Surprisingly soulful stuff from this Canadian combo – an album produced by Felix Pappalardi, with a sound that definitely shows his touch! Although they've got a British-sounding name, the group work in much warmer territory overall – personally-penned tunes that sometimes have the gentleness of folk, but often have a fuller presence too – especially in the way the vocals come up close, and the instrumental mix has a nice sense of depth. There's some compelling use of trumpet alongside the core guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums – and the album also features a bit of sitar too. Titles include "Phoebe", "I Would Be The One", "Speaking Of Dreams", "Looking Glass", "Beatrice", "Girl Is Young", and "Presenting Myself Lightly". CD

One of the highest-concept of all 70s Kinks album – a dark exploration of fame and the price of success, done as a mini-rock opera starring Norman & The Starmaker! As with some of these sets, the best tunes here are those that are the most subtle and less dramatic – and which revisit the more everyday themes of the group's Village Green years. Other tracks are a bit more showy and gimmicky, in a way that almost makes you feel silly for caring about the subject matter – even though Ray Davies's vision of the issues at hand is still as biting as ever. A few standout tracks move into straighter rocking territory, but without the kitsch of some of the other "oldies" styled numbers – and titles include "Holiday Romance", "Everybody's A Star", "Rush Hour Blues", "Nine To Five", "When Work Is Over", "Ducks On The Wall", "You Can't Stop The Music", and "Face In The Crowd". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the highest-concept of all 70s Kinks album – a dark exploration of fame and the price of success, done as a mini-rock opera starring Norman & The Starmaker! As with some of these sets, the best tunes here are those that are the most subtle and less dramatic – and which revisit the more everyday themes of the group's Village Green years. Other tracks are a bit more showy and gimmicky, in a way that almost makes you feel silly for caring about the subject matter – even though Ray Davies's vision of the issues at hand is still as biting as ever. A few standout tracks move into straighter rocking territory, but without the kitsch of some of the other "oldies" styled numbers – and titles include "Holiday Romance", "Everybody's A Star", "Rush Hour Blues", "Nine To Five", "When Work Is Over", "Ducks On The Wall", "You Can't Stop The Music", and "Face In The Crowd". LP, Vinyl record album

Don Leisure is more of a producer and beatmaker than a jazzman – but he's got a very spiritual vibe here, thanks in part to very strong participation on the album from harpist Amanda Whiting – who brings in this amazing cosmic energy that's very similar to the vibe on her own great records! Most tunes have a mellow groove – laidback beats with harp from Amanda, and saxophone solos on three tracks, trumpet on one more – and two of the selections also feature excellent vocals from Deborah Jordan, the British soul singer we've dug for many years! There's a great blend of slow funk soundscapes and jazzy solos on the set – and titles include "Walk With Us", "Peace Of Mind", "The First Chant", "Just Be Free", "Crying Tiger", "Beyond The Midnight Sun", and "Third Bass". LP, Vinyl record album

Jazzy and classy – and one of the first of Ramsey's albums to feature him working with larger arrangements instead of the usual trio. In this case, the whole thing was arranged and conducted by Richard Evans – with a spacey hip sound that's not too far from some of Ramsey's later work for Cadet with Charles Stepney. Evans' arrangements are in that strident stepping Soulful Strings mode – and Ramsey's working the keys hard and soulfully over the top, bouncing around the piano in a hard mode that wipes away any schmaltz that you might have caught on the records otherwise. The whole thing grooves quite nicely in a mix of spacey jazz and easy soul – and titles include "The Pawnbroker", "Saturday Night After The Movies", "Girl Talk", "Matchmaker", "Return To Paradise", "Goin Hollywood", "From Russia With Love", and "The Gentle Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

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A hell of a collaboration – core sounds by Madlib, which are then re-arranged by Kieran Hebden – at a level that seems to open up new dimensions in both artists! The sound is definitely Madlib's, but there's also a sense of majesty that seems to flow through the whole thing – almost as if David Axelrod was helping the beatmaker to find a new vision in the studio. And while some of Hebden's work can be a bit cold or too obtuse, there's none of that here at all – as the Madlib elements really keep things rooted to the ground, and in strongly funky territory too – all instrumental, but with voices drifting in and out of the mix as needed. Titles include "Theme De Crabtree", "Road Of The Lonely Ones", "Riddim Chant", "Hopprock", "Loose Goose", "One For Quartabe/Right Now", "Latino Negro", and "The New Normal". LP, Vinyl record album

The only full album ever cut by The Majors – a hell of a vocal group from the Philly scene of the early 60s, and one with a fantastic approach that's a bit unlike anyone else we can think of! The group sports soaring lead vocals from singer Ricky Cordo – a singer with a range that's really amazing, and used in these ways that can be really dynamic, even on the mellow cuts – as he's backed by the group's three guys and one gal, who sometimes get a bit more spotlight in the lead – amidst this wonderful palette of instrumental touches, which includes bits of vibes, organ, and other nice touches that really keep things interesting. Titles include "Oh Wee Baby", "Time Will Tell", "She's A Troublemaker", "Don't You Lose Your Cool", "Come One Come On", "What In The World", "A Wonderful Dream", and "Anything You Can Do". LP, Vinyl record album

Saxophonist Mike Makhalemele is in great company here – blowing these long, soulful lines in a combo that has plenty of mellow grooves – keyboards from Jabu Nkosi and bass from Sipho Gumede – both players who really know how to lay back, open up a groove, and let Mike do all the rest with his horn! The approach is a more stripped-down take on American soul fusion styles of the time – never too smooth or commercial, and definitely with some elements of older South African jazz in the mix, although in subtle ways. The main focus is on the tenor, which is great – on titles that include "My Thing", "15th Avenue", "Peace Train", "End Of The Road", and "Going West". LP, Vinyl record album

