A warmly wonderful trio set from the legendary Italian pianist Mario Rusca – a set that's got all the best elements of vintage European jazz sessions from the 70s, from the instrumentation right down to the production! Rusca's a lyrical master on the keys of the piano – swinging at all times, but also letting loose with flowing lines that are overflowing with color – given some nice support by Maxx Furian on drums and Riccardo Fioravanti on bass, both players who occasionally shape the rhythms with some contemporary inflections, while still letting Mario's magic flow out on the keyboard! Titles include "Love Should Never End", "Mr Rik", "Cool Green", "You Look Good To Me", "Sunny", "Killer Joe", "Wait For Me In The Sky", and "Strollin" CD

The first record we've heard in years from Italian pianist Mario Rusca – and a set that really lives up to the strength of all of his classic material from back in the day! The album's a beautifully recorded set – done in mono, which seems to bring an even richer quality to the sound of the piano in the hands of Rusca – deep, round tones that ring out beautifully in a set that's heavy on original compositions – and which features work from Riccardo Fioravanti on bass and Tony Arco on drums. The spirit of the record is like one of those lost Italian jazz treasures from the 60s – the kind of record would normally change hands for hundreds of dollars – and the double-length set is overflowing with gems – on titles that include "Monocrhome Blues", "Double Horn", "Tempo Blues", "Blue Dream", and versions of "Infant Eyes", "Blues For Gwen", "Blues Walk", "Blue Minor", "Rachid", and "Bass Blues". CD

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Massive grooves from Schema Records – a special Japanese-only collection that features some of the best recent work on the label, mixed in with a few key classics from the early days! There's a simple, elegant feel to most of the tracks here – a sound based in older jazz and bossa roots, carried off in a blend of acoustic instrumentation with slight contemporary programs and processing – but never too much to obscure the warmth of the sources! Most titles have a warmth that's undeniable – far more than you might guess from the stark black cover image – and tracks include "Stay In Mood" by Paolo Fedreghini & Marco Bianchi, "This Is What You Are" by Mario Biondi & High Five Quintet, "Samba Royale" and "Afro Impression" by Paolo Achenza Trio, "Cortante" by Gerardo Frisina, "Missione A Bombay" by Nicola Conte, and "Cinemaroma 3", "Destination Moon", "No Problem", and "Driving" by The Dining Rooms. CD

Music from Charlie Hunter Quartet, Anthony Coleman's Sephardic Tinge, Clusone Trio, Mario Pavone Sextet, Matt Darriau Paradox Trio, Horace Tapscott Trio, Matthew Shipp, Myra Melford The Same River Twice, Thomas Chapin Trio, and David S. Ware Quartet. CD

Music from Dinah Shore With Henri Rene And His Orchestra, Mario Lanza With Ray Sinatra And His Orchestra And The Jeff Alexander Choir, Pee Wee King And His Golden West Cowboys, Eartha Kitt With Henri Rene And His Orchestra, Perez Prado And His Orchestra, Eddy Arnold With Hugo Winterhalter And His Orchestra And Chorus, Eddie Fisher With Hugo Winterhalter And His Orchestra And Chorus, Kay Starr With Hugo Winterhalter And His Orchestra And Chorus, Elvis Presley, Harry Belafonte With Tony Scott And His Orchestra And Chorus, and more. CD

Music from Celia Cruz, Graciela And Mario Bauza, Noraida Y Los More, La Lupe, Cortijo Y Su Nuevo Combo, Choco Orta, Yoko, Albita, Cecilia Noel, Mimi Ibarra, and more. CD

