Every single song the great Jimmie Rodgers ever recorded! Jimmie Rodgers might be THE forefather of traditional country music, and one of the great hard times poets of the century. Bear Family has gone all out to include his entire recorded history, and if justice served this set would be celebrated in the same manner as Harry Smith's Antholology Of American Folk Music. The recorded history here is every bit as important, if not more so, to the maturation of American music – but even more importantly, it's filled with breathlessly great songs! Everything's here – "The Soldier's Sweetheart", "Sleep, Baby, Sleep", "Ben Dewberry's Final Run", "Mother Was A Lady", "Blue Yodel", "Treasure's Untold", "Mississippi Moon", "You And My Old Guitar", "I'm Lonely And Blue", "My California Sunshine Girl", "Mississippi River Blues", "Nobody Knows But Me", "She Was Happy 'Til She Met You", "For The Sake Of Day's Gone By", "Jimmie's Mean Mama Blues", "In The Jailhouse Now", "T.B. Blues", "Let Me Be Your Sidekick", and tons more. Tuberculosis took Jimmie away while he was still in his 30s, but he left an incredible legacy – unprecedented music that fused old time gospel, blues, and mountain folk into a new American art form. Nearly 150 tracks, including many alternate versions, and a great booklet crammed with biographical information and photos. CD

It's time to swing, but with a classy sound throughout – very much the best mix of modes Dakota Staton brought to her key early years at Capitol Records! Backings are by Sid Feller, and are pretty darn jazzy throughout – more so than some of Sid's other work of the time – a perfectly soulful setting for Staton's amazing vocals – very poised at points, yet never as stiff or stodgy as some of her contemporaries. Dakota's got a deep-toned approach to these tracks that really helps make the album way more than just another recording of familiar standards – and instead, does a great job of taking tunes into rich new territory. There's loads of great reedwork – from Phil Woods, Jerome Richardson, and Budd Johnson – and titles include "If I Should Lose You", "When Lights Are Low", "Willow Weep For Me", "But Not For Me", "The Song Is You", and "Until The Real Thing Comes Along". Bonus tracks include "You'd Better Go Now", "You've Changed", "All In My Mind", "Detour Ahead", and "Once There Lived A Fool". CD

Amazing is right – as Timi Yuro's one of the most soulful voices of the 60s, but a singer who's often overlooked because her work fell into a unique space between jazz and soul! The CD offers a much-needed look at Timi's mid-60s years on the Mercury label – a key point of maturity, and work done after Timi's initial and better-known sides for Liberty. The style here takes the depth of Dinah Washington on Mercury and infuses it with styles that are a bit lusher, and more in the increasingly sophisticated mode of other 60s vocalists – supported by Quincy Jones production and some great backings from the legendary Bobby Scott. 24 tracks in all are featured – including the full Amazing Timi Yuro album, plus rare singles, and even a few Italian numbers! Tracks include "I Love My Man", "Johnny", "If", "All I Need Is You", "I'm Still Around", "There Must Be A Way", "Why Not Now", "Can't Stop Running Away", "Get Out Of My Life", "Could This Be Magic", "My Foolish Heart", "Cuttin In", "Ti Credo", and "E Poi Verra L'Autunno". CD

Not the instrumental music from the animated feature, but 15 tracks used in the film – including "It's All Too Much", "All Together Now", "Love You To", "Yellow Submarine", "Nowhere Man", "When I'm Sixty Four", "Baby You're A Rich Man", "Think For Yourself", and the always wonderful "Hey Bulldog". CD

2 albums by the great Eugene McDaniels – back to back on one CD! Headless Heroes is a holy grail for funk collectors – and one that we can't believe got reissued! The record is a monstrously moody LP of jazzy changes and groovy vocals with the classic "Jagger the Dagger", which was sampled to great fame by Tribe Called Quest. The title track was used by the Beasties, and lord knows all of you are looking for more. The rest of this is as groovy as those tracks, with lots of nice moody bits and very righteous lyrics. Other titles include "Supermarket Blues", "Freedom Death Dance", "The Parasite", and "Lovin' Man". Outlaw is a mix of rock and soul that features a strong political message that's probably best embodied in the statment on the back that reads "Under conditions of national emergency, like now, there are only two kinds of people – those who work for freedom, and those who do not: the good guys vs the bad guys". The sound of the record is similar to McDaniels' classic Headless Heroes album (recorded after this one), with jazzy backing, and righteous vocals by the man. Titles include "Love Letter To America", "Black Boy", "Outlaw", and "Sagittarius Red". CD

A great collection of Thelonious Monk's early pre-LP recordings for Blue Note – seminal not only for the label's commitment to a modernist bop ideal, but also for Monk's integration in the growing collection of top-level jazz players on the New York scene! The work is notable also for the fact that Monk's playing sometimes in larger group settings – not just trio ones – and here, his early writing for and interplay with saxes and trumpet certainly has a strong effect on the development of modern jazz in the 50s – as you'll hear on tracks that include work from players like Sahib Shihab and Lou Donaldson on alto, Milt Jackson on vibes, and Idrees Suliman and Kenny Dorham on trumpets – depending on the volumes. Art Blakey is on drums throughout – and titles on this second volume include "Four In One", "Ask Me Now", "Criss Cross", "Skippy", "Hornin In", "Sixteen", and "Let's Cool One". New version features a total of 18 tracks with great remastering and some rare alternate takes! CD

A bit of a change from previous Ozone albums – a set that still has plenty of bass at the bottom, but also a fair bit of keyboards as well – stretching out nicely over the top, almost with a bit of an electro pop feel at points! The keys really make for a catchy sort of edge – not just the usual bassy soul from Rick James-era Motown, but a slightly more complicated vibe that's really trying for something new at times. The set also features a few mellower ballads that are surprisingly great – sensitive moments we wouldn't have guessed from the group – and titles include "You Don't Want My Love", "I Can't Wait", "Glasses", "Strutt My Thang", and "Don't Leave Me Now". CD

The Ramones really caught their classic recorded sound for the first time on Leave Home – the second of their three perfect late 70s milestones. As amazing as the debut is, its two-channel shrieking buzz saw sound bowed nicely to the slightly more digestible but just as cathartic roar of the follow ups. Titles include "California Sun", "Glad To See You Go", "Suzy Is A Headbanger", "Pinhead", "What's Your Game", "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment", and "I Remember You". Also included on the CD are "Babysitter" and the great "Carbona Not Glue" – previously left off all but the first vinyl pressing to accommodate the minor hit they had in "Rock 'N' Roll High School". The bonus material on this Rhino edition consists of a 16 track, 1976 live recording from the Hollywood Roxy – not bad for a record that only had 15 tracks to begin with! The live set is heavy on tracks from the debut, and includes "Loudmouth", "Beat On The Brat", "Chain Saw", "53rd & 3rd", "Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World", "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue", and "Havana Affair". CD

Esperanza Spaulding looks more striking than ever on this album cover, but not as striking as the music inside – co-produced by Spaulding with Tony Visconti – the longtime David Bowie collaborator who really brings a sharp sort of focus to the set! Although Esperanza began as a jazz bassist who also happened to sing, by the point of this album she's a fully-formed soul star in her own right – bold, powerful, and progressive – with a vision that's even more moving, almost with a future soul or cosmic crackle at points, instead of some of the warmer, gentler modes from previous recordings. The album's a stunner, and shows that Esperanza Spaulding will be surprising us plenty in years to come – as you'll hear on tracks that include "Earth To Heaven", "Rest In Pleasure", "Elevate Or Operate", "Unconditional Love", "Funk The Fear", "I Want It Now", and "Ebony & Ivy". Deluxe edition features the bonus track "Change Us", plus an extended version of "Unconditional Love", an expanded booklet, and poster too! CD

