A killer batch of modern spiritual soul jazz – with a classic sound that reminds us a lot of the 70s work on labels like Tribe or Strata East! The New Composers Ensemble is led by vibist Paris Smith, an underground Chicago jazz artist who cut a few very enigmatic albums on his own – and he's working here with a group that includes guitar, piano, percussion, and bass. All the tracks on the album are originals written by the players on the record – and most of them are strong modal grooves, with a spiraling, soaring sound that's filled with joy and life, but also a hint of darkness. The interplay of the instruments is unlike anything we've heard elsewhere, and it's the kind of underground treasure that you'd die to find on a rare 70s album – somehow even cooler that it's cut by an obscure group who are working in our generation! A few tracks have a vocalist that's a bit off-beat – and she also reminds us of some of the more spiritual contraltos that would show up on the Strata sets from the 70s – but her contribution to the record also kind of grows on you nicely after a while. Titles include "Tommy Tones", "Sonny's Song", "Lilith Came", "Introspection", "Psalm 37", and "53rd Street Ghost", dedicated to the street in Chicago where Dusty Groove was born! CD

An overlooked gem from trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith – an early 80s session, but one that we'd rank with some of his most-together work ever! The album's a mixture of spare modes and some surprising group elements – a set that often has Smith blowing beautifully on trumpet or flugelhorn, alongside the vibes of Bobby Naughton and percussion of Kahil El Zabar – the latter of whom makes a strong, spiritual appearance here – really helping to shade in some strong sounds to Leo's music. Naughton's vibes are great too – very angular and chromatic, with the sharpness of Bobby Hutcherson's avant work of the mid 60s – and one track features John Powell on tenor, and two more have Louis Myers on guitar – bringing in these weird harmelodic bluesy tones which then accompany vocals from Smith! Titles include "Nuru Light", "The Flower That Seeds The Earth", "Jah Jah Is The Perfect Love", "Procession Of The Great Ancestry", and "Third World Grainery Of Pure Earth". CD

Really haunting work from Leo Smith – a key 70s session that features some of his sharpest trumpet work on record, plus some unusual instrumentation that really makes the album stand out! Half the tracks feature some wonderful vibes from Bobby Naughton – spare and dark-sounding, very much a great companion to Smith's spacious trumpet and flugelhorn lines – in a group that also features Dwight Anderson on wooden flute, tenor, and clarinet, Pheeroan Ak Laff on drums, and Wes Brown on bass and a bit more wooden flute! The other two tracks on the session feature Smith's trumpet with a trio of harp players – Irene, Carol, and Ruth Emmanuel – all very interesting players on their instrument, using the strings in these carefully chromatic ways that are really wonderful – quite different than any sort of Dorothy Ashby vibe, but with a similar sense of spiritual energy. Titles include "Images", "The Burning Of Stones", "Spirit Catcher", and "The Burning Of Stones (first version)". CD

An incredibly untapped world of cinematic jazz – pulled from an array of Spanish films of the late 50s and early 60s – most of which have soundtracks as dynamic as work coming from France or Italy at the time! A good portion of the tracks here are scored by Jose Sola – who seems to draw inspiration from some of the west coast jazz soundtracks of the 50s – work by Elmer Bernstein, Shorty Rogers, Leith Stevens, and others – blending standout soloists with fuller backings, but in a way that matches the stark energy of the images on the screen! The CD's an unusual one in that many of the tunes are quite long – upwards of 10 minutes, and very different than the shorter snippets of jazz you might get on other soundtrack efforts from the same generation – and some numbers keep in bits of the dialogue, presenting the music with sound that's more "cinematic" than straight studio recording. Solo instruments include a fair bit of trumpet and alto sax – and the package comes with a great booklet with notes in English and Spanish, plus images from the films. Titles include "Un Vaso De Whisky", "A Sangre Fria", "Altas Variedades", "Los Cuervos", "Regresa Un Desconocido", and "El Salario Del Crimen" by Jose Sola; plus "091 Policia Al Habla" by Augusto Alguero, "Juventud A La Intemperie" by Enrique Escobar, and "A Tiro Limpo" by Federico Martinez Tudo. CD

Early 70s Cali country rock at its finest! This is the first album by Detroit-born, Texas-raised JD Souther – who has a deft hand for sadness-tinged songcraft, a charismatic and genuine southern drawl to his voice, and just enough grit to give his tunes the right kind of emotional undercurrent. There's a realness here that really sinks in. We sort of wish he would've shot to stardom is prominently as other Asylum singer-songwriters and his friends in The Eagles – he definitely deserves it – but there's something warm and cozy (and maybe a little selfish) about having him more to ourselves and other knowing fans. Includes "The Fast One", "Run Like A Thief", "Kite Woman", "Jesus In 3/4 Time", "It's The Same", "White Wing", "Out To Sea", "Lullaby" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

They certainly got the title right on this one – as Jo's singing a great batch of jazz-based tracks – and getting help from an array of small group players that include Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges, Conte Candoli, and Ray Nance! Arrangements are by Johnny Mandel, in a warmly chromatic mode that really helps take Jo's vocals away from the pop end of the spectrum – and into a lush and almost torchy mode that's a real surprise. Mandel does an especially nice job of working the horns into the mix – allowing for some slight but well-placed solo and introduction bits that really help shape the overall sound of the album. Titles include "For You", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "Midnight Sun", "The Folks Who Live On The Hill", "I Didn't Know About You", "Imagination", "Dream Of You", "Day Dream", and "I've Got The World On A String". CD

Terrell Stafford's one of those musicians who started out great, and just seems to keep on maturing over the years – to a point where a record like this really stands as such a strong testament to his power as both a player and a leader! The music has a sense of majesty to fit the image of Stafford on the cover – well-penned tunes, played by a great lineup of players who clearly want to rise up and follow Terrell's lead – really bringing their all to their solos, while also holding tight to formation to realize the larger thematic qualities of the tunes. Players include Tim Warfield on tenor and soprano, Bruce Barth on piano, David Wong on bass, Johnathan Blake on drums, and Alex Acuna on percussion – on titles that include "Blood Count", "Wruth's Blues", "Mia A Mia", "Between Two Worlds", and "Manaus At Dusk". CD

The debut album from Stargard – a set that turned the trio into strong soul stars, after a brief and mistaken role in the film Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band! Given the failure of that cinematic endeavor, it's amazing that MCA signed the girls up – but it's also clear that the group have a vibe that's really waiting to shine in the spotlight – partly the disco female mode that others had been working already, but also maybe more of a sense of identity too – one that makes them way more than just a trio of vocalists in the hands of a club producer – especially given the way they really hit some surprising deep soul moments on the set. Production is by Mark Davis, with some help from Gene Page – and titles include "Three Girls", "Don't Change", "Theme From Which Way Is Up", "The Force", and "Disco Rufus". CD

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A cinematic blend of electronics and percussion – served up in a way that every bit as evocative as a vintage soundtrack, especially work from the 80s action years – yet handled with a sonic richness that often surpasses music from that generation too! The group's a duo – and features Latarnik on keyboards and piano, an artist you may know from other great titles on the Astigmatic label – working in collaboration here with drummer Cancer G, who also plays some keyboards as well – as the pair craft these tracks that open up with all sorts of subtle shifts in tone, color, action, and life. Titles include "Minus 10 Celsius", "Nadeszia Zima", "Zamrozenie", "Zamiec", "Roztopy", "Ostatnia Taka Zima", and "Lawina". CD