The image on the cover really gets at the feel of the set – as the instrumentation here features simply percussion, electric guitar, and flute – all used in really inventive, highly rhythmic ways! There's a lilting groove to the set that recalls earlier rhythms from the South African scene – but the use of guitar and phrasing of the flute are also showing a stronger influence from jazz – maybe not the modern modes of a group like The Blue Notes, yet still a key cultural shift that really makes the album a legendary one from the scene at the time! Titles include "Soul Of Africa", "Jolly Journey", "Malombi Walk", "Sibathathu", "Abbey's Body", "Umkhosi", "Ngivulele", and "Emoubane". LP, Vinyl record album

A really early experiment in mixing South African styles with jazz – a set that's maybe more strongly on some of Township modes of the years before than a few of the other key modern projects of the time! Instrumentation often has pennywhistle in the lead on solos, used in a way a funky flute might on an American jazz set – and the rhythms often have raw hand percussion, mixed with warmer riffing currents on electric guitar – creating this sense of balance that gives the whole record a hell of a lot of charm! The sound is nice and lean, in a really great way – and titles include "Abbey's Mood", "Lousy Fever", "A Tribute To Birds", "Blues After Lunch", "Grab This For Me", "Root Of Africa", "Vuma Mbari", and "Jikeleza". LP, Vinyl record album

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A package that definitely lives up to the title – as it presents the hardest-wailing work recorded by Memphis Slim in the postwar years – including plenty of cuts that were a huge influence on early rock and roll, and many that have him in more of an R&B mode than usua! Slim's records weren't always upbeat, but the cuts in this set definitely are – and include some killer cuts with his Houserockers group, and work from a young guitarist Matt Murphy too! As always with Bear Family, the presentation is wonderful – not just well-chosen cuts, but a great package overall – featuring 29 titles that include "Rockin The House", "Memphis Slim USA", "Pacemaker Boogie", "Wish Me Well", "Big Bertha", "Old Taylor", "Harlem Bound", "Back Alley", "Tia Juana", "She's Allright", and "Gotta Find My Baby". CD

Proof that Helen Merrill was continuing to grow as a singer – well into her fourth decade of recording! This obscure session was recorded in France in 1986 – with a lineup that includes Steve Lacy on soprano sax, Gordon Beck on acoustic and electric piano, and Stephane Grappelli on violin. In this spare setting, Merrill's are wonderfully at home – sadly picking her way through a host of tunes that includes great readings of some more familiar numbers, plus a few originals by players on the set. Titles include "Nuages", "Round Midnight", "A Tout Choisir", "As Time Goes By", "Laura", "Music Makers", "And She Still Is With Me", and "Solitude". LP, Vinyl record album

A really great later effort from Helen Merrill – one recorded in Paris at the end of the 80s with some excellent tenor sax work from Stan Getz! The mode of the record is similar to other Merrill records from the time – spare, gentle, and moody – sometimes threatening to lapse into its own blueness, but wonderfully redeemed by Stan's solo lines – which push a boldness and raspy edge into the tunes that really livens things up. The album's a great demonstration of the Getz power on a vocal session – a sound that never overtakes the presence of the singer, but really brings in something fresh – a voice of its own that helps redefine the tunes and create some of the most exciting moments on the record. Other players include Joachim Kuhn and Torrie Zito on piano, JF Jenny-Clark on bass, and Daniel Humair on drums – and titles include "Music Makers", "Cavatina", "It's Not Easy Being Green", "Yesterdays", "If You Go Away", and "Just Friends". CD

For all you mix tape makers and bedroom producers, the promo version of Nas' Stillmatic, with just the rhymes, including "Stillmatic", "Got Ur Self A...", "2nd Childhood", "One Mic", "You're Da Man", "The Flyest" featuring AZ, "Rule" featuring Amerie, "Ether", "What Goes Around", "Every Ghetto", and "Braveheart Party". LP, Vinyl record album

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Mike Nesmith is letting his hair grow a bit on the cover of this third album with his First National Band – and he also seems to be opening up his sound a bit, too – firmly flowing into the expansive country rock territory he opened up with the group's first two albums! Nesmith sometimes seems to have an even more confident lead vocal – partly through a stronger sense of twang – and while he's written more great tracks for this album, he also opens the door to handle work by Bobby Whitlock, Nilsson, and Mike Murphy too. Titles include "Here I Am", "Propinquity", "Grand Ennui", "Texas Morning", "Rene", and "Rainmaker". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful early album by one of the great oddball songwriters of the last forty years! The Harry album is certainly the bridge between Nilsson's two previous wildly bombastic LPs, and the slightly more subdued material that popped up on the Schmilsson and later records. Harry runs the gamut from the cute and gentle "The Puppy Song" and "Mournin' Glory Song", to the more gonzo stuff. Other tracks include "Mother Nature's Son", "Fairfax Rag", the excellent break track "Rainmaker" and "I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City". LP, Vinyl record album

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A tight group led by bassist Edwin Morales, with vocals from Pedro Bull, Jose L Ramos, and Rafy Andino – on titles that include "Quedate", "Ese Loco De La Vida", "A Dormir Afuera", "No Hay Preguntas", and "Contra Viento Y Marea". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest records ever made by singer Madeline Bell – even though it was never issued to the public at the time! Madeline Bell first broke big on the UK soul scene at the end of the 60s, and also sang famously on many studio sessions too – but here, she works alongside groovemaker Alan Parker (with some help from Mike Moran), to serve up vocal versions of tunes that also appeared on the instrumental album Sound Of Soul! That record was a counterpart to this one – also issued on the Themes label – but the presence of Bell's vocals really sends things over the top, and she works at a level that makes us wish that she and Parker had made more commercial releases at the time. All tunes are nice and soulful, with plenty of funky currents – and titles include "Love Doctor", "Move & Shake Your Body", "Soul Slap", "Crumpet", "That's What Friends Are For", "Flying High", "You're A Winner", "Mr Smooth Man", and "Love Is All". LP, Vinyl record album