Jackson 5, move over – because the folks at Numero Records have uncovered a whole host of rare kid soul acts from the 70s – most of them a fair bit funkier than their Motown contemporaries! The tracks here all clearly follow the lead started by Michael and his brothers at the end of the 60s – but the music is way more than just a simple copycat of Jackson modes – as each of these artists have a really individual approach, and a heck of a lot of personality in their music – despite their youthful years. In true Numero fashion, most of the cuts here are from tiny little labels – issued only as singles back in the day, but produced with a great deal of enthusiasm for the music – and a confident, competent sound that's quite striking, given the age of the performers. The package comes with complete notes on the music – opening up a whole world of lesser-known kid soul acts – and titles include the amazing "Trust Your Child" by Patrizia & Jimmy, plus "I'm Not Ready For Love" by Promise, "One Is Enough For One" by Jack & the Mods, "Now That School Is Through" by Cindy & The Playmates, "Jersey Slide (part 1)" by 3 Stars, "You Are My Dream" by 3 Simmons, "Can't Let You Break My Heart" by Quantrells, "If You're Looking For Love" by Triads, "Yellow Ribbons" by Atons, "Sweet Pea" by Altyrone Deno Brown, "Time After Time" by Step By Step, "Time" by Otis The 3rd, and "Little Girl" by Michael Washington. CD

Early genius from Kenny Burrell – a set that features the guitarist sounding beautiful in a variety of settings, all of them great! The format really mixes things up nicely – almost showing a more diverse Kenny than in later years – as one track is solo, and the others feature quartet, quintet, and sextet lineups – with players who include JR Monterose or Frank Foster on tenor, Tommy Flanagan or Bobby Timons on piano, Oscar Pettiford or Sam Jones on bass, Kenny Dorham on trumpet, and Kenny Clarke or Shadow Wilson on drums. The solo track is a great version of "But Not For Me" – and other titles include "Mexico City", "Cheeta", "Phinupi", and "Now See How You Are". CD

Includes the songs "Just What I Needed", "My Best Friend's Girl", "Good Times Roll", "You're All I've Got Tonight", "Don't Cha Stop", "Moving In Stereo", "Take Me Now", "Cool Fool", "Let's Go", "Candy-O", "Dangerous Type", "Double Life", "Got A Lot On My Head", "It's All I Can Do", "Nightspots (Early Version)", "Slipaway", "That's It", "Panorama", "Gimme Some Slack", "Don't Go To Pieces", "Touch And Go", "Don't Tell Me No", "Shake It Up", "Since You're Gone", "I'm Not The One", "Cruiser", "The Little Black Egg", "Funtime", "You Might Think", "Drive", "Magic", "Hello Again", "Why Can't I Have You", "Breakaway", "Tonight She Comes", "You Are The Girl", "Strap Me In", "Door To Door", "Leave Or Stay (1977 Demo Version)", and "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo (1977 Demo Version)". CD

Wonderfully warm work from the great Michael Cochrane – a pianist we always love, and who also seems to be playing a bit of Fender Rhodes on this album too! The instrument's not credited on the back, but turns up in an excellent version of Denny Zeitlin's "Quiet Now" – which is handled by Cochrane with just the right sort of space and tone to really open up the composition – in a way that's very different from the bolder, more soulful tones the pianist uses throughout the rest of the album. As always with a record from Michael, the original tunes are some of the best – and include "Discovery", "MC's Bossa", "Erie Blues", and "Fantasy" – all the kind of numbers that always have us digging for his records whenever we get the chance. Other tunes include "Oblivion", "Yesterdays", and "Visitation" – and the trio includes Daryl Johns on bass and Steve Johns on drums. CD

Proof that the US Army had plenty going on during the 70s – as you'll hear from this killer set of military-produced grooves from East Of Underground! The set goes way past the previous East Of Underground reissue – to feature work by the groups Soap, Black Seeds, and Sound Trek – all wrapped up in a beautiful package that's as visually pleasing as the music is funky! The cuts here were all recorded by US Army servicemen during the height of the Vietnam war – as Army-issued albums designed to encourage recruitment (as if a few funky grooves could help offset the bad press the war was getting on TV!) But despite that odd origin, the music here is all pretty great – mostly covers of familiar tunes from the time, but recorded with a nicely gritty quality that's mighty nice – and which makes the overall feel of the records like digging into some lost small studio tapes – ala Numero! Now Again have done a great job of putting together the whole package, too – contributing a wealth of notes and photos, and really digging deep into the scene in which these unique records were created. Not only that, but the packaging also replicates the style of the original odd releases too! The set features a CD each of music by East Of Underground and Soap – plus another CD that brings together an unusual double LP by the groups Black Seeds and Sound Trek. Titles include "I Just Want To Celebrate", "Kool & The Gang", "Walking In The Rain", "Backstabbers", "I Love Everything About You", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Go Outside In The Rain", "Black Magic Woman", "Hell Below", "Higher", "Popcorn/Santana", "Walk On By", "Java Girl", and "Get Together". CD

An album that's often overlooked amidst some of the bigger "songbook" Verve sessions by Ella Fitzgerald – yet a really special record that shows off a side of Ella that's not ever captured this well on other records! The record was also initially billed as tied into the book and film Let No Man Write My Epitaph – but there's nothing soundtrack-like at all about the performance, as Fitzgerald works with only backing from pianist Paul Smith – a player who sounds wonderful next to the singer, and brings just the right sort of inflections to open up Ella's vocals for the date! There's a spare quality that's completely captivating – proof that Fitzgerald was a hell of a jazz singer at the core, even when her star was rising on the international scene – maybe even more compelling without any large arrangements at all, as she takes on superb material that includes versions of "Misty", "Black Coffee", "Angel Eyes", "I Cried For You", "Who's Sorry Now", "September Song", "Then You've Never Been Blue", and "Reach For Tomorrow". CD

Possibly the rarest album ever from vocalist Johnny Holiday – and that's saying a heck of a lot, given the rarity of his albums! Holiday's a really overlooked talent from the west coast scene of the 50s – a singer with a great sense of depth and darkness, and one who sounds especially great here. At some level, Johnny's got an approach that's similar to some of the less flamboyant male vocalists of his time – such as Matt Dennis – but he's also got a somewhat fuller voice and raspier tone, a sensibility that's quite human and personal – and which almost makes us feel like we're hearing Holiday speak the lyrics of most of these tunes as private musings, locked up in some corner tavern long after closing time! There's a nicely saloony feel to the whole set – a style that's not the sleepy vocalist with trio mode heard often with female singers, but which also isn't the hard-swinging Sinatra-reaching mode of other males contemporaries of Holiday. Titles include "You Don't Know What Love Is", "No One Ever Tells You", "Too Late Now", "I Remember You", "My Love Left Town", "It's Easy To Remember", and "The Things We Did Last Summer". CD also features the bonus track "It Might As Well Be Spring". CD

One of the avant garde classics in the early catalog of ECM Records – a set that has bassist Dave Holland working with two key bandmates from the Circle group – Anthony Braxton on saxes and flute, and Barry Altschul on percussion – as well as the great Sam Rivers on flute and sax, who was really taking off at the time! All tracks are originals by Holland – and Rivers' emotive, flowing approach proves the perfect balance for Braxton's intellectual approach – in a setting that really brings the most out of both players, thanks in part to elastic rhythms from Holland and Altschul. The overall approach leaves a great deal of space on this atmospheric set – but not in the usual mellower ECM way. Titles include "Four Winds", "Q & A", "Conference Of The Birds", "Interception", "Now Here (Nowhere)", and "See Saw". CD

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

A real step forward for Joe Jackson, and a record that has plenty of jazz in the mix – as you might guess from its cover's hommage to a Sonny Rollins 50s album on Blue Note! Titles include "You Can't Get What You Want", "Be My Number Two", "Loisaida", "Happy Ending", "Not Here Not Now", "Cha Cha Loco", and "The Verdict". CD

There really wasn't anything exactly like Jane's Addiction on a major label in their late 80s, very early 90s prime – and this first of 2 classic Warner albums from that early peak stand the test of time. Nothing's Shocking, then and now, is a strange mix of psychedelia and hard rock, weird enough to earn fans from the artier indie and college radio underbelly, and reach more mainstream hard rock fan – which really paved the way for 90s rock in ways they might not get enough credit for these days. The sound doesn't really get old, either. Includes the classic "Jane Says", plus "Idiots Rule", "Mountain Song", "Summertime Rolls", "Ted Just Admit It", and "Had A Dad". CD