A cinematic blend of electronics and percussion – served up in a way that every bit as evocative as a vintage soundtrack, especially work from the 80s action years – yet handled with a sonic richness that often surpasses music from that generation too! The group's a duo – and features Latarnik on keyboards and piano, an artist you may know from other great titles on the Astigmatic label – working in collaboration here with drummer Cancer G, who also plays some keyboards as well – as the pair craft these tracks that open up with all sorts of subtle shifts in tone, color, action, and life. Titles include "Minus 10 Celsius", "Nadeszia Zima", "Zamrozenie", "Zamiec", "Roztopy", "Ostatnia Taka Zima", and "Lawina". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge run of records from Yma Sumac – presented here in a box that collects just about everything she recorded for Capitol Records in the 50s! First up is Voice Of The Xtaby – legendary vocal work from the postwar years – some of the earliest recordings from the enigmatic Yma Sumac – an artist whose records really laid the groundwork for an entire generation of exotica records to come! Sumac's authenticity has been debated over the years – but there's no denying that she's got this incredible vocal range – a many-octave approach that almost makes her sound like a human theremin – as she works with exotic backings from Les Baxter to offer up a take on Peruvian roots, styled towards a 50s bachelor pad listener! Titles include "Xtaby", "Wayra", "Taita Inty", "Monos", and "Tumpa". Legend Of The Sun is early work from Yma Sumac – with that moody mix of other worldly vocals and semi-Latin instrumentation that made her a popular one with the early exotic crowd. Yma runs up and down the vocal scale, while Moises Vivanco leads the band in a set of crashing dramatic orchestrations with a Peruvian feel. Tracks include "Sunray Surita", "Mamallayi", "No Es Vida", "Ccori Canastitay", and "Kon Tiki". The package features selections from the album Flahooley – one of the more obscure Yma Sumac albums from the 50s – a Broadway production with a larger cast – and much more of a musical than Sumac's other records. Yma really stands out in the show, though – singing a few special numbers with music by Moises Vivanco – but the rest is familiar Broadway modes of the early 50s, penned by Sammy Fain & EY Harburg. Sumac titles include "Najala's Song Of Joy", "Najala's Lament", and "Come Back Little Genie Birds". Mambo is quite possibly our favorite album ever by the enigmatic Yma Sumac – thanks to some lively arrangements by Billy May, who gives the set a swinging jazzy groove! As you might guess from the cover, the style here is more in a Latin jazz mode than some of Yma's other more ethereal work – and that style turns out to be a wonderful fit for Sumac's incredible vocals – creating a batch of driving tunes that swing nicely, yet still have a spooky exotic sound on the top! Titles include "Bo Mambo", "Taki Rari", "Goomba Boomba", "Malambo No 1", and "Five Bottles Mambo". Inca Taqui is an early 10" LP – on which Yma Sumac sings chants of the Andes – and authentic or not, the sound's pretty darn great! The record's in the same format as her other early work for Capitol – tunes written by Moises Vivanco, who also conducts the backings in a dramatic early 50s style that's perfect for Yma's wonderful voice! And whether or not these tunes are actually the ones that all the cats in Peru were singing up in the mountains, they still sound pretty darn great as a key part of postwar exotica! Titles include "Incachao", "Llulla Mak'Ta", "Chuncho", "K'Arawi", and "Cumbe-Maita". Legend Of The Jivaro is one of Yma's more "historical" records – and the notes say that the album is "the rare plum of authenticity". We don't know if we'd go that far, but we can tell you that the record features Yma performing songs of the legendary Jivaro headhunters! Supposedly, Yma learned them in her "South American jungle-home", but we keep wondering why the headhunters took the time to teach her, when they could have been shrinking her head. Tracks include "Yawar", "Shou Condor", "Aullay", "Sumac Soratena", and "Hampi". Last up is Fuego Del Ande – one of the most obscure albums by vocalist Yma Sumac – and one of the most compelling too! The album has Yma working in the Andean style of her earlier 10" albums for Capitol – working with Moises Vivanco on a set of tunes that have a much more traditional and almost folkloric style than some of her work with Les Baxter. Titles include "Clamor", "Dale Que Dale", "Llora Corazon", "Gallito Caliente", "La Molina", and "Flor De Canela". CD

Legendary vocal work from the postwar years – some of the earliest recordings from the enigmatic Yma Sumac – an artist whose records really laid the groundwork for an entire generation of exotica records to come! Sumac's authenticity has been debated over the years – but there's no denying that she's got this incredible vocal range – a many-octave approach that almost makes her sound like a human theremin – as she works with exotic backings from Les Baxter to offer up a take on Peruvian roots, styled towards a 50s bachelor pad listener! Titles include "Xtaby", "Wayra", "Taita Inty", "Monos", and "Tumpa". LP, Vinyl record album

Strange stuff! "Automatic Lover" is a clear Kraftwerk rip off, complete with robotic vocals, and a cold German backing. Very different than anything else Sylvia ever did, and proof that she was certainly a nutter! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Edgey pop work from the enigmatic singer Taiguara – a bit sweet, a bit baroque, and one of those talents who was secretly helping to push Brazilian pop into the next level! The album features Taiguara's hits, and is a bit less experimental than some of his non-single album cuts – but it still is a great representation of the blend of styles he worked in, and some of the dark and psychedelic orchestrations that made his work so great. Titles include "Viagem", "Piano E Viola", "Teu Sonho Nao Acabou", "O Velho E O Novo", "Carne E Osso", and "Modinha". LP, Vinyl record album

Really lovely guitar work from Masayoshi Takanaka – music that's part of that great solo change after his work in Sadistic Mika Band – as he really expanded his sound on guitar with all these cool chromatic touches that are perfect for the light fusion-based sound of the record! Masayoshi sings a bit too, but his main "voice" is the guitar – set up here in a small combo that features saxophone work from the great Jake Conception, and keyboards from Hiroshi Imai – all at a level that's nicely laidback, compared to some of Takanaka's later records. Titles include "Tropic Birds", "Oh Tengo Suerte", and "Funkee Mah Chan" – plus other titles in Japanese. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic guitarist from the Japanese scene, and a player with a tone that's unlike anyone else we can think of – the great Masayuki Takayanagi, heard here in an early session done years before his work on the Three Blind Mice label! Masayuki has a raw edge on the strings – a rasp that's very different from what you might expect on the Japanese scene at the time, which often has guitarists who are much more polished in tone. At times, he's almost sounding as if he's trying to ply the instrument with the inflections of an acoustic guitar – although the more chromatic moments are definitely more electric – and the whole thing is set up with great arrangements from pianist Takeshi Shibuya, whose contributions really make the record shine! Titles include "Say It", "That Old Feeling", "My Foolish Heart", "Moritat", "Prelude In Chords", and "Who Can I Turn To" – all sounding very different than you might expect! LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastically free session from the Japanese scene of the late 60s – a set that really points the way towards some of the more dramatic, dynamic guitar-based expression to come in later decades! The group's a trio, with guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi very firmly in the lead – playing his instrument in a range of compelling ways – bowing the strings one minute, plucking with Derek Bailey-like complexity the next – sometimes with heavy drums and bass, other times standing out in very free solo space. The whole album's got a very freely improvised feel, and stands as an early link between free jazz and experimental rock modes - with tracks that include "Piranha", "Herdsman's Pipe Of Spain", "The Galactic System", "Sick Sick Sickness My Aunt", and "Study No 3 Up & Down". LP, Vinyl record album

An early gem from Ghana legend Ebo Taylor – a smoking little set with a really hypnotic feel overall! The tracks here are all nice and long – and build energy with kind of a minimal layering of sound – an approach that's different than some of the longer Nigerian jams you might know from the time, but with a style that's equally compelling – especially give the great use of guitar and keyboards! These instruments are heard to best effect on the sublime "Peace On Earth" – a tune that features this wonderful other-worldly electric piano – ringing out with tones that are almost vibes-like at times, and which almost have a Sun Ra-ish sort of quality. Also great is "Atwer Abroba" – a tune with some funky horns riffing along with the tight percussion, and captivating vocal refrains over the top. The title cut, "Twer Nyame", has wonderfully chromatic guitars – really let loose, and allowed to build slowly – creating this warm electric energy on the tune! LP, Vinyl record album

John Tchicai plays the music of Thelonious Monk, and a few of his own tunes too – in a wonderful set that shows beautifully why we always look out for work from this enigmatic saxophonist! There's definitely a Monkish vibe to the record, but Tchicai's approach is often quite personal too – creating warmth where others might have kept things angular, or changing up the pacing of the tunes – so that he's always leaving a very strong imprint of his own on the recordings, and not just covering too-familiar Monk territory. Each tune has a slightly different execution – and many numbers have John stepping out sparely, blowing in the lead – but with some warmth and depth that's quite different than the coldness of his modern moments from years back. And there's also a bit of Hammond on the record – played by George Colligan, who also alternates on piano – and use of that instrument really makes for a fresh sound too – a wonderful change that's almost like some 60s soul jazz take on Monk. Bass is by Steve Laspina and drums are by Billy Drummond – and titles include "Monk's Mood", "Coming On The Hudson", "Light Blue", "Ugly Beauty", "Ruby My Dear", and "Cool Copy". LP, Vinyl record album