The second album from The Paupers – a mix of searing guitar jams, more easygoing psychedelic pop bigger arrangements, even a little bit of a comic take on Byrdsy country rock– making for a pretty wild mix of sounds, but done with a focus on melodies and catchy grooves. The group is really stretching out and trying a lot of things on this second album, throwing caution into the wind as far as stylistic divergence goes, more often than not hitting the mark! Titles include "South Down Road", "Cairo Hotel", "Can't Go On", "Another Man's Hair On My Razor", "Ask Her Again" and more, plus the bonus tracks "If I Call You By Some Name", "Copper Penny" and "White Song". CD

The second album from The Paupers – a mix of searing guitar jams, more easygoing psychedelic pop bigger arrangements, even a little bit of a comic take on Byrdsy country rock– making for a pretty wild mix of sounds, but done with a focus on melodies and catchy grooves. The group is really stretching out and trying a lot of things on this second album, throwing caution into the wind as far as stylistic divergence goes, more often than not hitting the mark! Titles include "South Down Road", "Cairo Hotel", "Can't Go On", "Another Man's Hair On My Razor", "Ask Her Again" and more, plus the bonus tracks "If I Call You By Some Name", "Copper Penny" and "White Song". CD

Great great work by The Paupers – essentially a 60s folk rock combo, but one with a really groovy sound! The group come up with loads of great guitar interplay on the session – jangling acoustic and electric together in a style that comes up with some nice hippie and eastern edges – and which means that even on the vocal tracks, the album's got an instrumental charm that kind of links it to some of the hipper rock/jazz crossover projects on labels like Verve and Impulse at the time. Most tracks do have vocals, in a style that ranges from Sunshine Pop to folksy – and the whole album's pretty darn great, filled with tracks that include "Let Me Be", "Magic People", "It's Your Mind", "Black Thank You Package", "Simple Deed", and "Tudor Impressions". This edition includes 2 bonus tracks: "Like You, Like Me" and "Sooner Than Soon". CD

A very cool collection of early work on Harvest Records – a wonderful showcase of the way that branch of EMI Records was helping to create some crucial changes on the UK scene at the start of the 70s! The album's maybe most noteworthy for its inclusion of the rare Pink Floyd song "Embryo" – but the whole thing's great, and filled with hip gems that include "Octopus" and "Baby Lemonade" by Syd Barrett, "Rainmaker" and "Soulful Lady" by Michael Chapman, "Song From The Bottom Of The Well" and "Lady Rachel" by Kevin Ayers, "October 26" and "Grass" by The Pretty Things, "Druid One" by Third Ear Band, "Breathe" by Roger Waters, and "Careful With That Ax Eugene" by Pink Floyd. LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary set from the Canadian 60s underground – a landmark record from a group who've gone onto become huge over the years with psych collectors, even though they never cracked the charts (or the US market) at the time! The set's way more than just another obscure rock release – as it's got a sharpness, tightness, and sense of songcraft that matches some of the bigger names in the US scene at the time – put together with a style that knows when to open up, but never loses itself in self-indulgence either. There's some surprisingly strong harmonies throughout the tunes – which often have a fuzzy, rollicking edge, but without losing sight of the sunny groove – and titles include "Epistle To Paradise", "Shadows Of Your Mind", "Art's A Happy Man", "Bridge Under A Sky", the epic centerpiece "You Don't Care", "Face Behind The Sun", "Dainty General Rides", and "Civilization Machine". CD

A great collaboration between Perez Prado and trumpeter Shorty Rogers – one in which Rogers' solos sparkle brilliantly over the top of Perez's tight Latin rhythms – all in a style that's as moody as it is evocative and rhythmic! Side one features the extended "Voodoo Suite" – a side-long track that builds nicely on rootsy Latin rhythms that are much freer than Prado's pop work of the 50s – and which features a growing jazz horizon at the edges, filled with players who include Bud Shank on alto and flute, Bob Cooper on tenor, Shelly Manne on drums, and Pete Candoli on trumpet – in a larger section underneath Shorty Rogers' solos. Side two features shorter tracks recorded a year later – a bit more in the standard Prado mode, but still with a really dynamic feel, and contributions from jazz players like Candoli and Rolf Erikson on trumpets, Willie Maiden on tenor, and Jay Hill on trombone. Titles include "Music Makers", "In The Mood", "St. James Infirmary", and "Jumpin At The Woodside". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful work on guitar and sitar from the great John Renbourn – with flute from Ray Warleigh, plus concertina, viola, and percussion – on titles that include "Trotto", "Lamento Di Tristan", "Veri Floris", "Alman", "The Lady & The Unicorn", and "My Johnny Was A Shoemaker". LP, Vinyl record album

Funky madness from the legendary Rhythm Makers – a dancefloor combo with a really incredible groove! The group has an approach that's a lot like Kool & The Gang at their best, or like some of the best mid 70s albums by the Kay Gees or Fatback – lots of bass at the bottom, very tight vamping by the band, and a wikki-wikki funky sound that's totally great! Many of the tracks on the set make good use of moog or keyboards – never too much, but just the right dose to spook things up a bit – and although many of the cuts have vocals, the overall focus is still in the instrumentation – which always comes across pretty darn great, and which is played with incredible precision throughout! The combo later morphed into GQ, but they've got a much rawer sound here – and titles include "Can You Feel It (parts 1 & 2)", "You Better Believe It", "Soul On Your Side", "Zone", "Funk N You", and "Street Dreamin". LP, Vinyl record album