A beautiful little compilation – one of those gems that comes along, and really reminds us that there's a real art to putting some tracks together! In a package that's kind of a follow-up to their excellent Songs For Mario's Cafe, St Etienne pay tribute to the sound of Soho pubs in years past – blending together obscure mod grooves, soul tunes, and unusual British bits – a good deal of which we've never heard before, but which all seem to make some sort of wonderful sense in the company of each other! Think of this one as the experience you might have on a rainy night in London – taking shelter in the warmth of some back alley bar in the west end, then staying way past lockup because the music the jukebox has been surprisingly great – the kind of tunes you've never really heard before, especially in this sort of combination – always a surprise as each new number comes into play. Genius, pure genius – with 25 cuts that include "Lay This Burden Down" by Mary Love, "I Can't Get Through" by Bill Oddie, "Rock N Bones" by Elroy Dietzel & The Rhythm Bandits, "Walkin Through A Cemetery" by Claudine Clark, "Hi Flutin Boogie" by John Scott, "Davy O'Brien" by Duffy Power, "Flight 2" by Angelo & Eighteen, "Good Time Coming" by Mustard, "Varee Is Love" by The Ohio Players, "Driver's Seat" by Sniff N The Tears, "Hand Clapping Time" by Gino with Johnny Greek, "Pinball" by Brian Protheroe, "Smoke Rings" by Les Paul & Mary Fod, "Lost" by The Darlettes, "I Was Born To Love You" by Herbert Hunter, "The EMI Song" by Alex Chilton, and "Sweep It Out In The Shed" by Little Ann. CD

A great return to form for the legendary Cachao – and a session that seeks to recapture the Cuban Jam Session energy of his recordings from a few decades before! Production is by Andy Garcia, and is somewhat more sentimental than in the old days – although certainly still free from any sort of Buena Vista Social Club cliches that would come in later years – and overall, the lineup of players stays nicely faithful to the classic 60s sound, but perhaps expands it with a bit more fullness. Cachao is on bass and a bit of vocals – and other artists include Francisco Aguabella on percussion, Justo Almario on tenor, Chocolate Amenteros on trumpet, Paquito D'Rivera on clarinet, and Nestor Torres on flute. Titles on this first volume include "Mi Guajira", "Lindo Yambu", "Mambo", "Isora Club", "Al Fin Te Vi", "Cachao's Guiro", and "Descarga Cachao". CD

A great return to form for the legendary Cachao – and a session that seeks to recapture the Cuban Jam Session energy of his recordings from a few decades before! Production is by Andy Garcia, and is somewhat more sentimental than in the old days – although certainly still free from any sort of Buena Vista Social Club cliches that would come in later years – and overall, the lineup of players stays nicely faithful to the classic 60s sound, but perhaps expands it with a bit more fullness. Cachao is on bass and a bit of vocals – and other artists include Francisco Aguabella on percussion, Justo Almario on tenor, Chocolate Amenteros on trumpet, Paquito D'Rivera on clarinet, and Nestor Torres on flute. Titles on this second volume include "Los Tres Golpes", "Descarga A", "El Timbalero Travieso", "Africa Suite", "Cunde Echa Un Pie", and "Bemba E Cuchara". CD

One of the freest, most exploratory albums ever recorded by John Coltrane – and a unique session done with an expanded group of some of the most important avant jazz players of his generation! The format here is similar to Ornette Coleman's Free Jazz album – in that the music is freely improvised, and spans the entire LP as a non-stop performance – one that has Coltrane in the lead, but which also features alto from Marion Brown and John Tchicai, tenor from Archie Shepp and Pharaoh Sanders, trumpet from Freddie Hubbard and Dewey Johnson – and core rhythms from McCoy Tyner on piano, drums from Elvin Jones, and double basses from Art Davis and Jimmy Garrison. The record set the format for larger improvisatory groups in years to come – but is still one of the best examples of the form! CD features both "editions" of the of the album – making for a double-length set! CD

Some of the finest Peruvian grooves of the 60s and 70s – served up by three different groups headed by reedman Nilo Espinosa, plus a few other combos as well! Nilo's got a way with a groove that's totally unique – a bit soul jazz a times, influenced by bossa at others, and sometimes even moving into sweet electric fusion – always with a very pronounced sense of rhythm that makes nearly all of his numbers into the kind of groovers that can easily traverse the globe far from their roots in the Peruvian scene! The package features work from the mid 60s Los Hilton's, the early 70s Bossa 70, and the mid 70s Nil's Jazz Ensemble – the last of whom have been favorites for years with crate-diggers, due to their use of electric keyboards and very tasty drums! Titles include "Here Come The Hilton's" and "Sherezade" by Los Hilton's; "El Gato", "Think", "Get Out Of My Way", and "Las Mariopsas" by Bossa 70; "Reflexiones", "Summer Love", "Hard Work", "Looking For A Blues", and "Somos Nada" by Nil's Jazz Ensemble; "El Bueno El Feo Y El Malo" by Nilo Espinosa Con Los 007; "Light My Fire" by Charlie Guerrero; "Gotas De Miel" by Nilo Espinosa Y Orquesta; and "People Got To Be Free" by Charlie & Many. CD