Soulful reedman Tenderlonious plays flute this time around – but as always, it's the overall sound that makes the record so great – not just the solo bits on flute, but all the keyboards, basslines, and beats – stretched out in this cool 21st Century take on funky fusion! The music is jazz at the core, but more electrified too – with a straightforward funky groove on some numbers, and some more enigmatic modes on others – all a great blend of keyboards and flutes, which often share the same tonal range. Titles include "Dale's Corner", "Autumn Leaves", "Ghana", "Odeo Bushi", "In A Sentimental Mood", and "Song For My Father" – and the three tunes with familiar titles are actually originals by the man himself. LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant work from Jimi Tenor and his Kabu Kabu group – an incredibly righteous set that's easily the best we've heard so far from the soulful ensemble! In addition to the spiritual jazz vibe of before, the group's also picked up some influences from African soul and jazz too – not just standard Afro Funk, but also some Ethiopian and Egyptian elements too – folded into Tenor's music like some mad meeting between Sun Ra, Fela Kuti, and Mulatu! Jimi's at the lead, handling tenor, flute, and a host of weird instruments – and the ensemble is heavy on percussion and horns, including some great trumpet work from Jukka Eskola of the Five Corners Quintet. Despite the monochromatic cover image, the album's got a really rich sound – a deeply soulful, deeply spiritual vibe that's totally wonderful – served up on titles that include "Grind", "Mogadishu Ave", "Mega Roots", "Aligned Planets", "Mystery Spot", "Floating Orange", "Fast Legs", "Higher Styx", and "Magical World". CD

That's a pretty dramatic image on the cover, and Brit maestro Alan Tew follows it up with just the right sort of tunes you might expect – many of which are thematic tracks titled "The Detectives", and which would be right at home in some kind of cool 70s cop/crime TV show! As with the best cop show themes of the time, the album mixes funky rhythms with sweet keyboards and all sorts of jazzy instrumentation – keeping things very much in the territory of American work for famous television shows of the time, but also adding in some of the best Brit sound library funk styles too. There's some great moogy bits on the record, mixed in with the funk – and the set features a whopping 28 tracks in all – lots of "The Detectives" variations, plus "Snout", "The Build Up", "Bust Up", "Burn", "Headlights", and "The Big One". LP, Vinyl record album

A treasure trove of barely-heard music from two of the most unique players on the European scene of the 70s – Fender Rhodes giant Rob Franken, and harmonica jazz maestro Toots Thielemans – two players who sound better here in the company of each other than they do on their own! Thielemans had been making music for many years before these sessions – but as the 70s hit, the electric piano really opened up new colors and tones in his instrument – heard most famously on his performances with Quincy Jones, and some of his soundtrack material – but actually even more amazing here alongside Franken – as the combination of chromatic harmonica and Fender Rhodes is completely sublime! The tracks were recorded as part of a series of sound library sessions that Rob organized – titled Functional Music – and the huge set features material from a number of different sessions done under that aegis. CD1 features 20 tracks under the heading of Nature Boy from 1981 and 1982 – with Franken on Rhodes, Toots on harmonica, Theo De Jong on bass, and Bruno Castellucci on drums. CD2 is titled Absorbed Love – and features six tracks from 1978 with Toots and Franken – and James Leary on bass, Eddie Marshall on drums, and tenor and flute on a few cuts from the great Ferdinand Povel – followed by fifteen more titles from 1974 with a different Thielemans/Franken lineup that features Joop Scholten on guitar, Wim Essed on bass, and Peter Ypma on drums. CD3 is titled Together, from 1973 – and mostly features Thielemans on guitar and harmonica, Franken on Fender Rhodes, Rob Langereis on bass, and Eric Ineke on drums. 59 tracks in all – and a detailed book of notes! CD

Wonderful work from Leon Thomas – easily one of his greatest albums ever, and a set that was recorded at the same time he was working with Pharoah Sanders! Thomas really rose to fame on Sanders' classic "The Creator Has A Master Plan" – and this set really takes off from that moment – letting Leon spin out some spiritual vibes of his own, and step into a few fresh new styles as well! The album's plenty righteous right from the start – partly because the lineup includes James Spaulding on alto and flute, Lonnie Liston Smith on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and the enigmatic "Little Rock" on tenor – who is actually Pharoah Sanders – but also because Leon serves up a shorter take on "The Creator Has a Master Plan" – done in a great style! The album also features a classic vocal take on Horace Silver's "Song for My Father", with lyrics that we totally love – plus the frenetic "Malcolm's Gone" – and the tracks "One", "Echoes", "Let The Rain Fall On Me", and "Damn Nam". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from Leon Thomas – easily one of his greatest albums ever, and a set that was recorded at the same time he was working with Pharoah Sanders! Thomas really rose to fame on Sanders' classic "The Creator Has A Master Plan" – and this set really takes off from that moment – letting Leon spin out some spiritual vibes of his own, and step into a few fresh new styles as well! The album's plenty righteous right from the start – partly because the lineup includes James Spaulding on alto and flute, Lonnie Liston Smith on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and the enigmatic "Little Rock" on tenor – who is actually Pharoah Sanders – but also because Leon serves up a shorter take on "The Creator Has a Master Plan" – done in a great style! The album also features a classic vocal take on Horace Silver's "Song for My Father", with lyrics that we totally love – plus the frenetic "Malcolm's Gone" – and the tracks "One", "Echoes", "Let The Rain Fall On Me", and "Damn Nam". CD features three bonus tracks – a live recording of "Um Um Um" and "Damn Nam" – plus a take on "Night In Tunisia". CD

Wonderful work from Leon Thomas – easily one of his greatest albums ever, and a set that was recorded at the same time he was working with Pharoah Sanders! Thomas really rose to fame on Sanders' classic "The Creator Has A Master Plan" – and this set really takes off from that moment – letting Leon spin out some spiritual vibes of his own, and step into a few fresh new styles as well! The album's plenty righteous right from the start – partly because the lineup includes James Spaulding on alto and flute, Lonnie Liston Smith on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and the enigmatic "Little Rock" on tenor – who is actually Pharoah Sanders – but also because Leon serves up a shorter take on "The Creator Has a Master Plan" – done in a great style! The album also features a classic vocal take on Horace Silver's "Song for My Father", with lyrics that we totally love – plus the frenetic "Malcolm's Gone" – and the tracks "One", "Echoes", "Let The Rain Fall On Me", and "Damn Nam". CD include 3 versions of "Take The 'A' Train", 2 takes of "Walkin'", 2 takes of "Willow Weep For Me", and 2 takes of "If It Didn't Hurt So Much". CD

When the album starts with a heavy drumbreak, you know you're in different territory than usual for Henry Threadgill – yet that's always also the appeal of his music, that we never know what to expect! Drummer Gene Lake cooks up the set right from the start, but a key part of the sound is also from the twin electric guitar work of Brandon Ross and Masujaa on guitars – both players who create these intertwining chromatic elements that are really beautiful, in a bass-less group that's balanced out by deep end work on two tubas, handled by Marcus Rojas and Edwin Rodriguez! The pace changes quickly as the album moves on – into territory that's more spare, and more filled with the kind of tonal, color-based explorations that Threadgill does so well. The leader blows alto and flute, Curtis Fowlkes is also in the group on trombone – and titles include "Exacto", "In The Ring", "Hope A Hope A", "Bee Dee Aff", "Drivin You Slow & Crazy", and "First Church Of This". LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal work by Three Degrees – stepping proudly here from their girl group roots, into a dramatic pre-disco mode that's clearly influenced by similar Philly work by First Choice – some of the finest material ever! The music is by MFSB, with arrangements by Philly maestros like Bobby Martin and John Davis – and given that pedigree it's as wonderful as you'd imagine. Paired with the sweetly beautiful singing by the lovely voices of Three Degrees, this is some truly great Philadelphia International soul! Titles include "TSOP", "Loving Cup", "Get Your Love Back", "Long Lost Lover", "Take Good Care Of Yourself", "Another Heartache", and a nice cover of Marvin Gaye's "Distant Lover". LP, Vinyl record album