Funky madness from the legendary Rhythm Makers – a dancefloor combo with a really incredible groove! The group has an approach that's a lot like Kool & The Gang at their best, or like some of the best mid 70s albums by the Kay Gees or Fatback – lots of bass at the bottom, very tight vamping by the band, and a wikki-wikki funky sound that's totally great! Many of the tracks on the set make good use of moog or keyboards – never too much, but just the right dose to spook things up a bit – and although many of the cuts have vocals, the overall focus is still in the instrumentation – which always comes across pretty darn great, and which is played with incredible precision throughout! The combo later morphed into GQ, but they've got a much rawer sound here – and titles include "Can You Feel It (parts 1 & 2)", "You Better Believe It", "Soul On Your Side", "Zone", "Funk N You", and "Street Dreamin". LP, Vinyl record album

Funky madness from the legendary Rhythm Makers – a dancefloor combo with a really incredible groove! The group has an approach that's a lot like Kool & The Gang at their best, or like some of the best mid 70s albums by the Kay Gees or Fatback – lots of bass at the bottom, very tight vamping by the band, and a wikki-wikki funky sound that's totally great! Many of the tracks on the set make good use of moog or keyboards – never too much, but just the right dose to spook things up a bit – and although many of the cuts have vocals, the overall focus is still in the instrumentation – which always comes across pretty darn great, and which is played with incredible precision throughout! The combo later morphed into GQ, but they've got a much rawer sound here – and titles include "Can You Feel It (parts 1 & 2)", "You Better Believe It", "Soul On Your Side", "Zone", "Funk N You", and "Street Dreamin". LP, Vinyl record album

Funky madness from the legendary Rhythm Makers – a dancefloor combo with a really incredible groove! The group has an approach that's a lot like Kool & The Gang at their best, or like some of the best mid 70s albums by the Kay Gees or Fatback – lots of bass at the bottom, very tight vamping by the band, and a wikki-wikki funky sound that's totally great! Many of the tracks on the set make good use of moog or keyboards – never too much, but just the right dose to spook things up a bit – and although many of the cuts have vocals, the overall focus is still in the instrumentation – which always comes across pretty darn great, and which is played with incredible precision throughout! The combo later morphed into GQ, but they've got a much rawer sound here – and titles include "Can You Feel It (parts 1 & 2)", "You Better Believe It", "Soul On Your Side", "Zone", "Funk N You", and "Street Dreamin". CD features an insane number of bonus tracks – 10 in all – with the unreleased cuts "Position", "Wonderful", and "Lover's Lane" – plus "Can You Feel It (orig special disco 12")", "You're Never Too Old (single)", "Prime Cut (single)", "Touch (single)", and "How Much I Love You (single)". CD

Sweetly stepping funk from The Rimshots – here moving from their rawer early sound into a tighter mode that was much more in keeping with the Philly scene of the time! The set's got a really full ensemble group feel – similar to other All Platinum classics by Brand New Funk and Wood Brass & Steel – a style that might be called disco at times, but which has a more laidback approach, and a more organic funk-based sound at its core. There's some great tripped-out guitars on a few cuts – stepping over the grooves with a chromatic sound that reminds us a bit of The Spirit Of Atlanta – and the best numbers burn with a rolling groove that would make the Rhythm Makers proud! Tracks include "Groove Bus", "Do what You Feel", "Walter's Inspiration", "Now Is the Time", and the group's cover of "7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (Blow Your Whistle)". LP, Vinyl record album

A masterful fusion set from guitarist Lee Ritenour – one that expands his sound a bit more than usual by adding in vocals on a number of tracks – but in a way that really gets at the mainstream soul influences that bubble through his jazz work! The set features key vocal appearances from Patti Austin, Tom Baylor, and Bill Champlin – all singers who really know how to respect the instrumental side of a tune, too – which is great, given that the record also features keyboards from Dave Grusin and Patrice Rushen too. Titles include "That's Enough For Me", "Sugarloaf Express", "What Do You Want", "Matchmakers", "Morning Glory", and "The Storm". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare American release from British baritonist Ronnie Ross – working here in the sharp-edged company of drummer Allan Ganley! The group's got a really tight sound throughout – that best sharp-lead mode of the Brit scene of the 50s – but with a looser feel on the solos, which are handled especially well by Ross and tenorist Art Ellefson – a player we hardly know at all, but who cuts some really imaginative lines on the set. The overall feel's a bit like the Jazz Couriers work of Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott – or a bit like some of Don Rendell's best – and the rest of the group features Stan Jones on piano and Stan Wasser on bass. Tracks are mostly originals, and titles include "The Country Squire", "The Moonbather", "The Real Funky Blues", "Blues For The Five Of Us", "I Won't Fret If You Don't Get The Blues Anymore", and "Pitiful Pearl". LP, Vinyl record album

A "sound film" created by early experimental filmmaker Walter Ruttmann – one of the first examples of musique concrete! CD

Abstract instrumentals by producer/beatmaker Samiyam – on his Stones Throw debut – with just a couple of vocal cuts with guests Jeremiah Jae & Oliver the 2nd, Action Bronson and Earl Sweatshirt! Lots of cool, oddball samples on this one, with a timeless sense of tripped out beatcraft. Good stuff. Tracks include "Taco Chase", "Blowed", "Animals Have Feelings", "Surprise", "Mirror" with Earl Sweatshirt, "One Day", "Paddle Boat", "Ronald", "Gumdrops", "Not A Fluke", "Smoke Break" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