George Freeman on guitar, Bobby Cranshaw and Leroy Jackson on bass, Bob Guthrie, Buddy Williams and Marion Booker on drums, Von Freeman on tenor saxophone, John Young on piano, Kenny Barron on electric piano, Harold Mabern Jr on electric piano and piano, and Bobby Blevins on organ. CD

An incredible lost moment in the career of Screamin Jay Hawkins – material that was recorded in London in the mid 60s, and with a very different flavor than most of Hawkins' other material! There's a mod jazz approach to this set that's totally great – as Jay's raw vocals come into play with a sweet-grooving Hammond, in a combo that also features some sharp work on guitar, and some strong sax solos too! The upbeat, jazzy vibe is totally great – and gives Screamin Jay a whole new focus for his vocals – and for his songwriting, too – as most of the material here is original. And while Hawkins is always best remembered for his spooky, gimmicky cuts, this material is equally great in a totally different way – and, if it were pursued further, might have given the man a whole new direction in his career. Make no mistake, there's still plenty here to love if you're a longtime fan of Screamin Jay Hawkins – but you'll also really appreciate the mod grooves in the set as well! Titles include "I Wanna Know", "In My Dream", "Change Your Ways", "Serving Time", "Please Forgive Me", "Move Me", "My Marion", and "All Night". Plus, CD features a whopping 12 bonus tracks – a few alternate takes, and other versions of album songs – plus the titles "I'm Lonely" and "Stone Crazy". CD

One of those really special piano albums from the Japanese jazz scene of the 70s – a record that's overflowing with new ideas and imagination, all captured with a really wonderful ear for sound as well! Masaru Imada plays a Bosendorfer grand, which has a really resonant quality, even when he's swinging hard – which he definitely does at many points, thanks to work from Kunimitsu on bass, Tetsujiro Obara on drums, and Yuji Imamura on percussion – which really adds a lot at some of the best moments! The tunes are all originals by Imada – filled with feeling, but never in a hokey way at all – and titles include the 17 minute "Sea's Pasture", plus "Blue Road", "Planets", "Epilogue", and "A Marionette". CD

Music composed and arranged by pianist Lars Jansson – titles include "500 Years", "The Man With Umbrellas", "Presence", and "Marionett". CD

Ernie Krivda on tenor sax – with Claude Black on piano, Marion Hayden on bass, and Renell Gonsalves on drums – plus special guests Sean Jones and Dominck Farinacci on trumpet and flugelhorn. CD

With Marion Hayden and Peter Dominguez on bass, Renell Gonsalves and Ron Godale on drums and Claude Black on piano. CD

A very groovy set of jazz vocals – recorded in the mid 60s by Lisa Marne, who was once a TV variety show personality – but never issued at the time! The "combo" on the title really gives a great indication of the feel of the record – small group backing with a very jazzy vibe, in a lineup that includes a nice tenor that slinks alongside Lisa's vocals – as she moves through a very groovy set of tunes that have a hiply swinging vibe – very much in the territory of mid 60s work by Peggy Lee or Marion Montgomery! Titles include her great reading of the vocal version of the "Bewitched" theme song – plus "Like Young", "Wives & Lovers", "Hey Pussycat", "Night Train", "Moment Of Truth", and "Boy From Ipanema". CD

Some great down-home work from Jimmy McGriff – a session that's a bit less funk-based than some of his others for the Groove Merchant label, but still plenty darn great! The set's kind of a nice link between the straighter soul jazz of McGriff's 60s years, and his return to the format at the end of the 70s – and the group's a quintet, with Ronald Arnold on tenor, George Freeman on guitar, John Thomas on rhythm guitar, and Marion Booker on drums. There's some slight funky undercurrents – especially from Freeman's guitar lines, which have a nice degree of grit – which Jimmy seems to match nicely. Titles include "The Groove Fly", "It's You I Adore", "Jumping The Blues", and "Healin' Feeling". CD