Trombone Shorty continues to charismatically do away with genre definitions of all kinds as well as defying convential expectations New Orleans brass band jazz, soul or jazzy soul – he's been doing that for years and it's still his way on For True! Trombone Shorty is also B-3 Shorty, Drums Shorty, Piano Shorty, Bass Shorty , Singer Shorty and Percussion Shorty – the fella does it all in some cases – with some accompaniment on guitar, bass, drums, percussion and sax. Some famous admirers join, too, including Rebirth Brass Band, Warren Haynes (on a song co-written by Shorty & Lamont Dozier) and others. Includes "Buckjump", "Encore", "For True", "Do To Me", "The Craziest Thing", "Dumaine St", "Mrs. Orleans", "Nervis", "Roses", "Big 12", "There There Was You" and "Lagniappe" (Pts 1 & 2). CD

An enigmatic chapter in the always-compelling career of trumpeter Erik Truffaz – one that has him bringing in some distinct Mid East influences, in the form of vocalists Nya and Mournir Troudi! The core group's a quartet, with Truffaz playing in his usual moody trumpet style, as well as a bit of melodica – backed by a bit of electronics, guitar, and percussion. The vocalists sing on about half the album's tracks, giving them lyrics of a strongly political nature – and creating a mood that really makes these tunes stand out from the others on the LP. A few of the instrumentals get a bit guitar-heavy for our taste, but the vocal numbers are great – and tracks include "Saloua", "Ines", "Tantrik", "Big Wheel", "Whispering", "Yabous", "Ghost Drummer", and "Et La Vie Continue". CD

An overlooked later album from McCoy Tyner – and a set that not only has frequent partner Gary Bartz on alto sax, but also features some excellent violin from the enigmatic John Blake! The album's a quintet date – with John Lee on bass and Willy Fletcher on drums – and the mix of alto, piano, and violin is very haunting – and often rises with a spiritual quality that recalls some of the best energy of the post-Coltrane years, wrapped up here in a package that has some of the more mature touches of the early 80s jazz generation. McCoy's still very much in the forefront on piano – and gets a few contemplative modes in alongside the more searching, modal moments – on titles that include "Understanding", "Uncle Bubba", "One For Dea", and "Precious One". CD

Quite hip stuff from McTyner – really righteous sounds from his 70s run for Milestone Records, recorded with a great lineup that includes Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Gary Bartz on alto, Azar Lawrence on soprano and tenor sax, Bulster Williams on bass, Billy Hart on drums, and Mtume on percussion! With players like that, it would be hard to miss – but McCoy's also not one to just let the cats do their own thing – as he directs the group with a sense of power and majesty that's really wonderful. Tyner spins out long dramatic lines in a post-Coltrane Impulse mode that's almost more like Alice Coltrane than his usual bag – and the horn solos of Bartz and Lawrence really give the set a crackling edge. Ttiles include "Paradox", "Desert Cry", "La Cubana", and "Sama Layuca". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare UK sound library set, and a very dark one as well – served up with lots of electronics that were years ahead of their time, almost a preface to some of the industrial modes that would arise in the post punk years! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best-remembered moments of music from the enigmatic Vangelis – a set that's maybe a bit darker and more moody than some of his other records of the time – thanks to the Blade Runner setting provided by director Ridley Scott! Vangelis works plenty of familiar early 80s soundtrack elements here – lots of keyboards and electronic wash, plus even a bit of almost-cheesy sax at times – but he makes the whole thing sound nicely off-kilter at most moments, with just the sort of awkward replication that fits perfectly with the narrative theme of the film. There's some beautiful exotic currents that are maybe even more captivating here on record than you might remember from their use onscreen – and titles include "Memories Of Green", "Tales Of The Future", "Rachel's Song", "Blush Response", "Lone More Kiss Dear", and "Tears In Rain". CD

A great late album from French composer, arranger, lyricist, singer and all around creative musical force Jean Claude Vannier – with Vannier singing moody, vintage orch pop numbers in a mode that does both JCV and his old collaborator Serge Gainsbourg proudly! The set has a very lively feel to it, which is quite natural, given that the album came about following the group's rehearsals for the Histoire De Melody Nelson performance at London's Barbican in 2006. It features a brilliant group of players who worked with Vannier and Serge Gainsbourg on that uber-iconic album as well as other boundary-busting projects and soundtracks – including Cannabis, La Horse, Slogan and Vannier's own legendary leftfield classic L'Enfant Assassin Des Mouches. Vannier's voice is charismatic as can be, and the vintage pulp orchestrations are as fresh as ever. Includes "Londres-Paris-Sofia", "Les Yeux Valise", "Au Desespoir Des Singes", "Les Coquelicots", "La Vie En Live", "Une Partie De Scrabble", "Roses Rouge Sang" and "Un Petit Quelque Chose". LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal set of recordings of material from Edgar Varese – key Robert Craft takes on three earlier compositions, and the debut of "Poeme Electronique", which was created at the 1958 Brussels World Fair! "Ionisation" hs a complex mix of percussion instruments, played by thirteen players – with a quality that's almost a key precursor to the music of Harry Partch. "Density 21.5" is a haunting piece for solo flute – filled with unusual tones and textures – and "Integrales" has a fuller orchestral presentation, and a nicely bombastic vibe, with woodwind tones and percussion colliding beautifully! That sound continues in "Octandre" – a 20s composition that shows just how far Varese was ahead of his time – as does "Hyperprism", from the same year, which is even more dramatic. "Poem Electronique" has a very different approach – all analogue electronics, used in an illustration of Varese's concept of "organized sound", but with a feel that's similar to the best musique concrete material of the 50s. LP, Vinyl record album

A funky Nigerian gem from this lost 70s group – a combo who have a way of folding Afro Funk styles with some of the leaner West African styles of the time! There's horns in the group, and lots of bold percussion – but the guitars are really the key to the whole set – mixing together and ringing out with all sorts of cool chromatic elements alongside the vocals! The approach hints at highlife, but has a vibe that's all its own – and a nicely rough around the edges sort of quality that really keeps things spontaneous! Side one features the long "Drunkard" – and side two features "Matine Yanzoni" and "Herve". LP, Vinyl record album

Killer trio material from drummer Daniel Villarreal – a lean, clean record that's a really great showcase for all three players involved! The music's got a vibe that's more live and spontaneous than some other efforts on the International Anthem label, and a sound that's almost funky at times – as Daniel's snapping drums get plenty of encouragement from the basses of Anna Butterss, which really sets fire to the guitar of Jeff Parker! Parker's back here at a level that we haven't heard on record in awhile, and the record seems to resonate with all his long experience with a variety of players – while also standing as a showcase for his ability to really deliver some warmly chromatic tones on the guitar. Titles include "Things Can Be Calm", "Daytime Nighttime", "Salute", "Sunset Cliffs", "Republic", "Chicali Outpost", and "Bring It". CD

Killer trio material from drummer Daniel Villarreal – a lean, clean record that's a really great showcase for all three players involved! The music's got a vibe that's more live and spontaneous than some other efforts on the International Anthem label, and a sound that's almost funky at times – as Daniel's snapping drums get plenty of encouragement from the basses of Anna Butterss, which really sets fire to the guitar of Jeff Parker! Parker's back here at a level that we haven't heard on record in awhile, and the record seems to resonate with all his long experience with a variety of players – while also standing as a showcase for his ability to really deliver some warmly chromatic tones on the guitar. Titles include "Things Can Be Calm", "Daytime Nighttime", "Salute", "Sunset Cliffs", "Republic", "Chicali Outpost", and "Bring It". LP, Vinyl record album

A very hip Japanese group from the 70s – one based in Tokyo, but a combo who also featured Japanese/American members too – and who soar out nicely here on one of their best-remembered albums! The set's got this cool, compressed style that's a bit like glam – but it's also never too over the top either, so that there's a hard rock style that dominates many of the tracks, with guitar lines that really benefit a lot from the compression – as do the vocals when they are folded nicely down into the grooves! Lyrics are both in English and Japanese, and titles include "Billy Mars", "Automatic Pilot", "Vacuum Girl", "Scratchin", and "Pontiac Pan". LP, Vinyl record album

