LP, Vinyl record album

A massive package of work from the mighty Kool & The Gang – 6 full albums from the 80s, served up here in a 3CD set! First up is Ladies Night – a shameless dancefloor cash-in move – but a record that's still pretty darn great as well! You all know the big title cut "Ladies Night", so we won't bother to describe it – but we can say that the group wisely hooked up with Deodato, who produced, mixed, and even played keyboards on the album. Deodato keeps a nice jazzy punch in the tracks, while still moving towards the slickly produced funk sound that was the group's main approach at the time of the record. JT Taylor's on vocals, and the album's even got a few mellow cuts – like the crossover easy number "Too Hot" – amidst the midtempo 80s grooves that really step out and make the whole thing move. Other tracks include "Ladies Night", "Hangin Out", "Tonight's The Night", "If You Feel Like Dancin", and "Got You Into My Life". The next album is Something Special indeed – as the album was one of the biggest hits for Kool & The Gang, and showed that the group still had plenty of energy left to groove into the 80s! The record features production work by Brazilian music maestro Eumir Deodato – who by this point had become a sweet and smooth talent with a real flair for putting over a modern soul groove! Deodato's approach is really great – smooth, yet soulful, without any tricks or gimmicks – and a real appreciation for lead vocals and a catchy little hook! The album features the group's party classic "Get Down On It", plus "Steppin Out", "No Show", "Pass It On", "Be My Lady", "Take My Heart", and "Good Time Tonight". As One is solid 80s grooving from Kool & The Gang – a group who inspired so many others in the early 80s soul generation, but who could still do it better than most of the rest! The style here is tight and smooth, but never too slick – and Deodato's giving the group some really great production for the album – helping them to focus their energy and soar soulfully, but without resorting to any stiff gimmicks or cliches! There's a great groove running through most of the numbers here – a confident quality that's never too commercial, and which bubbles along nicely throughout. Titles include "Street Kids", "Big Fun", "As One", "Hi De Hi Hi De Ho", "Let's Go Dancin", and "Pretty Baby". In The Heart is a sweet set that's part of a big early 80s run from Kool & The Gang – a time that saw the funk legends really hitting the mainstream, and winning over a huge new audience in the process! Given that the Gang virtually invented ensemble funk at the start of the 70s, they're perfectly poised here to move into modes that so many of their younger competition were trying – but never did so well – that blend of 80s elements and more sharply-fused funk instrumentation, all honed down into a tightly snapping groove. The real surprise, though, is the group's growing ability for ballads – which put records like this into hands of folks who never would have dug their funk a few years before. And while we might have had a few problems with that shift at the time, the passage of years has got the whole thing sounding pretty darn great to our ears – especially in comparison to so much weaker work from the time. Titles include "In The Heart", "Joanna", "Tonight", "Straight Ahead", "September Love", "You Can Do It", and "Home Is Where The Heart Is". Last up is Emergency – one of the key classics from the second chapter of the group – when their lineup and sound were a lot leaner than before, and they managed to cross over big to a much wider audience than before! The upbeat cuts show that the group were still kings of the funky dancefloor – and the mellower ones are equally great too – showing a rising ballad style that proved to be the group's big crossover card at the time – a way of putting over a laidback track, but with plenty of soul. This approach is heard to great effect on the album's great single "Cherish" – and other tracks include "Bad Woman", "Surrender", "Emergency", "Misled", "Fresh", and "You Are The One". CD

An amazing tribute to the music of Peter Kowald – the bassist whose work did a lot to transform the sound of avant jazz on both sides of the Atlantic during the past few decades! The package features a CD and 2DVDs – the latter of which each feature films shot during Kowald's 2000 tour of the US – both mixing live performance with interview material and footage from the trips. Off The Road is the first DVD – and features material from a few locations – and Chicago Improvisations is the second, and features work from the Windy City, with appearances by Ken Vandermark and Fred Anderson. The music on the CD is a great testament to Kowald's mighty powers on the bass – and features him playing in a variety of settings – working with players who include William Parker on bass, Kidd Jordan on tenor, George Lewis on trombone, Eddie Gale on trumpet, and Hamid Drake on drums. A really wonderful package – and well worth the price! CD

The first issue of a very cool magazine spun off of the Jazz Kissa photo books from Japan – one that features a look at farther-flung record bars in the Japanese scene – spots that are very far from Tokyo, and presented here with an array of really fantastic photos! This edition is also in English throughout – and features a look at small clubs in the farther region of Tohoku, plus other spots too – all related with stories behind the record bars, and a look at the way they mix rare records with drinks in a very hip atmosphere! Book

It's no secret that Japanese listeners love jazz, and have a real ear for vintage vinyl – and this issue of Gateway looks at the history of the Jazz Kissa – that special sort of Japanese record bar that mixes jazz vinyl, a top-shelf sound system, and an intimate drinking environment – all of which makes for a really great place to enjoy the records! There's also a special look at the legendary Eagle record bar in Tokyo – and as with other issues, the text is in English throughout, alongside some really beautiful full color photos of these completely amazing spots! Book

A mighty nice combination of sounds – nice and lean, recorded both live and in a home studio – then wrapped together with that special sort of magic that Ronald Langestraat brings to his albums! At the time of the date, Langestraat was playing daily in the Apollo Hotel in Amsterdam – and the music here features live cuts he recorded during those performances, which were then augmented back at home – in a mix of modes that has Ronald on both acoustic piano and plenty of Yamaha and Roland keyboards over drum machine rhythms – while also adding in some clarinet, soprano sax, and even a bit of voice in a few spots! The music isn't entirely jazz, but it's also leaner than soulful fusion too – a really personal, unique blend that's totally great – on titles that include "Music From Outer Space", "A Fast Drive Through The Universe", "Orpheus", "Worldwide Clarinet", "Space Train", and a nice take on the Boz Scaggs classic "Lowdown". LP, Vinyl record album

The amazing debut of Ledisi – presented here in the original mix and with the original cover! Ledisi's got a heck of a voice – very rich and mellow, in a style that reminds us a bit of classic work by jazzy soul singers like Jean Carn or Dee Dee Bridgewater, but with more of a bite, and more of a hip hop sensibility. The tracks on this debut set are wonderfully produced – blending together jazzy instrumentation and heavy beats with some warm soul arrangements that are both totally fresh, yet also infused with a classic approach to the music. The record's a treasure, and will be one of the best new soul albums of the past decade! Titles include "Stop Livin In Ya Head", "Hotel", "Groove On", "Free Again", "Papa Loved To Love Me", "I Wantcha Babe", "Groove On", "Get Outta My Kitchen", and "Take Time". CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of the greatest albums of southern soul from the 70s – a set we'd put right up there next to the Soul Children albums on Stax, or the new sound that was brewing up down at Malaco! Jimmy Lewis is an artist who never fully got his due – but he wrote and produced the whole set, at a level that matches his talents with underground contemporaries like Sam Dees or George Jackson – as Jimmy's got an equally great sound, with a mix of emotive currents and more mature expression. The songwriting and overall sound is impeccable – a treasure through and through – and titles include "It Ain't What's On The Woman", "Is That Any Way To Treat A Lady", "That Won't Stop Me From Loving You", "Thank You", "There Ain't Man That Can't Be Caught", "Help Me Understand You", and "Go On Live Your Life". CD features four bonus tracks – "When You Get A Little Give A Little", "Three Into Two Won't Go", "Careful Man", and "She's Gone". CD