A wide-ranging look at the talents of August Darnell – an artist who's probably best known to the world as Kid Creole, but who also had a hand in a number of other dancefloor acts of the late 70s and early 80s! All tracks here have that trademark August Darnell groove – a good ear for jazzy, playful rhythms – often with styles borrowed from previous decades in the 20th century, retooled with hipper, leaner styles for the time! Darnell was one of the first to actively reach back into the past for ideas to use on the dancefloor – and although the practice is quite common now, the tracks here have a sound that few contemporary artists could ever hope to match. And when he wanted to, Darnell could also hit a club groove as great as any other artists on the New York scene of the late 70s – a pulsing, hypnotic approach to rhythm that was probably best know from his side projects on Ze Records. The tunes go way beyond familiar Kid Creole hits – and titles include "Goin To A Showdown" and "I'm An Indian Too (12" mix)" by Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band, "Is That All There Is" by Cristina, "Paradise" and "Emile (Night Rate)" by Aural Exciters, "There But For The Grace Of God Go I (12" version)" by Machine, "Don't Play With My Emotions" by Ron Rogers, "On A Day Like Today" by Gichy Dan's Beachwood #9, "Pharoah (Can't Take It To The Grave" by Coati Mundi, "Sunshower" by Dr Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, and the Kid Creole tracks "He's Not Such A Bad Guy After All (12" version)", "Double On Back", "Off The Coast Of Me", and "Going Places (Zemix version)". CD

Finally! Yusef Lateef's live set at Pep's in 1964 is the stuff of legend. Not only is it one of his best-ever recordings, but it also yielded a huge amount of material that was not issued at the time, and which only ever came out on later, badly-annotated issues. Now, the proper "part 2" set is finally issued – with all the lost cuts fully intact, and a great set of notes to explain everything. The set features one of Lateef's best cuts ever – "Brother John" – plus other great ones like "P-Bouk", "Nu-Bounk", and "Delilah". Throw away your beat up copy of Club Date, and check out this great new CD! CD

One of the few 50s small group sessions recorded by Teo Macero as a leader – and one of the best! Macero's probably better known both for his work as an arranger, and as a producer of famous albums at bigger labels – but here, he's working with a quintet in a laidback vibe that really showcases his talents on the tenor saxophone! The sound is quite modern – with Teddy Charles on vibes and Mal Waldron on piano – both working in more angular styles, with lots of tones and chromes that recall their own best work as leaders at the time. And Macero's horn cuts through these instruments with a sometimes-soulful edge, similar to some of the use of tenor in Charles Mingus' work of the period (no surprise, as Macero had worked with Mingus!) Titles include "What's Not", "Polody", "Ghost Story", "Please Don't Go Now", and "Just Spring". CD

Fantastic lost material from Jackie McLean! The set was recorded right before his "new thing" era – in the same period as the amazing Fickle Sonance album. And like that one, this features Jackie edging out towards modernist ideas, yet still swinging hard and fierce, with a firey boppish sensibility. The writing is great – and the players include Herbie Hancock on piano, Donald Byrd on trumpet, Butch Warren on bass, and a young Tony Williams on drums – making his recording debut on the album! The whole thing's tinged with dark and fragile emotion – and a heated sense of urgency that makes it one of McLean's best albums of the 60s – even though it was recorded then, and not issued by Blue Note until many years later! Titles include "Marney", "Dusty Foot", "Vertigo", and "Cheers". Now, in this reissue with 24-bit mastering, it's also coupled with a great set that has McLean playing with Kenny Dorham and Sonny Clark, recorded a year earlier. The whole CD's got a total of 11 great tracks – and it's one of the best Jackie McLean titles you can find! CD

All the great early hits – including "Play With Fire", "Satisfaction", "19th Nervous Breakdown", "The Last Time", "As Tears Go By", "Get Off My Cloud", "Not Fade Away", "Good Times Bad Times", "Time Is On My Side", and "It's All Over Now". CD

An obscure live set from pianist Bobby Timmons – recorded most likely in the early 60s, at a house party in Connecticut – but not issued until after his early death! The album's got an open quality that's quite different than some of Timmons studio work – almost a bit more introspective and pianistic, if we can use that word in mixed company. Bobby's working with a core trio of Sam Jones on bass and Mickey Roker on drums – in a mode that's a lot looser than his soul jazz sets, and which seems to free him from the stock modes of some of his hits – and let him explore a lot wider range on the keyboards. Another treat is the added bonus of Sonny Red – who joins the group on the album's 3 longer tracks, playing in that wonderfully flattened tone of his – an odd one, but a sound that comes off with an incredible edge that we really love. Titles include "Here's That Rainy Day", "Now's The Time", "Moanin", and "Prelude To A Kiss". CD

A bigger step into a piano led jazzy style from Allen Toussaint – grooving in a timeless Crescent City influenced sound – a wonderful record, one we'll go back to for years to come! Allen's been a huge part of the New Orleans musical landscape for many, many years, and it's not a stretch to imagine he's had the laidback, but evocative jazz of the territory in his blood for just as long – so it's a wonder that he hasn't made a record like this before now. There's nothing cliche or cheesy in Allen's work here, which has kind of an after hours vibe that suits it well, and he's put together an outstanding group of players. Marc Ribot is on guitar, Don Byron on clarinet, Nicholas Payton on trumpet, David Piltch on upright bass, Jay Bellarose on drums, and guests Joshua Redman on tenor sax and Brad Mehldau on piano. Titles include "Egyptian Fantasy", "Dear Old Southland", "St James Infirmary", "Singin' The Blues", "Winin' The Blues", West End Blues", "Blue Drag", "Bright Mississippi", "Day Dream", "Solitude" and more. CD

One of the real standouts in the late 70s run of records from The Tubes – a set that's not only got the tunes united by a concept, but which also features some impeccable production from Todd Rundgren! The group's fuzz on the guitars is turned up nice – almost like they're trying to give a nod to the new wave generation, while Rundgren ups the catchiness of their tunes, and finds a way to make the whole thing not get bogged down in the larger concept of the record – which is a commentary about television in the modern age. Titles include "TV Is King", "Prime Time", "Getoverture", "I Want It All Now", "No Way Out", "Only The Strong Survive", and "Telecide". CD

One of the most far-out, freaked-out albums ever from the Velvet Underground – easily the most experimental set the group ever recorded! The album's awash in really unusual sounds and styles – from the sonic blast of the title cut "White Light/White Heat", to the 17 minute garage/psych jam of "Sister Ray" to the very odd "The Gift" – which is a creepy story about cuckolding, told with voice and instrumentation split over different stereo channels! Other tunes offset the darkness with an eerie touch of sweet – and include "Here She Comes Now", "Lady Godiva's Operation", and "I Heard Her Call My Name". Arguably one of the Velvets' most influential moments – even if it's also one of their least commercially successful! This great 3CD package features loads of sweet extra bits – including a 7 track Live At The Gymnasium performance from 1967, with versions of "Run Run Run", "Booker T", "I'm Not A Young Man Anymore", "I'm Waiting For The Man", "Sister Ray", and "Guess I'm Falling In Love" – plus "I Heard Her Call My Name (alternate)", "Hey Mr Rain (version one)", "Temptation Inside Your Heart (original mix)", "Stephanie Says (orig mix)", "Beginning To See The Light (early version)", "Hey Mr Rain (version two)", and "Guess I'm Falling In Love (instrumental)". Also features a full mono version of the album, plus "White Light White Heat (mono single)", "Here She Comes Now (mono single)", and previously-unseparated vocal and instrumental versions of "The Gift". Comes in a really great 10" square, hardbound book – with 60 pages of full color notes, photos, and images of cool artifacts too! CD

Weezer's second album – nearly ignored by fickle alternative rock radio programmers and Mtv after their debut was such a surprise smash – and now rightly remembered as a classic! Much has been made over the years about the sadder, angrier songs on Pinkerton, as well as the occasional keyboards and fuzzier, less glossy sound. Still, it's Weezer, therefore catchy as hell, and not without a sense of humor, even if it's outwordly sad and a little cynical. Tracks include "Tired Of Sex", "No Other One", "Getchoo", "The Good Life", "El Scorcho", "Falling For You", "Butterfly" and "Why Bother". (PS: If there's a better 90s rock loser anthem than "Why Bother", we haven't heard it.) CD