The Seeds are caught in a web of sound on the cover – and the same thing will happen to the listener, too – as the power of this groundbreaking classic reaches out and grabs you right away! The album's not the group's first, but it's definitely the one where everything comes together amazingly – the sneering vocals of Sky Saxon, that hypnotic blend of thin organ and guitar in the grooves, and even the slight use of bottleneck guitar – an early example of taking the instrument to much more way-out territory! The album's got plenty to please both fans of garage and psych, and also has a power that went on to influence generations to come – which you can definitely hear on titles that include "The Farmer", "Rollin Machine", "Just Let Go", "A Faded Picture", "Tripmaker", and the 14 minute jam of "Up In Her Room". LP, Vinyl record album

The Seeds are caught in a web of sound on the cover – and the same thing will happen to the listener, too – as the power of this groundbreaking classic reaches out and grabs you right away! The album's not the group's first, but it's definitely the one where everything comes together amazingly – the sneering vocals of Sky Saxon, that hypnotic blend of thin organ and guitar in the grooves, and even the slight use of bottleneck guitar – an early example of taking the instrument to much more way-out territory! The album's got plenty to please both fans of garage and psych, and also has a power that went on to influence generations to come – which you can definitely hear on titles that include "The Farmer", "Rollin Machine", "Just Let Go", "A Faded Picture", "Tripmaker", and the 14 minute jam of "Up In Her Room". LP, Vinyl record album

We've always loved the music of pianist Bernie Senesky – a Canadian musician with a richly lyrical, expressive style – one that doesn't always get the recognition it deserves on our side of the border! And we've also always loved the tenor of Eric Alexander – a player we've been following since his start, and who has had some amazing moments of growth in recent years – one of them on this record with Bernie, a player who seems to bring out all this warmer, more sensitive elements in Alexander's horn – as the two of them work together in a very unexpected pairing, but one that we'd love to hear more of on future recordings! Other players on the date include Kieren Overs on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums on most tracks, save for two, which feature Morgan Childs on drums and Dave Young on bass. Titles include the originals "Blues For EJ", Alexander's Realtime Band", "Stand Pat", and "Make Believe" – plus a nice take on "Matchmaker". CD

We've always loved the music of pianist Bernie Senesky – a Canadian musician with a richly lyrical, expressive style – one that doesn't always get the recognition it deserves on our side of the border! And we've also always loved the tenor of Eric Alexander – a player we've been following since his start, and who has had some amazing moments of growth in recent years – one of them on this record with Bernie, a player who seems to bring out all this warmer, more sensitive elements in Alexander's horn – as the two of them work together in a very unexpected pairing, but one that we'd love to hear more of on future recordings! Other players on the date include Kieren Overs on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums on most tracks, save for two, which feature Morgan Childs on drums and Dave Young on bass. Titles include the originals "Blues For EJ", Alexander's Realtime Band", "Stand Pat", and "Make Believe" – plus a nice take on "Matchmaker". CD

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Led by drummer Hal Smith, with Chris Tyle on cornet and comb, Richard Hadlock on soprano and alto, Butch Thompson on piano, Becky Kilgore on guitar, Mike Duffy on bass. LP, Vinyl record album

Michael Snow is a man of many talents – a musician, and maybe most famously a filmmaker – responsible for the structural classic Wavelength, and the early New York Eye & Ear Control – which had a famous improvised jazz score issued on ESP! Yet here, Snow is presented as a photographer – in a set of images that begin in the early 60s, even with ties to his films – and which move into the early 21st Century, showing an uncanny eye, but one that also really changes over time – so that the few dozen photographs in the book are each very striking, but often in a very different way! The softcover book is 60 pages, with 34 photographic plates in color and black and white, and notes on each by Snow himself. Book

An incredible album, and one of Strozier's best! The record is an excellent example of the maturity and modernism that was coming out of the Chicago jazz scene as it hit the early 60s – and it features Strozier's soulful alto in the company of some of the city's best players, like pianist Chris Anderson, drummer Walter Perkins, bassist Bill Lee, and baritonist Pat Patrick, playing here away from Sun Ra's group! The title track alone is an incredibly fantastic composition, full of moodiness and incredible reed work – but the rest of the record's great, too, and features excellent originals like "The Need For Love", "The Crystal Ball", and "Pacemaker". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent early work from Little Johnny Taylor – not to be confused with the bigger-name singer on Stax! The title's a bit of a misnomer, given that Little Johnny Taylor wasn't the biggest hitmaker of the 60s – but the album's a killer batch of his best work for the Galaxy label – work that's definitely the "soul full of blues" promised in the title! The style here's a bit like Bobby Blue Bland at his best – bluesy, but with a much more sophisticated feel overall, and certainly some jazz phrasing that comes in from time to time – all to push Johnny much more into the soul side of the spectrum for the 60s. There's almost an Otis Redding feel at times – and the backings by Ray Shanklin certainly show a Memphis influence. Titles include "Part Time Love", "Help Yourself", "If You Love Me Like You Say", "One More Chance", "I Smell Trouble", and "Somebody's Got To Pay". LP, Vinyl record album

A full length Riverside album that brings together two different sessions from the 78rpm years! Side one features trombonist Jack Teagarden working with an octet that also includes Rex Stewart on cornet, Ben Webster on tenor, and Barney Bigard on clarinet – and side two features clarinet genius Pee Wee Russell working with Freddie Green on guitar, Max Kaminsky on trumpet, Al Gold on tenor, James P Johnson on piano, and Dicky Wells on trombone! CD

A full length Riverside album that brings together two different sessions from the 78rpm years! Side one features trombonist Jack Teagarden working with an octet that also includes Rex Stewart on cornet, Ben Webster on tenor, and Barney Bigard on clarinet – and side two features clarinet genius Pee Wee Russell working with Freddie Green on guitar, Max Kaminsky on trumpet, Al Gold on tenor, James P Johnson on piano, and Dicky Wells on trombone! LP, Vinyl record album