One of the most spiritual albums to come from the young AACM movement in Chicago – a session that's somewhat equal in expression to some of the best post-Coltrane work on Impulse Records! Maurice McIntyre plays here with a sound that's already fully formed – an approach to the tenor that's as searingly human as that of Pharoah Sanders or Albert Ayler – but which is also played with a sharpness at times that recalls a young Marion Brown. The rest of the group is equally well-matched – a tremendous array of talent from the Chicago scene, with Malachi Favors on bass, Thurman Barker and Ajaramu on drums, Leo Smith on trumpet and flugelhorn, John Stubblefield on soprano sax, and Amina Claudine Myers on piano. George Hines vocalizes a bit on a few tracks – singing in a spiritual tone that's somewhat like Leon Thomas, but much freer and more abstract – and the album beautifully balances shorter musical statements with a fuller suite on side two – showing the deeper, more ambitious expressions that were starting to well up in the AACM. Titles include the tremendous "Humility In The Light Of Creator", plus "Hexagon", "Kcab Emoh", "Pluto Calling", "Life Force", and "Suite – Ensemble Fate". CD also features a bonus version of the title track! CD

One of the most spiritual albums to come from the young AACM movement in Chicago – a session that's somewhat equal in expression to some of the best post-Coltrane work on Impulse Records! Maurice McIntyre plays here with a sound that's already fully formed – an approach to the tenor that's as searingly human as that of Pharoah Sanders or Albert Ayler – but which is also played with a sharpness at times that recalls a young Marion Brown. The rest of the group is equally well-matched – a tremendous array of talent from the Chicago scene, with Malachi Favors on bass, Thurman Barker and Ajaramu on drums, Leo Smith on trumpet and flugelhorn, John Stubblefield on soprano sax, and Amina Claudine Myers on piano. George Hines vocalizes a bit on a few tracks – singing in a spiritual tone that's somewhat like Leon Thomas, but much freer and more abstract – and the album beautifully balances shorter musical statements with a fuller suite on side two – showing the deeper, more ambitious expressions that were starting to well up in the AACM. Titles include the tremendous "Humility In The Light Of Creator", plus "Hexagon", "Kcab Emoh", "Pluto Calling", "Life Force", and "Suite – Ensemble Fate". CD also features a bonus version of the title track! CD

Searing early work from Joe McPhee – quite possibly his hardest-hitting recording of the 70s, even if the material wasn't properly issued until 25 years later! The performance was done for radio station WBAI in New York – and it features McPhee, Clifford Thornton, and Byron Morris coming together in an experimental setting that also includes some earlier taped performances by McPhee alongside the live work by the group! There's an energy here that rivals the most aggressive avant work on Impulse Records at its best – a soaring, righteous sound that's got an undercurrent of social change and politics, as you'd find in classics by Archie Shepp or Marion Brown. The remaining members of the group include Mike Kull on piano and Harold E Smith on percussion, and McPhee plays trumpet as well as tenor – on titles that include "Black Magic Man", "Nation Time", "Song For Lauren", "Message From Denmark", "Harriet", and "The Looking Glass 1". CD

Lawrence D "Butch" Morris conducts with Arthur Blythe on alto saxophone, J A Deane on trombone, electronics, and live sampling, Vincent Chancey on French horn, Jemeel Moondoc on flute, Marion Brandis on flute, alto flute, and piccolo flute, Janet Grice on bassoon, Bill Horvitz on electric guitar, Brandon Ross on acoustic and octave guitar, Zeena Parkins on harp, Jason Hwang on violin, Curtis Clark on pinao, Thurman Barker on vibraphone and percussion, and Taylor McLean on percussion and glockenspiel. CD