The great early double album from Tom Waits! This is peak Asylum era Waits, getting into that charismatic, drunken bluesy poet mode – essentially working live in the studio with a small audience , giving it a genuine sounding latenight cabaret vibe, and embracing his wit and style as brilliantly as he'd done to this point. Brilliant vintage Waits and a loose, yet nicely rhythmic backing combo. Titles include "Better Off Without A Wife", "Emotional Weather Report", "On A Foggy Night", "Eggs & Sausage", "Spare Parts", "Big Joe & Phantom 309", and "Putnam County". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunner from the legendary living ghost that is Scott Walker – possibly the most archly dramatic, unique and strangely alluring work he's ever done! Since Scott Walker albums have become once per decade events, a lot more is at stake with each one, and it's nothing short of amazing that he manages to get more and more exciting with each effort. The Drift finds Scott tackling obscure historical drama, his pop-operatic vibrato as chilling as ever – backed up by his long-relied upon backdrop of string arrangements, guitars, drums and keys – along with (way) off-kilter percussion. But the sounds made with those tried-and-true materials are often unprecedented, from Scott or anyone else on the planet. The voice wails with authority, the backing is often quiet and subtle until the ever-approaching gail swoops in and carries you away. We could probably write a book about this album (and someone undoubtably will) – so we'll leave you to pick it up and experience it for yourself! Tracks include "Cossacks Are", "Clara", "Jesse", "Jolson And Jones", "Cue", "Hand Me Ups", "Buzzers", "Psoriatic", "The Escape" and "A Lover Loves". CD

Early brilliance from tenor genius David S Ware – one of the first records issued under his own name as a leader, and maybe still one of the greatest too! The album has Ware working with the Apogee trio of Cooper Moore on piano and Marc Edwards on drums – in these long-blown lines that are an immediate inheritance of the late legacy of John Coltrane – played in that searing, searching style of Coltrane's final years – but maybe given even more depth and directly here by David! Ware's approach is wonderful throughout – always soulful and meaningful, even in the most abstract moments – very fully-formed, and still completely tremendous after all these years. Titles include "Prayer", "Thematic Womb", and "Primary Piece #1". First-ever reissue – with lots of bonus tracks that include "Solo", "Prayer", "Cry", "Stop Time", and "Ashimba". CD

One of the more unusual collaborations we've heard in recent years – and one that shouldn't work as well as it does! Jack Waterson's probably best known as a key member of Green On Red back in the 80s, but over the decades he's had a long history of work on his own – including ties to some of the more creative forces in Los Angeles – which, in this case, includes funky producer Adrian Younge, who co-created the music with Jack from top to bottom! Most of the tunes are vocal numbers, with Waterson singing in this really distorted way that's nice and watery – while Adrian brings some of his funky cinematic talents to play in this really nice way – almost making the whole thing sound like some vintage funky psych album. Ali Shaheed Muhammad guests on a few tracks – and titles include "Religion Of Death", "All Hail The Emperor", "Smile", "Prepare For A Long Fall", "The Legend Of Shorty George", and "They Won't Help You". CD

Hard to find soundtrack to this early Don Siegel film that starred John Cassavetes, Sal Mineo, and James Whitmore as a bunch of JD's. The score has a dramatic crime jazz sound, similar to Elmer Bernstein's work in the same vein – and the LP also includes Waxman's "Three Sketches for Jazz Orchestra", which features nice solo passages by the likes of Pete Candoli, Joe Mondragon, and Jack Dumont. A classic Decca score, and one that we never see! LP, Vinyl record album

JJ Whitefield has given us plenty of funky records over the years – most in vintage styles, including work as Poets Of Rhythm and Karl Hector & The Malcouns! This time around, there's a sound library approach, but with the slight Ethio vibe you'd guess from the title on one side – then an Italian cinematic inspiration on the other! The Ethiopian-flavored tunes are maybe more laidback, and have some elements that resonate with the 70s golden age, but with a lean funk sound and a bit sharper production – as befits the sound library approach. The flipside echoes lots of great Italian crime/cop modes from the 70s – but again, with a slightly leaner style that really lets the best funky elements come through strongly! Titles include "Hulet", "Sost", "Arat", "Sebat", "Sidist", "Asir", "Orecchiete", "Parmagiano", "Strozzapreti", and "Buttoni". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful work from guitarist Jack Wilkins – maybe one of his cleanest, coolest records of all time – and a set that really demonstrates the rich chromatic power of the young musician! The album's a trio date – with Mike Moore on electric and acoustic bass, and Bill Goodwin on drums and percussion – a relatively light rhythm team that really lets Jack take the lead, especially on a few of the tracks where he hits a rhythmic pulse he never would match on later albums! The album features a brilliant version of Freddie Hubbard's classic "Red Clay" – which begins nice and spare, with a great break on the intro, and a hard groove all the way through! Other cuts include "Pinocchio", "Song For The Last Act", "Windows", and "Canzona". CD

Really wonderful work from alto genius Phil Woods – already showing a sense of tone and timing that breaks him away from all the Charlie Parker devotees on the market! The groups are great, and Jimmy Raney adds in some amazing chromatic work on guitar – bringing to Phil the same sort of magic he shared with Stan Getz around the same time. CD

Really wonderful work from alto genius Phil Woods – already showing a sense of tone and timing that breaks him away from all the Charlie Parker devotees on the market! The groups are great, and Jimmy Raney adds in some amazing chromatic work on guitar – bringing to Phil the same sort of magic he shared with Stan Getz around the same time. LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent album of funky electric jazz – and possibly the best one that Phil Woods cut with his European group! The quartet's a very hip group that's way hipper than its clunky name – with Gordon Beck on electric piano and organ, Daniel Humair on percussion and drums, and Henri Texier on bass, flute, and African percussion – all instrumentalists who dip heavily into the deep bag of their mighty talents for the date, helping to push Phil's music into some very cool new territory! The album cooks a lot harder than Woods' previous MGM date with the Rhythm Machine group in Europe – and has a really freewheeling vibe, and a sound that's almost outside at points. All tracks are long, with a modal electric approach that's very nice – and funky in the best parts – and titles include "Chromatic Banana", "Ultimate Choice", "The Last Page", and "The Day When The World". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album from Stevie Woods, and one of just a few records ever by the early 80s soul groover as a headliner! It's made up of sweet mid tempo cuts, slightly spacier keys & percussion flavored numbers, slow jams with string accents and more – really nice stuff all around! Stevie's a charismatic singer, and this is well tailored, nicely produced and easygoing work. We're surprised Stevie didn't have more years in the limelight! Includes "Fly Away", "Just Can't Win 'Em All", "Take Me To Your Heaven", "Steal The Night", "Through The Years", "Wanna Be Close To You", "Read Between The Lines", "Throw A Little Bit Of Love My Way" and "Gotcha". LP, Vinyl record album

The full length debut of the Yancey Boys – Frank Nitt & Illa J – the former of the venerable duo Frank N Dank, the latter J Dilla's rhyme centric younger brother – who come together with the dual purpose of keeping J Dilla's production pedigree alive, and to simply deliver timeless, top notch Detroit hip hop! Production is provided by J Dilla's archive – and a pretty impressive roster of Dilla friends and collaborators take part as guests – include Common, Talib Kweli, Posdnuos of De La Soul, Dank, Rhettmatic, Eric Roberson, Guilty Simpson, J Roc and others. Titles include "Dilltro" with Dank, "Fisherman" feat Vice, J Rocc & Detroit Serious, "Flowers" with Kweli, Niko Grey & Rhettmatic, "Without Wings", "Beautiful" with Posdnuos, "Quicksand" with Slimkid3 & Niko Gray", "The Throwaway", "This Evening" and more. CD