Way more than just the usual punk collection you might expect – not just LA hardcore or New York downtown, and instead a really wide range of work from the American underground of the 70s – including some really key tracks by artists who were working in a punkish mode a few years before the style ever had a name! Soul Jazz have really done an excellent job with this set – scanning a wealth of rare indie singles to come up with a set of tracks that virtually writes the history of the emergence of punk rock on the American shores – work that owes very little to the UK wave, and which instead really reflects the unique hybrid of styles that infected US material from the start. There's loads of cuts on here that we'd totally forgotten about – all brought together with the usual great Soul Jazz sense of history, reflected in the notes – and titles include "Let's Get Rid Of New York" by The Randoms, "I'm A Bug" by The Urinals, "Cakes In The Home" by Crash Course In Science, "Not Now No Way" by The Pagans, "Flash Of The Moment" by Pastiche, "Neutron Bomb" by The Controllers, "Action" by The Knots, "Dog Meat" by Flamin Groovies, "Kill The Hippies" by The Deadbeats, "US Millie" by Theoretical Girls, "Wild Weekend" by The Zeros, "Ice Age" by The Bizarros, and "Hillside Strangler" by Hollywood Squares. CD

A really unusual collection, with a sound that's very much its own – a set that seeks not to pin down a certain scene or style of music – but instead maybe capture a special mood, one that's very much in line with the title! There's definitely a certain sort of melancholy to the set – yet that's only part of the picture too – as many of these cuts have a vibe that's post-folk, post-Sunshine pop – maybe a bit rootsy in production, but also served up with a mature approach to songwriting and vocals that really set the tunes apart. You might think of these artists as being farther left field of America at their height – and we mean that in the best way possible – working with some of the harmonies and blueness of Alzo & Udine, and in a similar mix of acoustic and electric instrumentation that really fits the spirit of the lyrics. The liner notes are a bit scant on dates or information on most of the artists – the compilers prefer more to talk about themselves – but the music speaks volumes by itself, on tracks that include "Holy River" by Space Opera, "Loaves & Fishes" by Willow, "NY Survivor" by Randy & The Goats, "Illusion" by Norma Tanega, "Tomorrow Is Gone" by Jode, "Sad About The Times" by West, "The Running Water" by The Smubbs, "Here Comes The Sun" by Oliver Klaus, "Wolf" by Antonia Lamb, "Lover Now Alone" by Kevin Vicalvi, "Sails Across The Sea" by Bob Metzdorf, "Maybe Someday Maybe Never" by Dennis Stoner, and "Lonely City" by Hollins Ferry. CD

A great portrait of an under-recorded artist – Joe Albany's last album ever, recorded for Elektra records during their early 80s run of straight jazz sides! The record's got a spare, personal quality that's similar to Albany's other late work – but it's a bit more professionally put together too – not slick or commercial, but recorded quite thoughtfully, with clearly a lot of care in getting all of Joe's charms through on the record. There's a tentativeness to his keyboard work that's great – a sort of hesitation, then quick move forward with surprising grace – balancing beautifully in ways that warm us to his music even more than before. Other players include Al Gafa on guitar, George Duvivier on bass, and Charlie Persip on drums – but the record really has a main focus on Albany's piano lines. Titles include "Ruby My Dear", "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry", "Autumn In New York", "They Say It's Wonderful", "For The Little Guy", and "Too Late Now". CD

Wonderfully fuzzy work from Amanaz – one of the trippiest, headiest groups of the Zamrock scene of the 70s! The guitars here are very full and present – not at a hit you over the head jamming label, but with this rich sonic element that has lots of bassy undercurrents – at a level that makes the album a head-nodding gem all the way through – poised perfectly between some of the more psyche styles of the African scene of the time, and some of the more thoughtful singer-songwriter material. The group have a quality that's surprisingly deep – very soulful, and with a subtle power that comes through strongly – thanks to a mostly-English batch of lyrics (although a few tunes here are in their native Bemba.) No cuts are all-out funky, but all have this great slow-funk sort of charm – and titles include "I Am Very Far", "Sunday Morning", "Khala My Friend", "Green Apple", "Africa", "Making The Scene", "Easy Street", "Big Enough" and "Kale". 2CD package features a full bonus "reverb mix" of the album – even trippier! CD

Ashford & Simpson don't need to ask at this point – their in full 70s soul stride here, and it's not good, it's great! By this point in the late 70s, Nick and Valerie are firmly holding the foreground as artists in their own right after many years of acting as songwriters for other soul and R&B hitmakers – writing, singing, and producing their own work in a now-established tradition of sophisticated soul and uptempo grooves! What they had not done to this point was produce a number of big hits for themselves, and that tide started to turn this this excellent album that's among their best ever! Includes a number of singles that would help them begin to break through to later huge chart success, which was by now richly earned. Titles include "Is It Good To You", "Ain't It A Shame", "It Seems To Hang On", "Flashback", "The Debt Is Settled", and "Get Up And Do Something". CD

A holy grail of jazz – Roy Ayers' first album as a leader, and a near-lost session that's simply sublime! The record was cut at the same time that Roy was working in LA with pianist Jack Wilson – and it's got an approach that's a bit similar to some of the Wilson/Ayers sessions for Atlantic, Blue Note, and Vault – but with a marked difference here in the presence of Curtis Amy, who plays some incredible tenor and soprano sax on the session – arcing out over the modal lines set up by the vibes and piano, and shading in the record with a much deeper sense of soul! Amy plays on about half the album's tracks – all of which are standout modal tunes that preface the MPS/Saba sound by a number of years, and which we'd easily rank as some of the greatest jazz recorded anywhere in the 60s. And even the tracks without Amy are great too – and have Roy echoing out with a wonderfully round tone on the vibes – no tricks, no gimmicks, no attempt to cross over to commercial jazz – just a brilliant tone and fresh vision on his instrument for the time. Wilson's great too (but when is he not?) – and rhythm is by either Bill Plummer or Victor Gaskin on bass, and either Tony Bazley or Kenny Dennis on drums. Titles include "Sound & Sense", "Ricardo's Dilemma", "Out Of Sight", "Young & Foolish", "Reggie Of Chester", and "Days Of Wine & Roses". CD also features 2 bonus tracks – "Now's The Time" and "Perhaps/Cool Blues" – both pulled from the Bird Call record with Vi Redd as a leader, noteworthy as Roy's first time in the studio! CD

One of a handful of late 50s albums that Chet Baker recorded for Riverside – all of which are some of his last great 50s work in the studio, before a shift in the 60s to a wider-ranging approach to his music! The style here is definitely in the "classic" Baker mode set down for Pacific Jazz – but a bit more fleshed out by the other players in the set – who seem to push a bit more personality into the tunes, and not just let Chet's trumpet dominate. The sound is soft and gentle – as you'd expect from the title – and other players include Bill Evans, Pepper Adams, Kenny Burrell, Paul Chambers, Connie Kay and Philly Joe Jones – all bringing a bit of a New York undercurrent to the west coast Baker solo style. Titles include "How High the Moon", "It Never Entered My Mind", "If You Could See Me Now", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "Time On My Hands", and "You And The Night And Music". CD features 1 bonus track – "Early Morning Mood". CD

A wonderfully hard-storming set – and a record that not only firmly put the Jazz Messengers on the map, but also set a whole new standard for live jazz recording! The group here is the early version of the Messengers – almost co-led by drummer Art Blakey with pianist Horace Silver – and featuring Clifford Brown on trumpet, just a few months before his early death – plus Lou Donaldson on alto and Curley Russell on bass. The presence of alto instead of tenor makes the sound slightly different than later incarnations of the group – and the overall approach is one that virtually defines the shift from straight bop to hardbop in the 50s – a mode that both Blakey and Silver were key in creating. Tracks include "Wee Dot", "Quicksilver" (alternate), "Now's The Time", and "Confirmation". CD