Mott The Hoople in all of their 70s glory – Ian Hunter with superb songwriting skills, and vocals delivered in a way that have a lot more bite than his later solo work – all wrapped up in this fuzzy, compressed, glam-styled production that's totally great! Sure, David Bowie had the Spiders From Mars – but Mott The Hoople were the real deal, and were totally committed to this mode to the hilt – as you'll hear on titles that include "Pearl N Roy", "Born Late 58", "Marionette", "Through The Looking Glass", "Roll Away The Stone", "Crash Street Kidds", and "Trudi's Song" – plus 7 bonus tracks! CD

A trio of key albums from Mott The Hoople – presented here in a high-audio package! First up is Hoople – Mott The Hoople in all of their 70s glory – Ian Hunter with superb songwriting skills, and vocals delivered in a way that have a lot more bite than his later solo work – all wrapped up in this fuzzy, compressed, glam-styled production that's totally great! Sure, David Bowie had the Spiders From Mars – but Mott The Hoople were the real deal, and were totally committed to this mode to the hilt – as you'll hear on titles that include "Pearl N Roy", "Born Late 58", "Marionette", "Through The Looking Glass", "Roll Away The Stone", "Crash Street Kidds", and "Trudi's Song". Next is All The Young Dudes – maybe the most classic of all the Mott The Hoople albums of the early 70s – thanks in part to the classic title track, which was given to the group by David Bowie – who also supported the group with some fantastic production on this record too! Yet that hit is only one of many gems within – all delivered in a style that shows that Ian Hunter and the group were maybe in the territory of Mick Ronson and Bowie before they find their way with Ziggy – delivered here perfectly on tunes that have all the best elements of glam, but maybe more hard rock permanence and lyrical sensitivity too! In addition to "All The Young Dudes", the set also features a great remake of the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane" – and the cuts "Soft Ground", "Sea Diver", "Sucker", "Jerkin Crocus", and "Momma's Little Jewel". Last up is Mott – a fantastic classic – the kind of record that will remind you that Mott The Hoople were way more than a glam band with a big radio hit – as there's a depth, complexity, and completely satisfying quality to the record that holds on all the way through! Sure, the group's got fantastic guitar – courtesy of Mick Ralphs, who was setting a tone that so many others would copy in years to come – but there's way more going on here, and the group are really getting a sense of their power and identity – even if they were never hitting the full chart status they deserved. The whole thing's great – lots of perfect moments from Ian Hunter – and titles include "Hymn For The Dudes", "Whizz Kid", "All The Way From Memphis", "I Wish I Was Your Mother", "Ballad Of Mott The Hoople", and "Honaloochie Boogie". CD

The most uncategorizable grooves in the canon of Guillermo Scott Herren – his Rhodes, Wurlitzer, and otherwise keys-and-drums centered Piano Overlord guise – and a collection of rare vinyl singles cut from 03-05! Maestro Scott wrote, plays, and produced all the tracks – done with lots of keys, drums and samples – and range from abstract atmospherics to a more rollicking, beat driven approach. Tracks include "Walk Home", "Another Marion B Moment", "Spring's Arrival", "Spring's Demise", "Agorophobia", "Recuerdas?", "Stay Home", "Intermission Thing", "Running JCH For All His Beats And Jewels", "Triste Maita", "You Stole My Stereo Outro", "Diplo Electric Manatee Final Mixdown", "The Overlord Meets The Adventure Time In Sleepy Keys", "Agorophobia (Count Bass D interpretation)" and "No Community (Blu Jemz K Kings version)". CD

One of the greatest albums ever from trombonist Roswell Rudd – an early Impulse Records session, cut right at a time when Rudd was a crucial part of the New York "new thing" scene in the 60s! The album's almost more of an ESP session from its lineup – which includes Giuseppi Logan on flute and bass clarinet, Robin Kenyatta on alto sax, Charlie Haden and Lewis Worrell on bass, and Beaver Harris on drums – yet the overall feel of the record has more of the control and sense of vision we've come to love on Impulse – the mix of structure and freedom you might find in crucial 60s recordings by Marion Brown or Archie Shepp on the label – particularly the latter's Fire Music generation! Titles include "Respects", "Satan's Dance", "Everywhere", and "Yankee No How". CD