The full length debut of the Yancey Boys – Frank Nitt & Illa J – the former of the venerable duo Frank N Dank, the latter J Dilla's rhyme centric younger brother – who come together with the dual purpose of keeping J Dilla's production pedigree alive, and to simply deliver timeless, top notch Detroit hip hop! Production is provided by J Dilla's archive – and a pretty impressive roster of Dilla friends and collaborators take part as guests – include Common, Talib Kweli, Posdnuos of De La Soul, Dank, Rhettmatic, Eric Roberson, Guilty Simpson, J Roc and others. Titles include "Dilltro" with Dank, "Fisherman" feat Vice, J Rocc & Detroit Serious, "Flowers" with Kweli, Niko Grey & Rhettmatic, "Without Wings", "Beautiful" with Posdnuos, "Quicksand" with Slimkid3 & Niko Gray", "The Throwaway", "This Evening" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A standout solo moment for Yazz – the singer who first rose to fame as part of the Coldcut soundsystem, then really broke big at a point when UK soul was cracking the American mainstream! Yazz may have a bleached-out look on the cover, but her sound is deeply soulful – and fits in perfectly with the house-styled grooves on the record – backings that have an unabashed love of disco, at a time when listening audiences were maybe forgiving that music for all of its previous excesses, and strongly embracing its best qualities again – in a groove that's maybe a bit similar to Lisa Stansfield at the time, although with more beats and less strings. Production and backings are by Coldcut, FON, Youth, and other hip talents – and titles include her great remake of "The Only Way Is Up" – plus "Systematic People", "Wanted On The Floor", "Stand Up For Your Love Rights", "Fine Time", "Where Has All The Love Gone", "Got To Share", and "Turn It Up". LP, Vinyl record album

A deceptively groovy record – one that, like the other two in this hip series, hides some very cool sounds behind a relatively unassuming cover! Toshiko Yonekawa plays the Japanese koto, but the setting here is very different than the spare, folksy mode of earlier koto records – as arranger Kiyoshi Yamaya brings in a hip blend of jazz instrumentation and strings – using keyboards, vibes, guitar, and other instruments to update the sound, and give the whole thing a slinky 70s groove – bridging generations in Japanese music, with some great cinematic funk elements at times – on titles that include "Kariboshikiri Uta", "Tabaruzaka", "Iya No Kohiki Uta", "Takeda No Komori Uta", "Hietsuki Bushi", "Mogami Gawa Funa Uta", and "Aizu Bandai San". LP, Vinyl record album

A great return for the legendary Tom Ze – an artist who'd been brought back to prominence via the efforts of a Luaka Bop compilation – then given this great chance to record for the label on his own! The set's a great return to form for Ze – who sprung from this moment into a renewed period of creative energy – really drawing on his crucial years of groundbreaking sounds in Brazil during the Tropicalia generation, and especially the 70s – when Tom had really moved off into a realm of his own. Most tracks are relatively short, and pretty enigmatic – a flurry of the sounds and verbal experiments that always made Ze so great! Titles include "Jingle Do Disco", "Cortina 3", "Amar", "Ogodo, Ano 2000", "Feira De Santana", "Fliperama", and "Tatuaramba". LP, Vinyl record album

The title's maybe a bit misleading – as most folks think of day-glo as a color associated with some of the most throwaway culture of the 80s – but the brightness of the hue definitely marks the big explosion in styles during the key British year of 1978 – a time when the punk revolution of 1977 opened the door for a big range of modes to follow! It might be said that the post-punk years came immediately after the initial days of punk – and they definitely begin here, as hard and fast modes are mixed with more unusual styles that include mod revival moments, electronic experiments, and even some offbeat pop – expressions of humor, anger, and a shifting political landscape – served up as an amazing document of the creative intensity of the time! As with other Cherry Red boxes, the overall package is great – a huge amount of notes to support the 79 tracks within – a diverse array of music from Blue Steam, The Others, UK Subs, The Jam, Monochrome Set, Wreckless Eric, Spizzoil, Public Image Ltd, 999, The Stranglers, Japan, The Only Ones, Magazine, Alternative TV, Slush, Time Machine, Eater, The Bozos, Tyla Gang, Ed Banger, No Sweat, The VIPs, John Cooper Clarke, Scritti Politti, Penetration, Stiff Little Fingers, Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias, Teardrops, Coventry Automatics, Menace, Bleach Boys, Jilted John, Zones, Electric Chairs, and many more! CD

One of the coolest sets the Numero Group has ever released – and that's saying a heck of a lot, given their already-mighty catalog! Although the label issued a previous dip into the enigmatic Boddie Recording company of Cleveland, this massive package brings together a whopping 57 tracks from the Boddie studios and related labels – many of which have never been reissued before, even by Numero – and all of which offer up a mindblowing microcosm of the American scene in the 60s and 70s – a wealth of rare funk, soul, psych, gospel, and more – all of it the kind of gritty material that 45 collectors die for! But just as cool as the music is the box itself – a slipcover that fits around a hardcover book, which contains individual pockets with CDs that focus on the core labels from Boddie – then other pull outs that include a big booklet on the studios, another on the artists, and a third set of bonus inserts! Musically, the whole thing's right on par with other Numero releases – maybe even above them, given the wide range and depth of the collection – and artists include Bo & The Metros, Inter Circle, King James Version, Ricky Hodges, Jackie Russell, Angela Alexander, Frankie Pighee, Chantells, AC Jones, Harvey Hall, Headlines, Modern Detergents, Penny North, JC Akins, Little Anthony Mitchell, Gospel Fabulators, Royal Kings, Corinthian Singers, Brother Bill, Victory 5, and many more. This version includes a fourth "Boddie Bonus Disc" with 22 additional tracks! CD

Fantastic soundtrack remix madness! The work of some of the greatest Italian composers of the late 60s and early 70s is updated for the modern dancefloor – and this set may well be the best of Easy Tempo's "Experience" series! Tracks include Piero Umiliani's "L'Uomo E La Citta" remixed by Raphael Sebbag, Umiliani's "Lady Magnolia" remixed by Kid Loco, Stefano Torrossi's "Walking In The Dark" remixed by DJ Vadim, Umiliani's "Panoramica" remixed by Cinematic Orchestra, Lesiman's "Messaggio" remixed by Gak Sato, Piero Piccioni's "Colpo Rovente" remixed by Benja & Fatalis, and lots lots more! LP, Vinyl record album

A long-overdue entry in this legendary series of compilations – one that taught us an awful lot about funky soundtrack music back in the day, finally back in action after a long hiatus! This time around, the groove has gotten even deeper – as the series has stretched to include some killer sound library material as well – really mixing together all the jazz, funk, and cinematic elements that were in the previous volumes – yet all with the hip Euro-styled groove that we loved in all of those releases too! There's a huge amount of funky nuggets here, but all with a vibe that's very different than 70s work from the US scene – and although we've missed the Easy Tempo series for many years, we're so glad to have them back – as they're still one of the best. Titles include "Take Me To New York" by Brooklyn Bridge Group, "Undertown" by Orchestra Mustang, "First Time Three" by Roberto Pregadio, "Angelus" by Soul's Soul, "African Flute" by Ninety, "Super Cat" by Les Chakachas, "Sunshine Train" by Hugh Bullen, "Un Uomo Che Lavora" by Carlo Cordara E I Waterloo, "Meeting" by Gino Marinaaci, and "Guida Sicura" by Enzo Scoppa. CD

A long-overdue entry in this legendary series of compilations – one that taught us an awful lot about funky soundtrack music back in the day, finally back in action after a long hiatus! This time around, the groove has gotten even deeper – as the series has stretched to include some killer sound library material as well – really mixing together all the jazz, funk, and cinematic elements that were in the previous volumes – yet all with the hip Euro-styled groove that we loved in all of those releases too! There's a huge amount of funky nuggets here, but all with a vibe that's very different than 70s work from the US scene – and although we've missed the Easy Tempo series for many years, we're so glad to have them back – as they're still one of the best. Titles include "Take Me To New York" by Brooklyn Bridge Group, "Undertown" by Orchestra Mustang, "First Time Three" by Roberto Pregadio, "Angelus" by Soul's Soul, "African Flute" by Ninety, "Super Cat" by Les Chakachas, "Sunshine Train" by Hugh Bullen, "Un Uomo Che Lavora" by Carlo Cordara E I Waterloo, "Meeting" by Gino Marinaaci, and "Guida Sicura" by Enzo Scoppa. LP, Vinyl record album