Some of the greatest moments from David Bowie, mixed with some rare tracks, collaborations, 45 mixes, and more – as well as the single "Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)" – which is one of Bowie's best singles in years! The package is available in a number of varieties, with a number of covers – and each different iteration offers a special sort of focus on Bowie's varied creative career – reminding us in more different ways how much we've continued to love his music over the years! This 3CD version features the track "Sue" – plus 58 more tracks that include"All The Young Dudes", "Dancing In The Streets" with Mick Jagger, "Silly Boy Blue", "Can't Help Thinking About Me", "Liza Jane", "You've Got A Habit Of Leaving", "Wild Is The Wind (2010 Harry Maslin mix)", "Buddha Of Subburbia", "Your Turn To Drive", "The Stars Are Out Tonight", "Blue Jean", "This Is Not America" with Pat Metheny, "Oh You Pretty Things", "Moonage Daydream", "Drive In Saturday", "Sorrow", "Fame", "Boys Keep Swinging", "Fashion (single)", "Ashes To Ashes (single)", "Love Is Lost (DFA hello Steve Reich mix)", "New Iller Star (radio)", "I'm Afraid Of Americans (V1 radio edit)", "Jump They Say (radio)", "Let's Dance", "Life On Mars", "Hello Spaceboy (PSB rmx)" with Pet Shop Boys, "Under Pressure" with Queen, "Sound & Vision", "Golden Years (single)", "Absolute Beginners (single)", "Starman (single)", "Rebel Rebel", "Jean Genie (orig single version)", "Changes", "Where Are We Now", "China Girl (single)", and "Heroes (single)". CD

The title might give you some hint of the feel of the set – as it's got a relatively complex quality, one that definitely fits its naming with a difficult formula – although the music itself is anything by formulaic! The group's headed by tenorist Ellery Eskelin, and features a round of New York stalwarts that includes Andrea Parkins on piano and accordion, Jim Black on drums and percussion, Marc Ribot on guitar, Melvin Gibbs on bass, and Jessica Constable on voice – all working together in the mix of free jazz and more offbeat, art-based sounds they can create. Through it all, Eskelin's tenor brings a nice degree of soul to the set – and titles include "If Not Now", "Tell Me When", "Anyone's Guess", "Say It Again", and "More Than That". CD

The stuff of legend – and not just work by the Jazztet combo, but also solo albums from Art Farmer and Benny Golson too! Set includes Jazztet albums Meet The Jazztet, Big City Sounds, Jazztet & John Lewis, Jazztet At Birdhouse, Another Git Together, and Here & Now; Benny Golson albums Turning Point, Free, and Take A Number From 1 to 10; plus Art Farmer albums Art, Listen To Art Farmer, and Perception. CD

2 amazing albums from the 2nd version of the Jimmy Giuffre 3! After working with his first combo of Bob Brookmeyer and Jim Hall during the late 50s, Giuffre hooked up with a pair of younger modernists – Paul Bley and Steve Swallow – reintroducing the piano and bass to his trio format, instruments that had been previously missing because Giuffre wanted to explore the possibilities of melodic composition freed from rhythmic constraints. With this trio, Giuffre was still working in that mode – as you'll hear on Bley and Swallow's incredibly free playing. The group's performances are not free jazz by any means, but they're a key link in that tradition – as Giuffre and crew do an excellent job of creating unconventional compositions, most of which feel like little sculptures in sound. There's a total of 20 tracks on 2CDs – and titles include "Cry, Want", "Trudgin", "Jesus Maria", "Ictus", "Sonic", "Whirrrrr", "The Gamut", "Herb & Ictus", and "Flight". Both records originally available on Verve, now repackaged by ECM. CD

A stunning European live set from the legendary Dexter Gordon – one that was recorded early in his overseas tenure, and which is noteworthy for two reasons – first in that it was recorded in Utrecht, not the more familiar setting of Copenhagen – and second, in that it features a really smoking Dutch combo – musicians that Dex didn't always work with! The rhythm trio is stunning – the soulful Rob Madna on piano, with Ruud Jacobs on bass and Cees See on drums – players who really give the songs a different sensibility than some of the other groups that Dexter Gordon would use in Europe – and Gordon seems to respond with maybe even more sense of strength in his solo work too. The recording quality is excellent – done by Dutch jazz radio in the 60s – and the set features long takes on "Stanley The Steamer", "Dexter's Deck", "In The Cave", "Body & Soul", "Yesterdays", and "I Wanna Blow Now" – plus a few spoken introductions by Dex, who even calls out the groove on the final track. CD

We've been loving the vibes of Stefon Harris for years – and each new record with his Blackout group seems to have the musician pushing his envelope more and more! The vibes are still very strongly in place, but there's also some soulful elements that really shine through in the overall arrangements – linking Harris' more modern inclinations with a style that might help him grab all those ears he's deserved over the years, but who've not yet found his music! The set's not commercial at all – but has some qualities that put Stefon's righteous musical mission a bit more upfront – as he takes on songs by Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Bobby Timmons, and even the team of Bobby Hutcherson and Eugene McDaniels – whose "Now" is one of the best cuts on the record, delivered here with vocals from Jean Baylor and violin from Regina Carter. Other tracks include "Song Of Sampson", "Chasin Kendall", "Let's Take A Trip To The Sky", "Dat Dere", "Go", "Gone Too Soon", and "Throw It Away". CD

Originally recorded and released only in Japan, and finally out now in the US – this is one of Johnny Hartman's greatest recordings, and perhaps his strongest jazz session ever! The backing is fantastic, and Johnny's deep voice opens up to new depths on this batch of standards all interpreted by Coltrane. The 'Trane reference is not incidental, either, because Johnny really hits a new level on this material, and breaks out of his usual sleepy style of singing, into a more free, more modal groove. Titles include "Summertime", "Nature Boy", "Violets For Your Furs", and "On Green Dolphin Street". CD

An excellent second set from Hour Glass – the pre-Allman Brothers Band that featured both Duane and Gregg Allman, the latter of whom is really coming into his own on the record! Unlike the group's debut, this one features a lot more original material by Gregg – and guitars that start to crackle in that sweetly cresting style that would become the group's hallmark, and which would have an undeniable influence on the sound of rock in the 70s. At some level, the whole thing's an early southern effort to answer the sounds of the Bay Area scene – and comes off beautifully, thanks to titles that include "To Things Before", "I'm Not Afraid", "Home For The Summer", "Down In Texas", "Now Is The Time", and "Going Nowhere". CD

One of the greatest lost sessions ever! Legendary vibist Bobby Hutcherson recorded this set of tracks in his early days with Blue Note – but the set's never come out until now, and its release is cause for rejoicing! The material shows Hutcherson playing in a straight-ahead format, tinged with some of the modernist new thing elements of other recordings from the time, but mostly filled with a soulfulness not always heard on his Blue Note albums at the time. The group includes Duke Pearson on piano, whose lovely lyrical approach works perfectly with Hutcherson's vibes. Joe Henderson plays some great hard-edged tenor, cutting nicely through all the tracks – and Grant Green sits in on half of the material, playing some nice spiralling modal lines on guitar. Many of these titles have been recorded in other versions on later Blue Note albums – but they're all in fantastic versions here, including "Bedouin", "The Kicker", "Step Lightly", and "Mirrors". CD

One of only a handful of recordings led by Headhunter reedsman Maupin, working here very much in the vein of his spacious work for the ECM label. The tracks here are spare, moody and thoughtful, with Maupin accompanied by Micahl Tokaj on piano, Michael Baranski on bass, Lukasz Zyta on drums and vocalist Hania Chowaniec-Rybka on 2 tracks. 13 numbers in all, with titles that include "Within Reach", "Escondido", "Inside The Shadows", "Ours Again", "The Jewel In The Lotus", "Black Ice", "Not Later Than Now", "Early Reflections", "Inner Sky", "Prophets Motifs" and "Spirits Of The Tatras". CD

Forget The Stooges, forget Alice Cooper, forget the White Stripes, and maybe even forget Funkadelic – because this landmark album is one that really put the ferocity of the Detroit scene on the map – rising up the city's legacy of raw sounds next to their better-known soul and pop of the 60s – and forever putting MC5 on the great rock and roll map! The group had been honing their craft in the city for a few years before this set – and it was the genius of Elektra Records to capture them live at the city's Grande Ballroom, and not in the studio – which is part of the intensity of the record's charm, especially on the sometimes-edited bit of profanity. Titles include the seminal "Kick Out The Jams", plus "Come Together", "Rocket Reducer No 62", "Borderline", "Motor City Is Burning", "I Want You Right Now", and "Starship". CD

