... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

Otis sings James Brown – and with some great results! "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" is done live – with the kind of hard party groove that the track really deserves. "Direct Me" is a slow rolling Memphis number – an original by Steve Cropper and Otis, with the kind of bubbling soul groove that's all-Stax all the way through! 7-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

Here's where things really started getting interesting for James Brown! The album was issued right around the same time as James' single "Out Of Sight" on Smash – and like that track, "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" was one of the first to use that "instruments on the beat" style of funk that would dominate all of James' work in years to come – that amazing groove that completely turned soul music on its ear – and paved the way for generations to come! The result is a startling sound that forever changed the face of groove – and you'll hear it nicely placed on this album, along with great cuts like "Cross Firing", "Mashed Potatoes USA", "Doin The Limbo", and "Love Don't Love Nobody". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

"Papa Was Too" is one of Joe's big tracks with the breakbeat crowd – starting with a tight snapping intro that never goes out of style, and which is a monster little break! It's also sort of his answer to Otis Redding's "Tramp"! 7-inch, Vinyl record

One of James Brown's all-time greats from the early 70s – an extended funky romp that's as great as anything on The Payback or Doing It To Death – and played in a similar stretched-out jamming style! The cut's long, lean, and very mean – with a vamping funky groove that's outta site! 7-inch, Vinyl record

An interesting single from James – featuring his super-huge hit of the mid 60s, but issued on a late 60s King label! The tune's a stone winner as always – and the flip is "mostly instrumental", with a vamp that virtually invented the funky vamp! 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

Great stuff by one of the most dynamic vocal groups ever! Titles include "Papa Oom Mow Mow", "My Reward", "Love Pill", "The Bird's The Word", "Cherry", "Little Sally Walker", and "Standing In The Love Line". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Papa Gato", "Pan Dulce", "Baila Baila", "Manteca", "Senor Blues", "Serenidad", and "Quindembo". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes "Stomp Your Stuff", "Alley Rat", "Sweet Papa", "Shake Your Shimmy", and "Wild Man Stomp". 7-inch, Vinyl record

Sure, it's a greatest hits set – but it's a damn good one! This 2LP set was always an essential part of our crates back in the 80s, because it includes an excellent range of James Brown work from the 60s and 70s – including a number of strong funky cuts, presented here in the original single versions. Titles include "Give It Up Or Turn It Loose", "There Was A Time", "I Got The Feelin", "Mother Popcorn", "Sex Machine", "Make It Funky", "Talkin Loud & Sayin Nothin", "Payback", "Get On The Good Foot", "My Thang", "Papa Don't Take No Mess", and "Funky President". LP, Vinyl record album

A different James Brown album – but a nice one! James doesn't sing soul, so much as jazz – in front of large backings by Louis Bellson, with arrangements by Oliver Nelson that are in his best 60s soul mode – and which give the album a very very groovy feel overall! The record's not funky, but James' vocals are plenty darn soulful – and the album is proof that he could be a huge talent in just about any mode that he chose – shining with a brilliance that was irrepressible! James covers a few of his older tracks on the album, and sings a few other pop standards – and titles include nice versions of "It's Magic", "The Man In The Glass", "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", "That's My Desire", and "I Need Your Key (To Turn Me On)". LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime late 50s work from Martin Denny – his third album under the Exotica banner, and almost a deeper and weirder album than the other two! The sound here is extremely haunting – even more freed from conventional melody than the rest, and very fixated on the tonal possibilities that could be produced from Denny's unique grouping of percussion, piano, bass, and vibes. There's few tricks or gimmicks on the set – just a spare and other-worldly approach to music that's totally great! Titles include "Manila", "Mama Iti E Papa E", "Bamboo Lullaby", "Ringo Oiwake", "Moon Of Manakoora", "Congo Train", and "Beautiful Kahana". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet little 50s session from Hawk – recorded for the World Wide subsidary of Savoy, in a great style that has plenty of room for solo space! Tracks are long, and arranged by Billy Ver Plank – with a moody small combo mode that lets Hawkins get in plenty of those edgey bits in his solos, hidden underneath ostensibly sweeter playing. The rest of the group includes Frank Wess, Marshall Royal, and Frank Foster – and titles include "Ooga Dooga", "Thanks For The Misery", "There Is Nothing Like A Dame", and "An Evening At Papa Joe's". LP, Vinyl record album