Detroit finally gets its funky due – stepping out from the shadows cast by endless Motown and Northern Soul compilations, and fixing its funky wagon to a great batch of rare indie groovers! The package brings together some real gems from labels that have barely, if ever, been reissued in the past – Sport, Big Hit, and Northern – and features tunes that run in vintage from the late 60s through the mid 70s. There's a really fierce funky 45 sort of feel going on here – with lots of deep deep bass on the best cuts, plenty of snapping drums, and vocals that have lots of raw and rough southern-styled touches! The set's got 17 tracks in all – with titles that include "Party On 4th Street" and "Mama Didn't Lie" by Black Nasty, "Going To Get It" by Calvin Williams, "Don't Leave Me To Be Lonely" by The Dramatics, "Funky Soul" by Dynamic Walton Brothers, "You Better Get Yourself Together" by Timmy Shaw & Chuck Holiday, "Keep On Stepping" by Black Nasty, "Bit Off More" by Lynn Day, and "Uncle Tom" by Herbie Thompson. CD

A totally cool little set, and one that takes us back to the kind of commercials they used to play at the drive-in theaters between two different movies in a long double-feature! The tracks here are all short, playful little tunes with plenty of 60s elements – sometimes jazzy, sometimes groovy – extolling the virtues of popcorn, pizza, Pepsi, and anything else you might want to whet your whistle or tame your stomach during the course of a long cinematic experience! As you'd guess from Something Wild, a lot of great research went into this project – and there's some surprising artists in the lineup, doing work you never would have imagined. The whole thing feels like a package of mini audio cartoons – very cool throughout! CD

A totally cool little set, and one that takes us back to the kind of commercials they used to play at the drive-in theaters between two different movies in a long double-feature! The tracks here are all short, playful little tunes with plenty of 60s elements – sometimes jazzy, sometimes groovy – extolling the virtues of popcorn, pizza, Pepsi, and anything else you might want to whet your whistle or tame your stomach during the course of a long cinematic experience! As you'd guess from Something Wild, a lot of great research went into this project – and there's some surprising artists in the lineup, doing work you never would have imagined. The whole thing feels like a package of mini audio cartoons – very cool throughout! LP, Vinyl record album

Don't like getting your fingers dusty? No problem, the folks at Strictly Breaks work hard so you don't have to! The next installment in their now famous "as sampled by . . ." series, this compilation of 31 tracks and 3 drum breaks covers a gang of material used by Nas (well, his producers actually). Loads of classic soul, jazz and funk, and each track is notated as to which song it was used in. Includes Gong "Babooji", Chris Barber "Petit Fleur", Vicki Anderson "Land Of Milk & Honey", Ahmad Jamal "I Love Music", Joe Chambers "Mind Rain", Heath Brothers "Smilin Billy Suite Pt 2", Eddie Floyd "Check Me Out", 24 Carat Black "Mommas Coming", Japanese Hair "Dead End", Love Unlimited "I'll Move You No Mountain", Blue Jays "What Do You Want", Bob James "The Sponge" and The Soul Children "Move Over". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge array of soul tracks from the Mainstream label – an imprint that was probably best known for its jazz work of the early 70s, and as the launching pad for a few key rock groups – but one who also cut some killer soul tracks in the best New York and Philly styles of the period! Mainstream only ever issued most of its soul material as singles – 45s issued on their own label, and under the IX Chains, Brown Dog, and New Moon imprints too – spread out in an array of under-circulated, poorly-distributed releases that never fully got their due at the time – partly because much of the music was years ahead of its time! There's a groove here that reminds us of the hippest sounds from bigger labels – including Philly International or All-Platinum – with a similar blend of sweetness, honest vocal performances, and some top-shelf studio work that gives the lyrics a hell of an instrumental push, but all without ever sounding slick or commercial. The package is a much-needed look at this scattered legacy – and brings together 24 rare cuts that include "These Memories" by Almeta Lattimore, "I'm The One Who Loves You" by JG Lewis, "Come Back (part 1)" by The Fantastic Puzzles, "I Can't Give You Up" by Linda Perry, "It Ain't Like It Used To Be" by Randolph Brown & Company, "No Rebate On Love" by The Dramatics, "You're A Friend Of Mine" by Words Of Wisdom, "Satisfy My Woman" by Calvin Arnold, "Plain Out Of Luck" by Nia Johnson, "We're Not Too Young To Fall In Love" by Jackey Beavers Show, "Let The People Talk" by The Steptones, "To Whom It May Concern" by Ellerine Harding, "It's So Real" by McArthur, "Stop & Think A Minute" by Charles Beverly, and "That's The Way She Is" by Bobby Earl Williams. CD

Tracks from Full Force, Plaza, Donny Baptiste, Easy Access Orchestra, Metro Orchestra, Herb Meter, VJ-Scan, Jazzanova, Cinematic Orchestra featuring Fontella Bass, Fink, and more. CD

A totally excellent collection of rare western soundtracks from MGM – vintage material that we've never seen on CD before, packaged together in a beautiful limited set! The style here is a bit more dramatic than the western scores you might know from the spaghetti generation – but there's also some great echoes of those modes too – kind of the early inklings of styles that were picked up later by Italian composers, but handled here mostly with fuller American orchestrations. The package really lives up to the usual Film Score standards – great sound and supporting materials, and lots of movie tracks that never would have been on any LP release. 3CDs – with material from Northwest Passage (1940) by Herbert Stothart, Many Rivers To Cross (1955) by Cyril J Mockridge, Thunder Of Drums (1961) by Harry Sukman, and The Godchild (1974) by David Shire. Also features the song "Yellow Stripes" from Escape From Fort Brave (1953). CD

Amazing music from the depths of the Great Depression, but it's hardly a downer – this is a deeply felt collection of tunes by black & white singers and combos of the 20s & 30s that's cathartic, emotional, and a complete treasure trove! The songs are full of brutal beauty, tragedy, and some dark humor, especially when it gets to the murder ballads – and more than 30 of the 70 songs haven't been reissued before now! This is simply one of the very best sets of archival Americana since the epic CD releases of the Anthology Of American Folk Music. It's really that good! The discs are separated thematically – Man V Machine, Man V Nature, and Man V Man (And Woman, Too) – and titles include "Titanic Blues" by Hi Henry Brown & Charlie Jordan, "The Crash Of The Akron" by Bob Miller, "Wreck Of Old 97" by Skillet Lickers, "The Fatal Wreck Of The Blus" bu Mainer's Mountaineers, "The Story Of The Mighty Mississippi" by Ernest Stoneman, "When The Levee Breaks" by Kansas Joe & Memphis Minnie, "The Death Of Floyd Collins" by Vernon Dalhart, "Peddler And His Wife" by Hayes Shepherd, "Frankie" by Dykes Magic City Trio, "Dupree Blues" by Willie Walker. 70 tracks on 3CDs! CD

The funkiest side of Stax Records – a treasure trove of funky nuggets, all hand-picked by RZA! As the title implies, these are some of the grooves that became the building blocks of the Wu-Tang sound – but even without that pedigree, these tracks are more than great enough on their own – a wonderful mix of album cuts and rare singles – some you'll recognize from famous hip hop samples, some you'll discover here for the first time ever! The triple-length package is overflowing with greatness – and titles include "I Could Never Be Happy" and "I Like It" by The Emotions, "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" by The Mad Lads and another "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" by William Bell, "Children Don't Get Weary" by Judy Clay, "All It Takes Is You & Me" by The Sweet Inspirations, "Poverty's Paradise" by 24 Carat Black, "I'll Play The Blues For You" by Albert King, "Why Marry" by The Sweet Inspirations, "Steal Away" by Johnnie Taylor, "Hang On Sloopy" by David Porter, "Ike's Mood 1" by Isaac Hayes, "In The Rain" by The Dramatics, "Don't Take My Kindness For Weakness" by The Soul Children, "Packed & Took My Mind" by Little Milton, "Sing A Simple Song" by Booker T & The MGs, "I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over" by David Porter, "LA Jazz Song" by Booker T & The MGs, "Walk On By" by Isaac Hayes, and "Keep The Faith" by Mel & Tim. CD