Attica Blues, and beyond – a great late 70s performance that has Archie Shepp turning the clock back towards that famous album – but also making some very new grooves with a richly expanded lineup! The double-length set was recorded in Paris, in front of a very lively crowd – and it's honestly one of Shepp's most dynamic records from the time – definitely inspired by all the freedom he'd had in the French scene for the previous decade – yet also brought together with a great sense of focus too. The lineup is excellent – with vocals from Joe Lee Wilson and Irene Datcher – trumpets from Malachi Thompson, Charles McGhee, and Roy Burrowes; trombones from Charles Greenlee, Dick Griffin, and Steve Turre; reeds from Marion Brown, James Ware, and Marvin Blackman; plus piano from Art Matthews, some added strings, great percussion, and piano, tenor, and soprano sax from Shepp himself! Ray Copeland directs the group – giving it the hip focus of his few key recordings like this – and titles include "Star Love", "Moon Bees", "Attica Blues" (in two parts), "Steam", "Quiet Dawn", "Hi Fly", "U-Jaama", "Ballad For A Child", "Simone", "Crucificado", :A Change Has Come Over Me", "Goodbye Sweet Pops", and "Skippin'". CD

Fantastic stuff – easily one of Archie Shepp's greatest albums, and certainly one of the pivotal points of 60s avant garde jazz! The album features Shepp leading a crack "new thing" line up that includes Ted Curson on trumpet, Marion Brown on alto, Joe Chambers on drums, Reggie Johnson on bass, and the lesser-known Joseph Orange on trombone – all playing in a beautifully poised manner, never too far out and free, but with all the dynamic energy of the best jazz changes of the 60s! There's a vibe here that's similar to some of the Blue Note "new thing" work by players like Grachan Moncur, Jackie McLean, and Tony Williams from the time – but there's a vision that's also wider and deeper, too, given the size of the group and the way they interact. Titles include "Hambone", "Los Olvidados", "Malcolm Malcolm–Semper Malcolm", and an insane cover of "Girl From Ipanema". You can't go wrong with this one – trust us! CD also features a bonus live version of "Hambone"! CD

Fantastic stuff – easily one of Archie Shepp's greatest albums, and certainly one of the pivotal points of 60s avant garde jazz! The album features Shepp leading a crack "new thing" line up that includes Ted Curson on trumpet, Marion Brown on alto, Joe Chambers on drums, Reggie Johnson on bass, and the lesser-known Joseph Orange on trombone – all playing in a beautifully poised manner, never too far out and free, but with all the dynamic energy of the best jazz changes of the 60s! There's a vibe here that's similar to some of the Blue Note "new thing" work by players like Grachan Moncur, Jackie McLean, and Tony Williams from the time – but there's a vision that's also wider and deeper, too, given the size of the group and the way they interact. Titles include "Hambone", "Los Olvidados", "Malcolm Malcolm–Semper Malcolm", and an insane cover of "Girl From Ipanema". You can't go wrong with this one – trust us! CD

Archie Shepp returns to some of the hippest, most righteous modes of his early 70s album for Impulse Records – especially those post-Paris sessions that often brought in singers and an expanded instrumental lineup! The performance here is a live one, and features beautiful vocals from Amina Claudine Myers, Marion Rampal, and Cecile McLorin Salvant – who sometimes work in a righteous chorus mode, sometimes sing solo, to bring out this depth in the compositions that we really love. Shep's on tenor and soprano sax, and sings a bit too – and there's a larger ensemble that features Famadou Don Moye on drums and percussion, plus guitar, trumpets, trombones, and even some added strings. Jimmy Owens conducts, and titles include a very cool reworking of the classic "Blues For Brother G Jackson" – plus "Quiet Dawn", "Cry Of My People", "Arms", "Attica Blues", "Mama Too Tight", and "Goodbye Sweet Pops". CD

A seminal album from Hammond giant Lonnie Smith – a bold statement that really gives the organist his own identity after some killer work in the combos of Lou Donaldson and George Benson! Lonnie's one of the key flag-fliers of the new style of funky organ jazz – a mode different from the earlier styles of Jimmy Smith or Jimmy McGriff – leaner, cleaner, and often tied heavily to the drums – which, in this case, are handled by Marion Booker Jr, but in a way that recalls some of the Idris Muhammad greatness on other Blue Note albums of the time. The mighty Pucho (of Latin Soul Brothers fame) plays added timbales, and there's also two more conga players – ensuring a tight, yet complex sort of groove – and the frontline features Lee Morgan on trumpet, David Newman on tenor and flute, and Melvin Sparks on guitar. Tracks are long, with complicated rhythms – and soulful yet sophisticated solos to match – and titles include the seminal "Son Of Ice Bag", a great cover of "Think", and the tracks "Slouchin", "Call Of The Wild", and "Three Blind Mice". CD