Underrated later Airplane – issued at the time on their own Grunt label! Bark came out in '71, after the departure of co-founder Marty Balin, but despite that obviously important loss, there are some pretty cool positive changes in approach, even if it wasn't enough to keep the group flying for too much longer! For one, it's got some excellent violin by Papa John Creach on several tunes – and Slick and Kantor's vocals and songwriting are still in solid shape here. Titles include "When The Earth Moves Again", "Feel So Good", "Crazy Miranda", "Wild Turkey", "Law Man", "Think", "War Movie" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A 60s LP that compiles Julia's earlier sides for Capitol – a mixture of jump blues, swing, and R&B, recorded with players that include Red Norvo, Benny Carter, Vic Dickenson, and Baby Lovett – all killer work from the early years of the labgel! Titles include "Last Call For Alcohol", "After Hours Waltz", "King Size Papa", "Snatch It & Grab It", "You Ain't Got It No More", and "Crazy World". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Papa Don't Preach", "Open Your Heart", "Live To Tell", "Where's The Party", "True Blue", and "La Isla Bonita". LP, Vinyl record album

The first-ever album from The Monkees – a set that's overflowing with great numbers from the teams of Boyce & Hart and Goffin & King – plus one original by Mike Nesmith himself! The whole thing's groovy as groovy can be – and despite any thoughts that folks at the time might have had about these guys being just a TV one-off, the album's got fantastic staying power over the years – thanks to wonderful vocals, impeccable production, and a great selection of songs! Titles include "Theme From The Monkees", "Just Doesn't Seem To Be My Day", "Last Train To Clarksville", "Sweet Young Thing", "Papa Gene's Blues", "Take A Giant Step", "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day", and "Saturday's Child". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Tales Of Kilimanjaro", "Changes", "E Papa Re", "Primera Invasion", "Winning", "Over & Over", and "Hannibal". LP, Vinyl record album

Soulful Stan, over arrangements by Claus Ogerman! Titles include "Papa T", "Joao", "Birdland", "Nightwings", "Don't Give Up On Us", and "If You Don't Believe". LP, Vinyl record album

A very groovy record – kind of a mix of rock and blue eyed soul, recorded by the twin-guitar team of Pat & Lolly Vegas – a big act on the Sunset Strip scene of the 60s who later morphed into Native American rock group Redbone! On this early set, Pat and Lolly have a pretty hard-hitting sound – one that soaks up a lot of influences from southern and east coast soul, and fuses it into a vocal/guitar groove that's got plenty of rough edges! Snuff Garrett & Leon Russell produced this little gem, giving it a sound that's a bit hipper than you might expect – and titles include "Any Old Time", "Keep Me Up Tight", "Here I Go", "Baby I Need Your Loving", "Under You", "Let's Get It On", "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", and "Walk On". LP, Vinyl record album

Mad mad funk, and the fantastic second LP by the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band – the group that proved to everyone that LA could be just as funky as any other city in the 60s! The record draws strongly from the group's indie roots in the funky 45 scene – and the album's filled with short tracks that bump along in jagged rhythms, offbeat arrangements, and some slight touches of sweeter soul. Charles Wright is leading the group on vocals, and taking a stronger presence on these soul-based cuts – but as before, it's the strength of the overall group that really makes the album great – especially the bass work of Melvin Dunlap and the funky drums of James Gadson! Titles include some killer original tracks by the band – like "Do Your Thing", "Giggin' Down 103rd", "Phuncky Bill", "65 Bars & A Taste Of Soul", and "A Dance, A Kiss, & A Song" – plus great covers of "Something You Got", "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", and "Knock On Wood". LP, Vinyl record album