A great collection of Thelonious Monk's early pre-LP recordings for Blue Note – seminal not only for the label's commitment to a modernist bop ideal, but also for Monk's integration in the growing collection of top-level jazz players on the New York scene! The work is notable also for the fact that Monk's playing sometimes in larger group settings – not just trio ones – and here, his early writing for and interplay with saxes and trumpet certainly has a strong effect on the development of modern jazz in the 50s – as you'll hear on tracks that include work from players like Sahib Shihab and Lou Donaldson on alto, Milt Jackson on vibes, and Idrees Suliman and Kenny Dorham on trumpets – depending on the volumes. Art Blakey is on drums throughout – and titles on this second volume include "Four In One", "Ask Me Now", "Criss Cross", "Skippy", "Hornin In", "Sixteen", and "Let's Cool One". New version features a total of 18 tracks with great remastering and some rare alternate takes! CD

Wes Montgomery's first album as a leader – a relatively obscure set that has him playing in a trio with Indianapolis bandmates Mel Rhyne on organ and Paul Parker on drums – a mode that strongly recalls Montgomery's roots in the Indy scene at the time! If you only know the later, famous Wes Montgomery with bigger charts, you'll be surprised to hear him here in a cooking little combo – the kind of group that made Mel Rhyne a local Hammond hero in Indy, although it seemed to take decades for him to get any sort of larger recognition. The groove is straight and simple, but the real charm is Wes' chromatic lines on guitar – already quite distinctive among his contemporaries, and allowed ample room to express their voice in this setting. Titles include "Ecorah", "Missile Blues", "Too Late Now", "Jingles", and "Whisper Not". CD features 2 bonus tracks! CD

Mos Def's landmark late 90s solo debut – a rock solid classic that stands up today as one of the best hip hop albums of its decade – and for all the dizzying creative highs and lows of his career to follow, it stands strongly among his best work ever. His preceding duo work with Talib Kweli as Black Star set a pretty high bar creatively, and stunningly, Mos manages to clear it. It's all the more impressive given the stylistic diversity, ranging from bed rock boom bap, to leftfield funk, to Bad Brains-inspired punk. Incredible stuff. Tracks include "Ms Fat Booty", "Hip Hop", "Know That" featuring Talib Kweli, "Mr Ni**a" featuring Q-Tip, "Mathematics", "Brooklyn", "Umi Says", "Do It Now" featuring Busta Rhymes, "Fear Not Of Man", "Habitat", and more. CD

The all time classic from Junior Murvin – as essential as any late 70s reggae! Production-wise, Police And Thieves is among Scratch's finest moments, from the most monumental period in Perry's career, during the height of the Black Ark. The title track needs no introduction from us, and the rest of the record is solid, funky roots rock, at a level Murvin would not match again in his career. His sweet falsetto is draped in the dense, murky production that carved a niche in history for Perry. Tracks like "Roots Train" and "False Teaching" are the embodiment of crucial, and the album is filled with other great cuts like the now classic title track, "Rescue Jah Children", "Tedious", "Easy Task" and "I Was Appointed". CD

A contemporary record, but one that's got an amazingly timeless feel – like the best early 70s material from Brazilian artists like Airto, Hermeto Pascoal, or Egberto Gismonti! The music of Fabiano Do Nascimento has a similar genre-breaking quality to these giants – not straight jazz, but very jazzy in parts – not traditional Brazilian roots, either – but very schooled in the strongest elements from decades of creativity on that scene – all wrapped up in this fresh, new blend that's completely mesmerizing right from the start! Most instrumentation is acoustic, and relatively simple – guitar, percussion, drums, and vocals – but the arrangements are wonderful, and fold these familiar elements together in ways that are completely unique. The legendary Airto guests on the record – but the vision here is clearly that of Fabiano Do Nascimento – as he mixes together works by Hermeto Pascoal, Baden Powell, and other Brazilian composers with some bold new ideas of his own. Titles include "Forro Brasil", "Minha Ciranda", "Etude", "Primeira Estrella", "Tupi", "Se Ela Preguntar", "Tocatta Em Ritmo De Samba", and "Nana". CD

A really beautiful second album from Fabiano Do Nascimento – and a set that really blows away his debut! This record's got an "instant classic" vibe right from the start – the kind of set that you could easily listen next to 70s gems by artists like Lo Borges, Milton Nascimento, or Edu Lobo – with a sound that hangs between the complexity and soul of all three of those artists – but a presentation that's also very personal and unique! Fabiano plays acoustic guitar throughout, with a cascading vibe that's incredibly compelling – and often offset by light flute and percussion, which skitter alongside his beautiful vocals – in ways that are always upbeat, but never too polished – really preserving this organic core in his music! The sound is sublime – sophisticated, but very organic – and if you know us at all, we're not ones to throw around the term "classic" lightly when it comes to Brazilian music. Titles include "Planalto", "Baiao", "Brasilerinho", "Ja Que Tu", "Oye Nana", "O Tempo", "Canto De Xango", and "Louva A Deus Mantis". CD

An undisputed funk classic – even back in the days before anyone ever said the phrase "funk classic"! This album must have been deleted the day it came out – because even though it's attained legendary proportions with groovers worldwide, it's always been hard to find – even back in the 70s! But unlike so many other "rare-but-not great" funk albums, this one's a killer – with a hard funky wah wah sound that we'd rank up there with James Brown's best work on Polydor from the early 70s, and which should have made Joe a millionaire, not a lost legend of soul music. The band is sharp as a knife – with hard drums, tight bass, and some simply amazing guitar riffing. But the best part is Joe – as his vocals are hard and emotional, with just the right touches of righteousness to carry off the album's political messages, but not too much as to spoil the party that the band's having in the background! Every single track is a winner, and if we were ever to make a list of the top five funk albums to own, this one would be on it! Titles include "The Way They Do My Life", "I Got So Much Trouble On My Mind", "The Trouble With Trouble", "Give Me Back My Freedom", "Live Now Brothers", and "Find Yourself". This version is overflowing with bonus tracks – 9 more than the original album, pulled from singles on GSF and Mercury – with titles that include "How High", "Let Me Be What I Am", "You Know It's True", "I'm A Young Man", "Get Down Baby (parts 1 & 2)", "No", "This Girl Of Mine", "I'm Gonna Get You", and "Thanks Dad (parts 1 & 2)". 18 tracks on the CD. CD

Beautiful! London-based, West Indies-born trumpeter Dizzy Reece was one of the most fantastic trumpet talents of the late 50s and early 60s – as you'll clearly hear on this previously unreleased session recorded by Blue Note in 1960. Reece had an incredible tone that managed to be very polished and sparkling, yet still stay incredibly soulful, especially when paired with good players – as on this CD! The sessions feature 2 different groups – one with Stanley Turrentine (at a good raw early tone here), Bobby Timmons, and Art Blakey; the other with Turrentine, Duke Jordan, and obscure tenorist Musa Kaleem. Both groups are great, and the record is quite possibly the best that Dizzy recorded for Blue Note – which makes it even more strange that the material was not issued until now. Titles include "Achmet", "Ye Olde Blues", "The Case Of The Frightened Lover", and "Sands". 9 tracks in all, and a delight throughout! CD

All the great early hits – including "Play With Fire", "Satisfaction", "19th Nervous Breakdown", "The Last Time", "As Tears Go By", "Get Off My Cloud", "Not Fade Away", "Good Times Bad Times", "Time Is On My Side", and "It's All Over Now". CD

The Roots make kind of a return to their own roots with Tipping Point – a loose, funky, hip hop soul opus from the legendary Philly crew! The record's got a much more streamlined and focused ambition than Phrenology or Things Fall Apart – and it's a brilliant extenuation of their established style of live funky soul under the forceful rhymes of Black Thought and soulfully sung hooks and choruses. There's that elongated, swirling psych-soul feel that trips it out in spots, but it remains a focused effort, even if the groove is loose. Nothing on the album betrays the crew's now classic approach to hip hop – no trendy concessions or a sad attempt at a radio single to be found. This, kids, is the Roots – they're not pandering to anyone. Tracks include "Star", "I Don't Care", "Don't Say Nuthin'", "Guns Are Drawn", "Stay Cool", "Somebody's Gotta Do It", "Duck Down!", "Why (What's Going On)" and a couple unlisted bonus tracks. CD