Fantastic work from trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith – maybe one of the few musicians who could hold us completely rapt throughout a 3CD presentation of completely solo material! The work was all recorded over the space of a few short days, in a church in Finland – and Smith uses his many years of sonic understanding to really open up in the space – with a quality that reminds us that although Wadada is a fantastic group player, he's also a musician who, maybe like Marion Brown, also has such a sense of self-composure that he can be equally captivating on his own – building castles of imagination throughout his effortless improvisations. The work here moves through so many different shades and currents, it never gets stale at all – and the 3CD set features over 120 minutes of music, with a big booklet of notes and images as well! CD

One of the greatest rock albums to come out of Detroit in the 60s – even if these guys aren't as well known as The Stooges or MC5! There's a similar brilliance here, though – a heady brew of ripping guitars, burning Hammond, and massively pounding drums – all recorded with a slightly garagey edge and expansively searching quality that stretches things out without overindulging in too much jamming. There's also a really dark feel to the record too – one that has the same sense of danger and urgency as SRC's bigger contemporaries, yet never sounds forced. Titles include "Onesimpletask", "Daystar", "Exile", "Marionette", "Black Sheep", and "Refugeve". Includes "Morning Mood" and a bonus live version of "Black Sheep". CD

A lost harmony soul classic from the east coast scene of the 70s – a set that was recorded in the shadow of work by bigger groups, like the Moments or Stylistics, and which has a similarly sort of sublime sound! There's a nice edge to the album – like some of the George Kerr productions on Stang/All-Platinum – as producer Bruce M Clarke really lets the vocals shine through on most tracks – just updating a 60s sweet soul mode with the right sort of hip 70s elements, but all while never getting in the way of the harmonies! With that approach, we'd maybe rank this one right up there with the classic album by Soul Generation – especially given the badass sort of vibe on the funky numbers. Titles include "At Last It's Over", "Giving Up", "God & You", "All Good Things Can't Last", "Booking Up", "Moving Down The Line", "Gotta Get You Back", and "Your Love Comes Slower Than Never". Bonus tracks include "What Is Love" and "Am I Ever Gonna See My Baby Again" by Marion Butler, "Another Man's Woman" and "Nothing In The World" by The Electras, "God & You" by Loreli, and "Everybody's Got A Good Thing" by Loreli with Empress Kilpatrick. CD

An incredible collection of southern soul – and actually way more than the usual CD compilation, and almost instead a time machine back to the glory days of the genre! The set comes in a heavy slipcase, with a huge booklet of notes – not just track-by-track stories on all the 75 songs in the package, but also beautiful vintage images of the southern scene from which these deep soul tracks come – great photographs that are a great accompaniment to the often-narrative tracks in the set. The music is a mix of tracks from southern soul giants, and some key lesser-known acts – and as you'd expect from Kent, the whole thing goes way past the hits – and features plenty of obscure numbers too. Titles include "A Sad Sad Song" by Charles Crawford, "Mary Jane" by Bobby Rush, "If Loving You Is A Crime" by Lee Moses, "Go On Fool (ext)" by Marion Black, "Someone To Take Your Place" by Bill Locke, "I Got Everything I Need" by Eddie Floyd, "I've Got Memories (demo)" by Melvin Carter, "Give Me Back The Man I Love" by Barbara West, "Somebody Done Gone Took My Baby & Gone" by Joey Gilmore, "Depend On Me" by Steve Dixon, "Going Back Home" by Ground Hog, "Just A Touch Of Your Hand" by Al Gardner, "Sure As Sin" by Jeanie Greene, and "Please Don't Desert Me Baby" by Gloria Walker & The Chevelles. CD