Jug's big and bad here in tone – and the style is nicely complicated at times – a bit more open-ended and electric than before, with a sound that's almost like the shift that Stanley Turrentine was making during his years at CTI! There's still a bit of the previous Prestige funk in the mix – thanks to drums from Billy Cobham, and organ from Sonny Phillips – but the group also includes up-and-comer Maynard Parker on guitar, who gets in some nicely snakey lines at times – slinking through the tunes with a warmly chromatic edge that's mighty nice, and which sets the tune for some of Ammons' more laidback solo moments. His tenor's still as strong as ever, though – blown with a beautiful sense of tone, on tracks that include "Lady Mama", "Big Bad Jug", "Lucille", "Fly Me", and "Fuzz" – plus a nice version of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" with a sweetly gentle break! LP, Vinyl record album

Classic 50s Atlantic R&B from Ruth Brown! Titles include "Oh What A Dream", "Don't Deceive Me", "Papa Daddy", "I Can't Hear A Word You Say", "Daddy Daddy", "5 10 15 Hours", "Teardrops From My Eyes", and "Love Contest". 16 classics in all! LP, Vinyl record album

A once underappreciated later effort from the mighty Run DMC – with slightly harder hitting beats, and an overall tougher style – and it's ultimately the crew's last solid beginning-to-end LP! A worthy set that includes "Mary, Mary", "Beats To The Rhyme", "Run's House", "They Call Us Run-DMC", "Papa Crazy", the title track and more. LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Cutty Ranks, Barrington Levy, Patra, Papa San, Frankie Paul, Shabba Ranks & Lovindeer, Louie Rankin, Poison Chang, Capleton, Pinchers, Ninjaman & Flourgon, and Cocoa Tea. LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of instrumentals either recorded for Motown by groups like the San Remo Golden Strings, the Crusaders or Junior Walker, or the instrumental backing tracks used by their vocalists, released here on their short lived Natural Resources subsidiary. 9 tracks in all: "Hungry For Love" and "Festival time" by the San Remo Golden Strings, "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" and "Cleo's Back" by Junior Walker, 'Rapid Fire" by the Commodores, "Papa Was A rolling Stone" by the Temptations, "Way Back Home" by the Crusaders, "Erucu" by Jermaine Jackson and "Get Ready" by Rare Earth. LP, Vinyl record album

Given that Grey was one of those players who tried for more of a "gutbucket" sound on the trombone, we're not sure that we'd agree with the title's assessment of him as the "thinking man" – but we can say that the album's a pretty darn great batch of soul jazz groovers, recorded with Al's group that includes the under-rated, under-recorded Billy Mitchell on tenor. The rest of the group, like Billy and Al, are Basie regulars – cutting loose in a small group mode on fun little tunes like "Al-Amo", "Salty Papa", "Rompin", "Stranded", and "King Bee". LP, Vinyl record album

Warm and wonderful work from Freddie Hubbard – a killer of an album recorded for CTI, and one of his most soulful efforts for the label! The album's got a bit more of a human heart than some of the more cosmic sessions Freddie cut at the time – a bit more contemplative and introspective, but no less open-minded and electrically charged. The assortment of players is all top-shelf – with Billy Cobham, Airto, Lennie White, George Cables, Hubert Laws, and George Benson all backing Freddie up on the set – and titles include a great take on "People Make the World Go Round", plus "Naturally", and "Son of Sky Dive", which grooves just like its papa! LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderfully dark harmonies from The Mamas & The Papas – one of those amazing late 60s albums from the group that was pop on the outside, but something very else underneath – a wonderful blend of modes that was hardly duplicated this well again! There's a slightly spooky feel to some of the music – even their leadoff cover of "Dedicated To The One I Love", which has an eerie quality that's way different than any previous readings – possibly a hint of the trouble between the group members – although maybe that's reading too much into it! Whatever the case, though – there's a special magic here that goes way beyond any understanding of the group you may have from oldies radio, and the set features some great original compositions by the young John Phillips too. Titles include "Creeque Alley", "Boys & Girls Together", "Look Through My Window", "Sing For Your Supper", "Free Advice", "Did You Ever Want To Cry", and "String Man". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful harmonies from this legendary group – set to some great backings that include Hal Blaine on drums and Larry Knechtel on keyboards! There's a lot of nice non-hit material – titles that include "Ivy", "Mansions", "The Right Somebody To Love", "Too Late", "Twelve Thirty", "Nothing's Too Good For My Little Girl", "Meditation Mama", and "Midnight Voyage". LP, Vinyl record album