Features the stone club classic "Georgy Porgy" – plus "Child's Anthem", "I'll Supply The Love", "Rockmaker", "Hold The Line", and "Angela". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge album from Traffic – a set that was first given to the world in a strange-shaped cover – which seemed to grace countless record collections back in the 70s! The group is expanded to a sextet here – with bass from Rick Grech and percussion from Rebop Kwaku Baah – both of whom really flesh out the sound in wonderful ways – adding more bottom and heft to the musical ideas here from Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi, the latter of whom gets to shine on vocals on two tracks too! As usual, the reeds from Chris Wood really send the whole thing home – and titles include "Rock & Roll Stew", "Rainmaker", "Many A Mile To Freedom", "Hidden Treasure", and "Light Up Or Leave Me Alone". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge album from Traffic – a set that was first given to the world in a strange-shaped cover – which seemed to grace countless record collections back in the 70s! The group is expanded to a sextet here – with bass from Rick Grech and percussion from Rebop Kwaku Baah – both of whom really flesh out the sound in wonderful ways – adding more bottom and heft to the musical ideas here from Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi, the latter of whom gets to shine on vocals on two tracks too! As usual, the reeds from Chris Wood really send the whole thing home – and titles include "Rock & Roll Stew", "Rainmaker", "Many A Mile To Freedom", "Hidden Treasure", and "Light Up Or Leave Me Alone". CD

Tracks include "Only Your Love", "It's Cool", "The Sha-La Bandit", "Ms. Grace", "Your Little Trustmaker", "Hypnotized", and "So Much In Love". CD

Weird and wonderful sounds from a very electric man – the mighty Piero Umiliani, an Italian composer who first rose to fame for a set of groundbreaking film scores in the 60s – then moved into even more experimental sound library work in the following decade! This set has Piero working in all sorts of cool electronic styles – never too outside or avant, but definitely in the darker side of his spectrum – although almost always with that playful sense of a tune that made his 60s music such a delight! The range of instruments varies – Umiliani clearly had a studio that was full of brand-new, top-shelf technologies – and titles are mostly from the mid 70s, with a few later cuts from 1983. Tunes include "Danza Magica", "Soundmaker Blues", "Fruitori", "Batticuore", "Sinistro Carillon", "Dolomiti", "Apocolaisse Atomica", "Description", "Lavorazione A Mare", and "Elettrone". LP, Vinyl record album

Moogy magic from the legendary Piero Umiliani – a wicked track that begins with lots of cool electronics, stripped down into an early drum machine rhythm – and delivered with more space energy than you'd expect from the "blues" in the title! "Gadget" is a cool quirky bit of electronics – almost like a robot creating dance music with a moog and an acoustic bass – and "Automa" has a cold feel that's somewhere between early Sheffield electronica and the sound of the German new wave! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A wonderful sound library set from the great Piero Umiliani – and a record that's filled with some of his coolest electronics ever! The feel of the record is very much in keeping with the image on the cover – kind of sci fi, but kind of playful too – a wonderful blend of keyboards and moogy bits, often played with a cool little groove – but one that's laidback enough to recall Umiliani's best soundtrack music! Tunes are relatively short – between one and four minutes in length – but really have a great sense of variety and imagination – at a level that goes way beyond some of the overdone repetition you might find in other albums of this nature. Really great all the way through – with cuts that include "Futuristic Jam", "Killer Robot", "Soft Key", "Bric Brac", "Soundmaker Blues", "Gadget", "Danza Galattica", and "Jingle No 1". CD

A wonderful sound library set from the great Piero Umiliani – and a record that's filled with some of his coolest electronics ever! The feel of the record is very much in keeping with the image on the cover – kind of sci fi, but kind of playful too – a wonderful blend of keyboards and moogy bits, often played with a cool little groove – but one that's laidback enough to recall Umiliani's best soundtrack music! Tunes are relatively short – between one and four minutes in length – but really have a great sense of variety and imagination – at a level that goes way beyond some of the overdone repetition you might find in other albums of this nature. Really great all the way through – with cuts that include "Futuristic Jam", "Killer Robot", "Soft Key", "Bric Brac", "Soundmaker Blues", "Gadget", "Danza Galattica", and "Jingle No 1". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes performaces with The Rhythmakers, Little Chocolate Dandies, Red McKenzie & His Mound City Blue Blowers, Ted Lewis & His Band, and Jack Teagarden & His Orchestra. LP, Vinyl record album

John Lewis & Brian Hodgson. LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

A really cool little record from the early 70s Canadian blues rockers Whiskey Howl – who really show a geniune depth of bluesy influences – from small scale numbers with just vocals, guitar and harmonica, to bigger sounding tunes with a trio of saxes behind the drums, bass & guitar and beyond. The vocals are especially gritty and truthful, really coming off as wholly credible here! Titles include "Caledonia", "Early In The Morning", "Mother Earth", "Down The Line", "Rock Island Line", "One Hot Lady", "Pullin The Midnight", "I'm Not Talking", "Jessie's Song" and more. CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A beautiful entry in this surprisingly long-running series – a mad mix of music that happens every December, when reedman Mars Williams combines themes from Albert Ayler tunes with other snippets of festive holiday songs! But lest you think this is a standard Christmas record, think again – as the music is very freely improvised, and is much more like an album of free jazz than something you'd be likely to play around the fire with your family – unless your family happens to all be fans of improvised music! Given that Ayler was always hoping his music had the power to reach other audiences, we're thinking he'd be pleased with the project – at least as much as we are. In addition to Mars' own work on saxes, suona, and toy instruments – the group also features Josh Berman on cornet, Jim Baker on piano and viola, Peter Maunu on violin, Steve Hunt on drums, Kent Kessler on bass, and Brian Sandstrom on bass, guitar, and trumpet – on tunes that include "The Divine Peacemaker Plays Dreidel In Frightful Weather", "The Angels Sing With The Old & New Ghosts In The Manger", and "Did You Hear They Found Light In Darkness". CD