Think what you want – we think this is a damn great soul album! Sure, the record was a crossover classic that got played to death back in the 80s – but give it a listen now, and you'll be stunned to hear how fresh it sounds, and how much it reminds you of all the British soul acts that sprung up in the years after it was released. We're not saying that Sade had a direct influence on groups like Soul To Soul or Brand New Heavies – but this album's strong commitment to acoustic musical styles and real jazz playing made it a real standout in the often-tinny world of 80s chart soul, and a harbinger of the later return to warm soul styles that would be spurred on by other groups from the UK. Plus, Sade's vocals are incredibly well-wrought, and are the perfect vehicle to deliver songs like "Frankie's First Affair", "Hang On To Your Love", "Your Love Is King", and the seminal 80s slacker dancefloor anthem, "When Am I Going To Make A Living". CD

Both of the rare original albums by this legendary 60s electronic group – out now on one lovely 18 track CD! The Apples were one of the most unique groups of their era, and they mixed electronics with a throbbing rock groove in a way that not only predicted lots of the musical trends of the 70's, but which has also been taken up again in the 90's by a host of young bands. The group has reformed these days, but these two albums are still their best. Titles include "Velvet Cave", "Oscillations", "Whirly-Bird", "Dust", "Misty Mountain", "Water", "Pox On You", "Confusion", and "Fantasies". CD

The second album by Soul II Soul, and although not as totally great as the first, still filled with some very nice moments, and the band's trademark modern classic soul style. Guests include Courtney Pine, Kym Mazelle, Marcia Lewis, and Fab Five Freddy – and tracks include "Get A Life", "People", "Courtney Blows", "Time", and "Our Time Has Now Come". CD

A strange twist for the girls – not really because the material's country, but because the tunes selected are the kind of country tunes that would often be done in kind of a deep soul mode. There's still a sparkling quality on the album – and the girls' approach to the tunes is less Ivory Joe Hunter country soul than it is Brook Benton uptown style. Still, it's quite a different album for the Supremes – and surprisingly nice! Titles include "Funny How Time Slips Away", "My Heart Can't Take it No More", "Tears In Vain", "Sunset", "You Need Me", and "It Makes No Difference Now". CD

The Temptations are hardly just "getting ready" here – as the group's at the height of their early powers – really finding their own groove, and standing out even more than some of their Motown contemporaries! Smokey Robinson's still at the overall helm on production, but Norman Whitfield contributes some key early work here – shaping The Temps' sound with that rougher, more bottom-heavy groove that would explode in full righteous energy a few years later. Whitfield produced the groovers "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" and "Ain't Too Proud To Beg", plus "Lonely Lonely Man Am I" – and other tracks include "You're Not An Ordinary Girl", "Not Now, I'll Tell You Later", "Say You", "Who You Gonna Run To", "Get Ready", and "Fading Away". CD

We're not normally the types to walk around singing the praises of the major labels – but hats off to MCA's Country Music Hall Of Fame Series, with beautifully remastered classic tracks that were previously nearly impossible to track down on vinyl, and excellent notes and biographical details. Honky tonk angel Kitty Wells gets the queen's treatment here – with 16 sweet, heart-tugging (but too endearing to be heartbreaking) singles originally released on Decca between the early 50s and mid 60s. Kitty sounds sad, sweet and beautifully earth-bound, with her vocals placed well out in front of the spare steel and waltz-picked guitar, and distant fiddle. Every ones a classic! Tracks include "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", "Icicles Hanging From Your Heart", "My Cold, Cold Heart Is Melted Now", "I Gave My Wedding Dress Away", "Release Me", "Making Believe", "I'd Rather Stay Home", "Mommy For A Day", "Heartbreak U.S.A", "Will Your Lawyer Talk To God", and "A Woman Half My Age". CD

In pretty much any bio of the pioneering art punk band Wire you'll read about how between 1977 and 1979, the group made three of the best, most forward looking rock albums of the era. First they perfected punk rock (Pink Flag), a year later they opened the doors to the more melodic new wave (Chairs Missing), and followed that up by introducing experimental electronics and metronomic beats (154), clearing the way for the aggro-post-punk-dance music of the early 80s. 10 years from now, there will probably be an addendum to all of those bios, stating that in 2002/2003 Wire finally returned to form – and they were as great as they ever were! We love our hyperbole around here, there's no denying that, but we really can't overstate how amazing Send is for Wire fans. As much as they've been around in various forms, Colin Newman and co. have not sounded this vital since 1979. None of the million billion indie rock kids emulating the old boys are even in the same universe, despite what your local hipster papers and zines might say. The album is basically a collection of the comeback EPs Wire self-released in 2002 – Read And Burn 1 & 2 – plus four newer, equally ferocious tracks. The first half kind of serves as the logical 2002/3 equivalent of their razor melody guitar sound of the late 70s, and the second half adds the aggro/electro beat-driven stuff that was bastardized by others (and at times by Wire themselves) all through the 80s and 90s. The whole thing is consistent, aggressive as all-get-out, and a stunningly loud comeback that we never saw coming. It's all the more rewarding because of it. "In The Art Of Stopping", "Mr. Marx's Table", "Being Watched", "The Agfers Of Kodack", "Nice Streets Above", "Spent", "Read And Burn", "You Can't Leave Now", "Half Eaten", "99.9." CD

A landmark collection of music – the now-famous series of American Folk Music volumes put together by Harry Smith in the 50s! The work here spans the space of a few early decades of recorded music – all in styles expertly chosen by Smith, with countless examples of music that might have fallen beneath the sands of time if not otherwise included in the series! Even back at the original release of the collection, the series was a crucial bit of musical archaeology – and over the ensuing space of decades, has only gone onto become even more important. Styles run the gamut from blues to roots to folk and other styles in between and features tracks by Dick Justice, Coley Jones, Buell Kazee, Kelly Harrell, the Carter Family, the Bently Boys, Henry Thomas, the Alabama Sacred Harp Singers, Blind Willie Johnson, Dock Boggs, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and more! CD

Heavy funk from the Bahamas – a whole bunch of groups that will show you that Nassau had a lot more to offer than The Beginning Of The End! The groove here is totally wonderful – somewhat like American funk of the late 60s and early 70s, but served up with some very unusual rhythmic patterns too – a bit Jamaican at times, but certainly not reggae – and somewhat sunny and Caribbean styled, but not in a way that's cheesy or filled with any hokey island-styled stereotypes. Instead, the tunes are deeply funk and soulful – grooving with plenty of dark edges and gritty instrumentation that's often heavy on the guitar. Many numbers have vocals, and those are great too – and as usual with the Numero label, the whole thing's put together with amazing notes and packaging, so that you get a full history lesson and a heck of a lot of photos to support the music too! Titles include "Gonna Build A Nation" by Cyril Ferguson, "Mustang Sally", "I Am The Man For You Baby", and "Funky Fever" by Jay Mitchell, "Theme From Shaft" by Esquires LTD, "Gimme Some Skin (inst)" by Frank Penn, "Words To My Song" by Dry Bread, "People Won't Change" by Willpower, "Take Five" by Ozzie Hall, "Watcha Gonna Do Bout It" and "The Time For Loving Is Now" by Mustangs, "Honesty Is The Best Policy" by Gospel Chandeliers, and "Don't Touch That Thing" by Sylvia Hall. CD

A huge dip into the world of all-girl bands from the 60s – not sweet-voiced, teeny-bopping pop acts – and instead a host of raw, garagey groups that come across with a heck of a lot of power! There's some folks out there who might tag a famous 70s group or two as the first female rock band – but as the compilers of this long-running series know, the phenomenon goes way way back – so much so that there's no need to fuss and fight about any "first", and instead just dive in and enjoy all the wonderful music on the set! Production is nice and lean on most of these cuts – no added strings or orchestral sweetening – and these groups work in territory that's got all the raw power of any of the male groups to be tagged with the "garage" label over the years. Three tracks on the set are previously unreleased, the package has superb notes on the material, and titles include "Pink Dominos" by Chiyo & the Crescents, "I Don't Know Why" by The Wrong Black Bag, "Ask Me" by Debbie Williams & The Unwritten Law, "Dimples" by The Misfits, "Melvin" by The Belles, "Stardust Come Back" by Girls Take Over, "Really Gonna Shake" by Sandra Barry & The Boys, "Skinny Minnie" by The Beat Chics, and "Never Till Now" by The Bootles. CD