Very cool early work from Vangelis – an album recorded right after he left Aphrodite's Child, and with a sound that's not that different than the group's final album 666 – especially in the compelling sonic range that's used throughout! Some tracks are straight ahead, some are experimental, and there's some very interesting keyboards, guitars, and unusual production. Titles include "The City", "Come On", "We Were All Uprooted", "A Song", "Watch Out", "Sunny Earth", and "Ritual". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

The final album from The Mamas & The Papas – and a set that really makes us wonder how great they would have sounded had they kept on recording into the 70s! There's definitely a shift here from the earlier work – vocals that still have that incredible way of coming together, but with a feel that's warmer and more layered too – maybe Mama Cass tuned down a bit in the mix, but only in a way that opens up the unity of the group overall! The songwriting is more sophisticated and interesting too – material that maybe made sure that this album never got heavy radio play – but in a way that makes the whole thing a fantastic discovery all these many years later! Titles "People Like Us", "Pacific Coast Highway", "Shooting Star", "European Blueboy", "I Wanna Be A Star", "Step Out", "Snowqueen Of Texas", "No Dough", Blueberries For Breakfast", and "Grasshopper". LP, Vinyl record album

Very cool early work from Vangelis – an album recorded right after he left Aphrodite's Child, and with a sound that's not that different than the group's final album 666 – especially in the compelling sonic range that's used throughout! Some tracks are straight ahead, some are experimental, and there's some very interesting keyboards, guitars, and unusual production. Titles include "The City", "Come On", "We Were All Uprooted", "A Song", "Watch Out", "Sunny Earth", and "Ritual". LP, Vinyl record album

To tell the truth, we didn't know he'd ever been lost – but who cares anyway, as the album captures Dave in his best 70s fusion mode! The album's got some great mellow tunes that bubble along with a sweet electric feel – gliding in that Grusin way that was never that funky, but which always had a warm soulful undercurrent nonetheless. Recording is direct to disc, giving the set a high-end production touch – but Dave keeps the playing and the group spontaneous – and he's working here with a small lineup that features Ron Carter, Lee Ritenour, Harvey Mason, and Larry Bunker. Includes a great reading of Jobim's "Captain Bacardi", a good take on the "Theme From Barretta", plus "Sun Song", "Adeus A Papai", and "A Child Is Born". LP, Vinyl record album