A treasure trove of funk and soul from one heck of a great little label – Columbus, Ohio's short-lived Capsoul imprint – only around for 5 years in the 70s, but home to a great flurry of indie singles! We first caught onto the label's brilliance with their funky classics "Hot Grits" by Elijah & The Ebonies and "Sock It To Em Soul Brother" by Bill Moss – but as this set wonderfully demonstrates, the label's got a heck of a lot more to offer – and all of it great! The label's brilliance has been masterfully unearthed by the crate-digging team at Numero Records – who've brought together 19 of the best Capsoul singles in a beautiful package that really tells the story of the tiny imprint, getting at the details and struggles that faced independent soul in the marketplace of the 70s. Way more than just a set of old singles, the set's a rich document of indie soul in one of the near-forgotten corners of the Midwest – filled with great tunes that may well have you booking the next flight you can find to Columbus! Titles include "Sock It To Em Soul Brother" by Bill Moss, "Pure Soul" by Elijah & The Ebonies, "Without Love" by Ronnie Taylor, "You're All I Need To Make It" by Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum, & Durr, "Hot Grits" by Elijah & The Ebonies, "Too Far Gone" by Four Mints, "I Want To Be Ready" by Kook Blues, "Go On Fool" by Marion Black, and "Number One" by Bill Moss. Updated version features new mastering and additional notes – plus the bonus track "All I Need To Make It" by The Capsoul Group. CD

A treasure trove of funk and soul from one heck of a great little label – Columbus, Ohio's short-lived Capsoul imprint – only around for 5 years in the 70s, but home to a great flurry of indie singles! We first caught onto the label's brilliance with their funky classics "Hot Grits" by Elijah & The Ebonies and "Sock It To Em Soul Brother" by Bill Moss – but as this set wonderfully demonstrates, the label's got a heck of a lot more to offer – and all of it great! The label's brilliance has been masterfully unearthed by the crate-digging team at Numero Records – who've brought together 19 of the best Capsoul singles in a beautiful package that really tells the story of the tiny imprint, getting at the details and struggles that faced independent soul in the marketplace of the 70s. Way more than just a set of old singles, the set's a rich document of indie soul in one of the near-forgotten corners of the Midwest – filled with great tunes that may well have you booking the next flight you can find to Columbus! Titles include "Sock It To Em Soul Brother" by Bill Moss, "Pure Soul" by Elijah & The Ebonies, "Without Love" by Ronnie Taylor, "You're All I Need To Make It" by Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum, & Durr, "Hot Grits" by Elijah & The Ebonies, "Too Far Gone" by Four Mints, "I Want To Be Ready" by Kook Blues, "Go On Fool" by Marion Black, and "Number One" by Bill Moss. Updated version features new mastering and additional notes – plus the bonus track "All I Need To Make It" by The Capsoul Group. CD

A glorious batch of unearthed soul and funk from the early 70s central Ohio scene – the storming singles of Prix label – culled from ultra rare 45s plus previous unreleased gems! Prix was the imprint started to release work captured at Columbus's Harmonic Sounds studios commercially – pummeling funk, uptempo harmony soul, some heavy organ groovers and beyond – work by the Royal Esquires, Eddie Ray, Joe King, Marion Black and others. Most of the tracks were cut in the first few years of the 70s – at a time when when central Ohio was producing soul and funk as mighty as the bigger midwestern cities of Detroit, Memphis and Chicago – standing just as tall even if it didn't get over as well in the marketplace! 19 tracks in all – 11 of which were issued as Prix 45s in the early 70s, plus 8 more tracks that were never officially released – culled from finished masters, demos and other studio material that was only recently discovered! Titles include "Wait A Minute", "You Got Me" and more by Eddie Ray, "Mystic" and "Mister Kidneys" by OFS Unlimited, "Speak On Up" and "Your My Everything" by Joe King, "Ain't Gonna Run" by Royal Esquires, "Listen Black Brother" by Marion Black, "Melon Jelly" by Soul Ensemble, "I'm Gonna Gitcha" by Chip Willis & Double Exposure and more, plus 4 "extended play" bonus tracks by Eddie Ray, Harmonic Sounds Band and Penny & The Quarters. CD