A 2CD half-century mile marker set for Stax Records – one of the most vital and popular southern soul labels ever – as if you needed us to tell you that! The set features a selection of many of the most popular and most culturally important singles from the early 60s and on through the mid 70s – in a nice little box package and a thick booklet of essays, notes and photos! 50 tracks on 2CDs: "Gee Whiz (Look In His Eyes)", "Last Night" by Mar-Kays, "You Don't Miss Your Water" by William Bell, "Candy" by The Astors, "Let Me Be Good To You" by Carla Thomas, "Soul Finger" by The Bar-Kays, "I Got A Sure Thing" by Ollie & The Nightingales, "What A Man" by Linda Lyndell, "Who's Making Love" by Johnny Taylor, "Time Is Tight" by Booker T & The MGs, "So I Can Love You" by The Emotions, "Mr Big Stuff" by Jean Knight, "Theme From Shaft" by Isaac Hayes, "In The Rain" by The Dramatics, "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)" by The Staple Singers, "Woman To Woman" by Shirley Brown and much more! CD

An amazing array of southern soul – a 3CD package that's overflowing with classics in the genre, but which also features a fair bit of rare numbers too! The presentation of the whole thing is completely top-shelf – with a 72 page booklet that's almost worth the price of admission alone, supported with 3CDs of music containing a total of 75 songs in all! The set's divided up thematically – discs titled You Don't Miss Your Water, The Rainbow Road, and The River, respectively – and even if you've already got a fair bit of southern soul in your collection, you'd be hard pressed to find so much great music anywhere else, especially presented this well. Titles include "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" by William Bell, "Polly Wally" by Tony Borders, "Faithful & True" by ZZ Hill, "What I Don't Know Won't Hurt Me" by Paul Thompson, "I Can't Give You My Heart" by Jimmy Braswell, "Lead Me On" by Gwen McCrae, "Let's Face Facts" by The Masqueraders, "Something I Never Had" by Jarvis Jackson, "Mumble In My Ear" by Marcell Strong, "Tired Of Being Alone" by Al Green, "Jody Come Back & Get Your Shoes" by Bobby Newsom, "Starting All Over Again" by Mel & Tim, "I'll Play The Blues For You" by Geater Davis, "I'll Make It Up To You" by Clay Hammond, "The One You Can't Have" by Shirley Walton, "My Adorable One" by Joe Simon, "Losin Boy" by Eddie Giles, and "We Always Come Back Strong" by Sam Dees. CD

This may be street funk, but it was clearly recorded in some of the hippest studios of the time – with just the right touches to keep these cuts sounding as raw and urgent as when they were recorded back in the day! The set mixes together album tracks, rare funky 45s, and even a few unissued gems that have been unearthed by the folks at Ace Records – all to make for a package that's way different than just about any other mainstream funk compilation on the market! And sure, maybe the set's an introduction to a genre, but it also features plenty of funky nuggets for rare collectors too – in a lineup that includes "Brand New Girl" by Billy Garner, "Funky Kingston" by Tribe, "Foolish Man (part 1)" by The Huck Daniels Co, "Stop" by Camille Lil Bo, "Do It" by Billy Sha Rae, "Mother Popcorn" by The Mellow Matics, "Soul Feeling (part 1)" by Eddie Giles, "Get Me Back On Time Engine 9" by National Soul Review, "Here Comes The Judge" by Larry & Tommy, and "Bad On Bad" by Chet Ivey. LP, Vinyl record album

A great little collection – and one that definitely gets the "soulful" in the title right! The cuts here are from some of our favorite mellow soul artists of the 70s – tracks that move, but in a nicely laidback way – with funky rhythms moving slower than on club cuts, at a level that also follows some of the best steppers' modes in our home city of Chicago! Many of these songs were slept-on the first time around, but have gone to become classics over the decades – thanks to the work of soul collectors and DJs around the globe – and also thanks to labels like Soul Brother, who never let us down when it comes to a collection! Titles include "Yes It's You" by Sweet Charles, "There You Go" by Edwin Starr, "She's My Summer Breeze" by The Reflections, "I'm Your Lover" by Ronnie McNeir, "Ain't That Mellow Mellow" by Willie Hutch, "Wanted Dead Or Alive" by Voices Of East Harlem, "Save The Children" by Marlena Shaw, "I Don't Want To Be Second Best" by Jeannie Reynolds, "Strung Out For Your Love" by The Dramatics, "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City" by Bobby Blue Bland, "Evil Vibration" by Mighty Ryders, "Give Me Your Love" by Sisters Love, and the extended mix of "Playing Your Game Baby" by Barry White. CD

A really mind-bending collection of African grooves – one that digs deep into the West African scene of the early 70s – and comes up with a massive batch of tunes that really opens up our understanding of the music! The sound here isn't just 70s Afro Funk – as the tunes include a range of tripped-out styles that make the best use of electric instrumentation, psychedelic production, and important influences from American soul artists at the time. There's some amazing guitar on some of the best tracks – ringing out with a sound that's chromatically complex while also being tripped-out and funky – in a way that complicates the rhythms without totally taking them apart. If you've dug the tunes on previous sets like Africa Funk or Ghana Soundz, this is one to take that sound to the next level – and really open up your ears! Titles include "Keleya" by Moussa Doumbia, "Love's A Real Thing" by The Super Eagles, "Minsato Le Mi Dyihome" by Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo De Cotonou Dahomey, "Porry" by Sorry Bamba, "Allah Wakbarr" by Ofo & The Black Company, "Sanjina" by Orchestre Regional De Kayes, "Ifa" by Tunji Oyelana & The Benders, "Zinabu" by Bunzu Sounds, and "Awon-Ojise-Oluwa" by Gasper Lawal. CD

A glorious celebration of a decade of Ninja Tune! The set's packed full of all the best bits on the label – and includes a number of out of print or hard to find tracks. Titles include "More Beats & Pieces (John McIntire & Tortoise rmx)" by Coldcut, "Channel 1 Suite (Four tet rmx)" by Cinematic Orchestra, "Bad Sex" by Amon Tobin, "Big Sea" by Funki Porcini, "I Hear The Drummer" by Luke Vibert, "The Xen To One Ratio" by Steinski, "Hip Hop Barrio" by Up Bustle & Out, "Down & To The Left" by Amon Tobin, "Quicksilver Loom" by Flanger, "Tried By 12 (Squarepusher mix)" by East Flatbush Project, "Movements (live)" by Roots Manuva, and "Drunk Trumpet (live)" by Kid Koala. 46 tracks, 3CDs, and what a nice price! CD

One of the most enigmatic records we've ever gotten from the Numero Group – especially since they usually go out of their way to tell the full story of most of their releases! This set purports to be the never-issued soundtrack from a 60s film titled You're Not From Around Here – but none of the film details, director, or writer show up with an internet search – leading us to believe that the label just felt that the whole thing was a great story to serve up some twang-heavy rarities from the underbelly of early 60s rock and roll. Turns out, they were plenty darn right – as the package alone is a dream – a cool octagonal box with a replica poster and a very cool look – housing a record full of rare rockers that include "A Song For Mary" by Gene Sikora, "First Love" by Bailey's Nervous Kats, "Spacewalk" by Nicky Roberts, "Wandering" by The Expressos, "Lonely Walk" by Alvie Self, "Somewhere Down The Line" by Shelley Duncan, "Haunted After Midnight" by Slim Martin, "16.88" by Hayden Thompson, "Wouldn't It Be Nice To Have Wings & Fly" by Buzz Clifford, "Tomorrow's Gone" by Charlie Megira, and "Ebb Tide" by Houston & Dorsey. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most enigmatic records we've ever gotten from the Numero Group – especially since they usually go out of their way to tell the full story of most of their releases! This set purports to be the never-issued soundtrack from a 60s film titled You're Not From Around Here – but none of the film details, director, or writer show up with an internet search – leading us to believe that the label just felt that the whole thing was a great story to serve up some twang-heavy rarities from the underbelly of early 60s rock and roll. Turns out, they were plenty darn right – as the package alone is a dream – a cool octagonal box with a replica poster and a very cool look – housing a record full of rare rockers that include "A Song For Mary" by Gene Sikora, "First Love" by Bailey's Nervous Kats, "Spacewalk" by Nicky Roberts, "Wandering" by The Expressos, "Lonely Walk" by Alvie Self, "Somewhere Down The Line" by Shelley Duncan, "Haunted After Midnight" by Slim Martin, "16.88" by Hayden Thompson, "Wouldn't It Be Nice To Have Wings & Fly" by Buzz Clifford, "Tomorrow's Gone" by Charlie Megira, and "Ebb Tide" by Houston & Dorsey. LP, Vinyl record album