Great grooves from Jackson Conti – not a dude, but a duo – one that features Madlib teamed with Mamao, drummer from the legendary Azymuth! The album's got a really unique feel – one that mixes Madlib's chunky, fuzzy style of production with some of the cleaner, jazzier Azymuth grooves of late – a combination that shouldn't work so well, but which comes across with really amazing results! There's a bit of beats on the set, but a fair bit of the percussion is acoustic too – making for more warmth than before from Madlib – almost a transplantation of the Yesterday's New Quintet sound to the sunnier Rio scene. Keyboards have a strong role too – often with the sort of edgey, compelling tones you'd hear on the first few Azymuth recordings of the 70s – and other instrumentation includes bits of guitar, flute, sax, and other well-placed touches – but all used in weird ways that are somewhere between typical jazz and Brazilian modes. Titles include "Upa Neguinho", "Xibaba", "Sao Paulo Nights", "Brasilian Sugar", "Mamaoism", "Berumba", "Papaya", "Segura Esta Onda", "Sunset At Sujinho", "Tijuca Man", and "Waiting On The Corner". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful bit of sunshine pop from the very obscure Peppermint Rainbow – a male/female harmony group with a sound that was a lot like the Mamas & Papas – blending folk rock and sweet pop into a really sunny groove! The album's worth it alone for the massive title track – "Will You Be Staying After Sunday", a tune that's got a sad undercurrent that seems to single-handedly dismantle all of the sexual freedom offered by the late 60s with a one sentence confession of the emotionality that was also attached. Other tracks are also nice – and include "Don't Wake Me Up In The Morning Michael", "Run Like The Devil", "I Found Out I Was A Woman", and "Walking In Different Circles" – most of which were written by arranger/producer Paul Leka. LP, Vinyl record album

A record with a simple, elegant title – and a similar cover image too – but if you know Sonny Stitt, you know there's often plenty beneath the surface, and this classic Chess Records has plenty to offer, once you start listening! The album's right up there with Sonny's work for Roost – in terms of straight, strong, confident blowing – remarkably subtle, but also remarkably well-conceived, and proof that by the end of the 50s, Stitt had really matured greatly as a player – bringing so much to bear in very short space, and really coming up with imaginative solos in the process! The group's a quartet with Barry Harris on piano (although conflicting information also claims that it's Ramsey Lewis) – but Stitt's the main focus on this set, and for good reason – on titles that include "Jack Spratt", "Propapagoon", "This Is Always", "Everyone Does", and "Mr Sun". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked group from the glory days of late 60s Elektra Records – a really unique combo who have a great way of folding together a number of different modes! There's definitely a folk element at their core – a few years before, these guys probably would have been recording straighter acoustic material – but their sound also has some trippy elements that are further enforced by their fantastic harmonies – which mix female singer Kerrilee Male with the voices of the men in the group – all with a heavenly sound that reminds us of that special blend from groups like The Mamas & The Papas, or We Five. But Eclection's music is definitely headier than either of those groups – imbued with the sense of freedom and invention that graced some of the other Elektra acts – and this undercurrent of majesty that really elevates some of their songs to a wonderful level. Titles include "Violet Dew", "In Her Mind", "Still I Can See", "Will Tomorrow Be The Same", "Another Time Another Place", and "St Georg & The Dragon". LP, Vinyl record album

A really cool take on the music of Phil Spector – tunes from earlier in the 60s, but served up in this post-folk, slightly trippy harmony mode that's maybe a bit like the Mamas & The Papas! LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty great debut from Sweetwater – described on the cover as "Eight high-octane musicians who met and jammed in the great peanut butter octopus that is Los Angeles!" The record's got a really trippy approach that's partially folk rock, partially psychedelic soul, and which also has some great touches of groovy harmony pop and Latinized LA rhythms – all wrapped up in some totally great production overall! The whole thing skims and sings around like some of our favorite sunshiney pop from the time – almost a meeting of Triste Janeiro and Mamas & The Papas – with some great instrumental touches that include cello and electric harpsichord! Female lead vocals on most tracks, but the album also spins out nicely, so that you get plenty of instrumental passages too! Titles include "Why Oh Why", "Motherless Child", "Here We Go Again", "For Pete's Sake", "What's Wrong", "Come Take A Walk", and "In A Rainbow". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best solo records to come out of the wake of The Mamas & The Papas – a folksy effort from Denny Doherty, touched with elements of A&M country, in kind of an LA outlaw mode. Titles include "Hey Good Looking", "Watcha Gonna Do", "Neighbors", "Got A Feeling", "Don't You Be Fooled", and "Gathering The Words". LP, Vinyl record album