... LP, Vinyl record album

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

Minnie Riperton's first album for Epic – and the record that broke her from a hip Chicago underground artist into one of the seventies' biggest female soul stars! The record moves past the baroque soul of Minnie's early years with Rotary Connection and Charles Stepney – and hits a mix of mellow compressed LA styles and slicker funkier numbers that do the same thing for her Chicago-trained vocals that Rufus' backing did for that of Chaka Khan. Of course, it helps that she's got some superbly sensitive writing and arranging help by husband Richard Rudolph – and Stevie Wonder's definitely lurking in the background, too – not credited with production, due to contractual reasons, although he helped put most of the album together. Includes Minnie's huge crossover hit "Loving You", a perfect showcase for her beautiful 5 octave voice, plus the tracks "Our Lives", "Every Time He Comes Around", "Perfect Angel", and "Reasons". LP, Vinyl record album

The legendary Asha Puthli cut some killer club cuts in the 70s – spacey numbers that were years ahead of their time, and which did an incredible job of mixing her multi-octave vocals with soaring, cosmic grooves! The approach is one that's finally gotten global appreciation in the 21st Century – and this set brings together new mixes of some of Asha's classic cuts by younger producers who really take inspiration, and let the songs flow with some slight contemporary updates – but always at a level that never gets in the way of the energy of the original tunes! Titles include "I'm Gonna Dance (Jitwam rmx)", "Right Down Here (Psychemagik rmx)", "One Night Affair (Turbotio & Rgz rmx)", "Lies (Kraak & Smaak rmx)", "Space Talk (Maurice Fulton rmx)", and "I Am Song (Yuksek rmx)". LP, Vinyl record album