One of the most obscure Trojan Records collections of the 70s – maybe in part because it looks more like an airline promotional album than it does a collection of rare reggae nuggets! Yet the set is definitely the latter – a Trojan LP that brings together earlier singles recorded by Alvin GG Ranglin at a time when he was a key tastemaker on the Kingston scene – work that's right in the cusp of rocksteady/early reggae work, from a time when Ranglin was really at the top of his game! Tracks include a mix of vocal and instrumentals, solo singers and groups – with titles that include "Joan" by The Tidals, "Marie Song" by Fitz Major, "Sitting On The Sidewalk" by Ansil Linkers, "I Need Your Love" by Gregory Isaacs, "The Same Folks" by Rainy Davis, "Atlantic One" by Ansel Collins, "Hurricane Fifi" by GG Allstars, "Musical Coma" by Ranking Magnum, "Sensuous Woman" by The Maytones, and "Open Up Your Door" by Freddie McKay. This great 2CD set adds in 32 bonus tracks, most on CD for the first time ever – with work from The Starlites, GG Allstars, Keith & Dennis, Meditations, U Roy, Maytones, Vince Powell, Glen Washington, Elpedo & The Marveltones, Austin Campbell, and others – all served up with the usual high quality Doctor Bird notes and production! CD

A much-needed look at a key force in Italian disco – the legendary Baia Degli Angeli, a club that was as important to Europe as the Paradise Garage was to New York! The CD features a great selection of numbers that played strongly on Angeli's dancefloor in the late 70s, most of which have a spacey electronic quality that links them strongly to some of the best underground club of New York at the time. The CD's mixed together in a way that recreates the feel of the legendary floor – and titles include "Midnight Madness" by Don Ray, "Zone" by Rhythm Makers, "Don't You Know Who Did It" by John Forde, "Pazuzu" by Tony Silvester & The New Ingredient, "Surprise" by Andre Gagnon, "Sweet Lady" by Chain Reaction, "Timing Forget The Timing" by Black Devil, "Magnifico Mambo" by Five Letters, "Come On & Rock" by Needa, "Point Zero" by Voyage, "Un Habit En La Bemol" by Flashback Roger Gravel, and "Monkey Star" by Arpadys. CD

Music from Bo Diddley, The Platters, Ruth Brown And Her Rhythmakers, The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon, The Ernie Freeman Combo, The Teen Queens, Howlin' Wolf, Bobby Mitchell, Ray Charles, The Moonglows, Little Richard And His Band, James Brown With The Famous Flames, Fats Domino, Clyde McPhatter, and more - 30 songs in all. CD

Features 80s cuts by Phil Collins & Four Tops – plus 60s classics by Hollies, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Searchers, Spencer Davis Group, Dusty Springfield, and Sonny & Cher. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Manfred Mann, The Zombies, The Tams, Chuck Berry, The Newbeats, The Supremes, The Searchers, The Beach Boys, Gerry And The Pacemakers, The Premiers, and more - 24 tracks in all. CD

Swirling psychedelia from the late 60s & early 70s – raga inflected soundscapes featuring the sitar – and a plethora of other mind-altering instrumentation in the psych pop canon! Many of the tunes are kind of sole examples of a psychedelic combo trying out the sitar sound, while others feature regular dabblers – but it's all groovy stuff. Features acts from the UK and US scenes, with the Mecki Mark Men, Moonkyte, Full Moon Band, the comparably iconic Ananda Shankar, and much more! Titles include "Free" by Mecki Mark Men, "Caves Of Her Mind" by Stunt's Blue Leg Expedition, "I Know What To Say" by The Ugly Ducklings, "Where Will The Grass Grow" by Moonkyte, "Prayer To St Peter" by Nick Carter, "Renunciation" by Ananda Shanker, "One Grain Of Sand" by Wizz Jones, "The Shoemaker Of Leatherwear Square" by Lemon Pipers, "Aurore Cosmic" by Popera Cosmic and more. 20 tracks in all. CD

With selections by The Rolling Stones, Them, Tom Jones, The Zombies, Kathy Kirby, Mike Leander Orchestra, Unit 4 + 2, Bern Elliott, The Bachelors, Lulu & The Luvers, Johnny Howard Band, Billy Fury, The Applejacks, and Dave Berry. LP, Vinyl record album

A killer! Take the funky genius of Kenny Dope and Keb Darge, set them loose on a pile of rare funky 45s, and you've got one of the best sets of music we've ever carried! Both guys really know their stuff – and they've done an excellent job with this set, which is easily as great as any of the Keb Darge ones, if not better! Hard drums, rumbling bass, blaring horns, choppy guitars, and screaming vocals abound – and the set's a great blend of instrumental and vocal funk, all with that deep deep deep sound that never gets old! Titles include "Get It Off The Ground" by Joe Coleman, "I Got Some" by Billy Gardner, "UFO" by Micky & Them, "Contradiction" by Total Experience, "Soul Food" by Frankie Seay & The Soul Riders, "I Turn You On" by Latin Breed, "Don't Push Your Luck" by The Peacemakers, "Grandma's Funky Popcorn" by The Soul Generals, "Ghost A Go Go" by Richard Rome, and "Cissy Strut N American Woman" by The Willard Posey Reunion. Great stuff – and 20 cuts in all! CD