Not just jazz travels, but Brazilian, funk, and soul as well – all pulled together by Oli Stewart (Casbah 73) into one of the hippest compilations we've heard in years! Before making his own music, Oli spent more than a decade travelling the globe on record-buying trips – not just the US, but Brazil, Brussels, and many points global – all in search of an unheard snippet of funky soul or jazzy groove! This incredible little set brings together a dozen nuggets from those key crate-digging years – a good deal of which have never been reissued before, and especially not in such fantastic company. The overall vibe is warm, jazz-influenced, and filled with great keyboards, vocals, and rhythms that run from bossa-influenced to European modal, with plenty of American touches in between! Titles include "Silly Savage" by Adam Ross Reeds, "Don't Kill Your Fantasy" by Chinchilla, "Enfa" by Gerardo Batiz, "David" by Celia, "Cross Country" by Archie Whitewater, "Right Now" by Salena Jones, "Consolacao" by Luiz Eca, "Tornei A Caminhar" by Sebastiao Tabajos & Pedro Dos Santos, "Snowflake" by Ronnie April's Positive Energy, "Tocata" by Fernando Tordo, "Just Say Goodbye" by Esther Phillips, and "Negro En Sol Menor" by Daniel Lencina & Candombes De Van Guardia. CD

Fab Philadelphia soul on 4 CDs – a massive package of work that really serves up the best from the legendary empire of Gamble & Huff, plus a host of other great Philly numbers too! The package is a great look at the full spectrum of sound in Philly during the 70s – not just the key tracks on the Philadelphia International label, but also cuts that Gamble & Huff had produced for other artists at the end of the 60s, key Sigma Sound sessions for other labels, and some of the classic club tracks that crossed over big and inspired countless imitations! The set is immense – 4CDs, 71 songs, and a 64 page booklet of rare photos and new essays – all priced nicely enough to appeal to both Philly newcomers and longtime collectors. Plus, since Sony BMG's handling Philly International now, there's a good range of titles from a variety of labels – and titles include "Love Is Here" by The Futures, "Slow Motion (part 1)" by Johnny Williams, "Sunshine" by The O'Jays, "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You" by Wilson Pickett, "Expressway To Your Heart" by Soul Survivors, "I'm Stone In Love With You" by The Stylistics, "Be Thankful For What You Got (part 1)" by William DeVaughan, "Dirty Ol Man" by Three Degrees, "It's Forever" by The Ebonys, "Enjoy Yourself" by The Jacksons, "Free Love" by Jean Carn, "Kiss & Say Goodbye" by The Manhattans, "Let's Groove" by Archie Bell, "Billy's Back Home" by Billy Paul, "Picture Us" by Bunny Sigler, "Then Came You" by The Spinners, "Close The Door" by Teddy Pendergrass, "It's Gonna Take A Miracle" by Deniece Williams, and "See You When I Get There" by Lou Rawls. CD

Breezy, jazzy alternate versions and some strong unreleased tracks from Italian vocalist Mario Biondi – great stuff that offers a fresh take on material from the landmark A Handful Of Soul album and more! Biondi's A Handful Of Soul brilliantly got the ball for Biondi, who's now a bonafide major Italian star, and with good reason. His raspy voice exudes warmth and soulfulness in a way that brings to mind some the most charismatic singers of the past few decades in both jazz and soul, but with a breezy jazzy charm to the arrangements that's the perfect foil! Change Of Seasons doesn't skew away from any of those strengths with the re-worked numbers, just offers a fresh perspective, and the couple of previously unheard numbers are great, too. "A Handful Of Soul (Takin' The Live Mood)", "I'm Her Daddy (Daddy's Point Of View Version)", "This Is What You Are (The Brazilian Rime)", "Slow Hot Wind (Slow Hot Version)", "This Is What You Are (Dim's Hipster Jazz Version by Dimitri From Paris)", "But Not For You (Vocal Demo Version)" and more. CD

A great collection of work from Ruby Braff's 50s recordings for Vanguard – some of the best sides the trumpeter ever recorded, and material that captures him in wonderfully relaxed company, blowing with some of the best of his contemporaries! There's an easygoing swing to the material – not quite trad, but certainly not boppish either – and players on the records include trumpeter Buck Clayton, trombonists Benny Morton and Vic Dickenson, tenorists Buddy Tate and Sam Margolis, and clarinetist Edmund Hall. Titles include "Wishing", "Linger Awhile", "I'm In The Market For You", "Sweet Sue", "Ghost Of A Chance", and "Keeping Out Of Mischief Now". CD

Brilliant late work from Bill Evans – his last set of recordings from the Village Vanguard – recorded in the summer of 1980, nearly two decades after his first famous albums at the club! Evans here is a wealth of imagination – really stretching out in relaxed, fluid formation – gentler than before, but also with a deeper sense of feeling too – and getting some great support from trio members Marc Johnson on bass and Joe Labarbera on drums. Tracks mostly hover around the five minute range – but there's some key longer numbers too – and the whole thing's a perfect example of why live Bill Evans is often some of the best Bill Evans you can find! 58 tracks on 6CDs, packaged with a booklet – and titles include "Nardis", "Knight For Mary F", "Emily", "Minha", "My Romance/Five", "But Not For Me", "Bill's Hit Tune", "I Do It For Your Love", "Quiet Now", "Days Of Wine & Roses", "Your Story", "Tiffany", and "Re Person I Knew". CD

Tremendous work from the great Bobby Fuller – not the early Texas tapes that have recently been the stuff of much interest on the market – but instead the well-crafted singles he cut in Los Angeles – working at the Mustang label with pop maestro Bob Keane! These tunes are still plenty raw, and the fierce, raspy tone of Fuller's guitar is very much upfront in the mix – hugely powerful, even when there's no other element stepping forth in the lead – and still pretty important, even when the group starts adding some vocals! The package presents all the Mustang singles in rare mono mixes for the first time together in one place – and a number of the tracks here are actually different recordings than the better-known stereo tracks, supported with the kind of great notes and high sound quality we always love from the Now Sounds label – and the set includes a few related tracks by Jay Horton and the Randy Fuller Four. Titles include "These Memories Of You", "Our Favorite Martian", "Wolfman", "Let Her Dance", "Thunder Reef", "I Fought The Law", "Love's Made A Fool Of You", "My True Love", "I Trip On You Girl", "Little Annie Lou", "You Kiss Me", "Never To Be Forgotten", "The Things You Do", and "Don't Ever Let Me Know". CD

Never-issued material from the sessions for two classic Magic Sam albums – Black Magic and West Side Soul – not alternate tracks or demos, but really great material that stands strongly here as an album on its own! If you know those records, you'll now the raw power here – that fierce guitar of Sam's, that often has this sinister snakey quality – mixed with his undeniably soulful vocals, which are a perfect bridge between deep soul and Chicago blues! Players on the sessions include Eddie Shaw on tenor, Mighty Joe Young on second guitar, Shakey Jake on on harmonica, and Lafayette Leake on piano – and titles include "Lookin Good", "I Feel So Good", "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Keep On Doin What You're Doin", "Blues For Odie Payne", "Keep On Lovin Me Baby", and "That's All I Need". CD

Argh! Take your ears off before listening to this one! Mrs. Miller was a weirdo singer who cut a few records on Capitol during the late 60s – and boy, can she NOT sing! The arrangements are completely groovy, though, and the strange mix of Miller's terrible voice with groovy Now Sound cuts has been the stuff of legend for years in the Incredibly Strange Music camp. Now, this cool (and official!) 21 track CD brings together some of her best moments (nearly all of which are not that swingin!) – including "The Girl From Ipanema", "Yellow Submarine", "Moon River", "Groovy Kind Of Love", "Monday, Monday", "Sweat Pea", "Downtown", and "Strangers In the Night". Imagine if the girls on Facts Of Life gave Mrs. Garrett 3 hits of acid – and you'll only get half the picture! CD