Tracks from Alex Gopher, Thievery Corporation, Deadbeats, I:Cube, Gotan Project, Troublemakers, Pablo, Butti 49, Elak, Schmoov!, Beanfield, and Samia Farah. CD

A dozen tracks from The Dining Rooms, Troublemakers, J-Walk, Alex Cortiz, J-Walk, Kinobe, Brace, Butti 49, Thievery Corporation, Soulstance, Sidewinder, and Brother Of Soul. CD

Includes selections by Gerry & The Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, Swinging Blue Jeans, Cilla Black, Freddie & The Dreamers, and The Hollies. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Ray Noble And His Orchestra, Louis Armstrong And His Orchestra, The Chicago Rhythm Kings, McKenzie And Condon's Chicagoans, Bob Crosby's Bob Cats, The Teddy Wilson Quartet, Bessie Smith, Bix Beiderbecke And His Gang, The Rhythmakers, Pee Wee Russell's Hot Four, Benny Goodman And His Orchestra, Jelly Roll Morton And His Orchestra, and more. CD

A wealth of wonderful work from the key years of the British Invasion – including a fair bit of groups who never really crossed the Atlantic to invade our shores at the time! Liverpool is best known as the home of The Beatles, but during the early 60s, the city was host to a huge wave of creative activity – as were nearby cities in the north of England – and as you'll hear in this set, there was no end to the range of groups making killer records over the space of number of years! Some of the work here will ring your ears with familiar tones from UK 60s rock, yet in ways that are different than the mod styles down in London, there's plenty of overlooked gems here to discover – and given that the box set goes well into the second half of the 60s, there's plenty of tracks here that are way different than just the work that grew up in the shadows of the fab four! The package has that fantastic presentation we love from the Grapefruit/Strawberry label – really well-chosen cuts, supported by very detailed notes – a massive 93 tracks in all, with work from The Perishers, Quotations, Satin Bells, Cilla Black, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, Wimple Witch, Selftons, 23rd Turnoff, Tony Jackson & The Vibrations, The Mojos, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Wailing Howie Casey & The Seniors, Lee Curtis & The All-Stars, The Big Three, The Kinsleys, Wellington Wade, and dozens of others! CD

A heck of a collection – and one that really gets at the amazing array of free-thinking jazz that was brewing up on the European scene during the 70s! The set brings together over eight hours of music recorded during two years of this legendary festival – and each new disc has some great surprises along the way! There's some possibly more familiar material here – such as long improvisations that include a solo piano performance by Joachim Kuhn, two by a Mal Waldron trio with Jimmy Woode on bass and Allen Blairman on drums, one by a trio headed by pianist Yosuke Yamashita and with Akira Sakata on alto, two more by the duo of Peter Brotzmann on tenor and Han Bennink on drums, and a final two long improvisations by a great Archie Shepp gruop with Richard Greenlee on trombone, Dave Burell on piano, Cameron Brown on bass, and Beaver Harris on drums! Yet that's only the tip of the iceberg – as there's a full CD of music by a group led by Hugo Heredia on saxes and flute – with Horace Parlan on piano, Dodo Goys on bass, Tullio D'Piscopo on drums, and Mandrake Ivanir Do Nascimento on percussion. And there's another CD that features an hour-long improvisation by a version of the Willem Breuker Kollektief with Leo Cuypers on piano, Maarten Van Norden on tenor, Boy Raaymakers on trumpet, and Bernhard Hunnekink and Willem Van Manen on trombones. There's also a very long track by a cool quartet headed by Polish alto giant Zbigniew Namyslowski – and one more by the French Machi Oul Big Band. There's also tracks by Riot, with Uli Beckerhoff on trumpet; Grumpff with Michael Schlaper on tenor and soprano, and Ekkehard Jost on baritone; Mumps with Albert Mangelsdorff on trombone and John Surman on tenor; and the Eddie Prevost Quartet with Geoff Hawkins on tenor and Gerry Gold on trumpet. And last but not least are two long trcks by the Czech group Celula Jazz Crew – with Laco Deczi on trumpet, Karel Ruzicka on electric piano, and Svatopluc Kosvanec on trombone. Phew – that's a lot of music, and the whole thing comes in a very cool 10" box set, complete with a booklet of notes, too! CD

Some folks might associate Philadelphia soul with the famous Gamble & Huff productions of the 70s disco years – but the city was already overflowing with great music in the years before Philadelphia International – as you'll hear in this totally groovy set! Philly was making as much great soul music in the 60s as Detroit, Chicago, and New York – thanks to an earlier musical framework that was set up by the city's big pop hits of the late 50s – which provided plenty of labels, studios, and other facilities for Philly's ever-growing array of soul talents, too – so much so that by the end of the 60s, the city was turning into a destination for singers outside of town – almost as much of a musical magnet as studios in Memphis or Muscle Shoals! This set does a great job of bringing together both aspects of that scene – wonderful homegrown talent, mixed with outsiders to really took off in the new Philly sound of the 60s – a joyous, positive, upbeat approach that worked wonderfully well for a variety of artists. Titles include "Your Fool Still Loves You" by Oscar Weathers, "It's All Over But The Shouting" by George Tindley, "You've Been Untrue" by The Delfonics, "Ain't Nothing But A House Party" by The Show Stoppers, "Peace To You Brother" by Lou Johnson, "Christine" by Executive Suite, "Help Me" by Honey & The Bees, "You Got What I Need" by Freddie Scott, "Rainmaker" by The Moods, "Keep On Striving" by Moses Smith, "That's The Price You Have To Pay" by Brenda & The Tabulations, "What You Gave Up" by The Continental 4, "Every Day Is A Holiday" by The Intruders, "Standing In The Darkness" by The Ethics, and "Girl You're Too Young" by Len Barry. CD