... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A groundbreaking early album from guitarist John McLaughlin – a set that's a bit different than his more famous work of the mid 70s – with maybe a more avant approach, and a lot more bite as well! The set's really an equal collaboration, rather than just a McLaughlin session – although it's become known as such, since the guitarist is the most famous musician – amongst a fantastic lineup that includes John Surman on reeds, Karl Berger on vibes, Dave Holland on bass, and Stu Martin on drums – all working in a freewheeling mode that's a lot like some of Surman's Trio records on the Dawn label from the same time! Surman is especially great here – adding in soulful currents at some spots, freer lines at others – and it's great to hear the tones of McLaughlin's guitar balanced against Berger's vibes. Titles include "Glancing Backwards", "Earth Bound Hearts", and "Where Fortune Smiles". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

With Terry Lightfoot's Jazzmen, Johnny Parker's Barrelhouse, Al Fairweather Quartet, & the Fawkes-Turner Quartet. LP, Vinyl record album

A mix of tracks from both "Sunshine Superman" and "Mellow Yellow" albums. LP, Vinyl record album

A great album from the glory days of soundtrack maestro Roy Budd – a set that features his own work on the keys backed by a larger group – with tracks from The Carey Treatment, Kidnapped, and Something To Hide – plus other surprises too! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the nice sets of late 50s trad material recorded by Vanguard – and like the others, an album that's peppered with some bop elements, and a slightly freer approach than usual. Clayton's group features Kenny Burrell on guitar, Hank Jones on piano, Jo Jones on drums, and Earle Warren on alto – and the titles include "Blues Blase", "Buck Huckles", "Claytonia", "Cool Too", and "Squeeze Me". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of the sexiest sets of vocal jazz to ever come from the British scene – a classic 1960 album by the lovely Diana Dors – easily one of England's best answers to American cheesecake singers of the 50s! As you'll notice by the cover, Diana's got a look that's right up there with Marilyn Monroe or Jayne Mansfield – but as a singer, she's far better – with a full range, and good sense of expression – often delivered in the manner of some of the best vocalists working in the US for RCA in the late 50s. The backings are great too – handled by the Wally Stott orchestra with a nice sense of jazz throughout – some really swinging horns that are quite unusual for a UK session like this at the time – and which really further the American feel of the set. Titles include "That's How It Is", "Namely You", "The Point Of No Return", "Roller Coaster Blues", "The Gentleman Is A Dope", "April Heart", "I'm In Love For The Very First Time", and "Tired Of Love". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the finest moments from the Monty Python Show – including "Flying Sheep", 'Trade Description Act", "Nudge Nudge", "Interesting People", "The North Minehead Bye-Election", "Me Doctor", "Pet Shop" and "Self Defence". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the more obscure blues-influenced Brit groups of the 60s – a quartet with Graham Vickery on harmonica and vocals, and Bruce Langsman on lead and bottleneck guitar! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

White Boy reggae recorded at the height of the genre's climb to fame – at a time when a guy like Eric Clapton, or even worse, the silly-looking Johnny Wakelin, could put out a reggae record with confidence. Fortunately, Johnny's real claim to fame is the great novelty number here – "Black Superman" – a huge worldwide hit, and a pretty great little number about Muhammad Ali. The rest of the record's in a similar vein – not really bad, just pop reggae sounding, or proto disco grooving. Titles include "You Got The Bug", "Cream Puff", "In Zaire", "Me I'm A Capricorn", and "Sleep On Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

20 classic tracks from one of the greatest groups of the doo wop years – all material pulled from singles and albums on the Roulette and Gee labels! LP, Vinyl record album

Wild electric work from Les McCann – an album of free, open sounds that's quite a change from his styles of the 60s – and from most of his other work of the 70s too! Side one features an extended 26 minute track titled "The Lovers" – a slow-building number that has Les on sublime Fender Rhodes, as things build slowly with this really spiritual current that comes from the addition of Yusef Lateef on reeds, Cornell Dupree and David Spinozza on guitar, Corky Hale on harp, and both Bernard Purdie and Alphonse Mouzon on drums! The track is loose, but builds into some great funky moments – almost a keyboard version of electric Miles Davis at the time, but a lot more soulful. And side two continues the heavy keyboard vibe – with a killer remake of Les' classic "Beaux J Poo Poo" and a similar "Poo Pye McGoochie", both with the kind of choppy funky grooves Les laid down with Eddie Harris a few years prior! LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic idea – the complex prog sounds of Caravan, matched with larger orchestrations – all with a sound that's completely sublime! Tracks are all nice and long – and features Pye Hastings on vocals and guitar, and Dave Sinclair on electric piano, organ, and electronics! LP, Vinyl record album

A really amazing first record from Caravan – already in wonderful form here, with a sharpness and jazz-inspired sound that's so different from so many of their contemporaries! The album features great vocals from Pye Hastings, wonderful organ from David Sinclair, and tunes that include "Magic Man", "Love Song With Flute", "Ride", "Policeman", "Place Of My Own", "Grandma's Lawn", and "Where But For Caravan Would I". LP, Vinyl record album

A US 60s issue of early Pye Records material by Donovan, before the Mickie Most years – with titles that include "Universal Soldier", "Colours", "Catch The Wind", "Dona Dona", "Candy Man", "Ballad Of Geraldine", "Jersey Thursday", and "Hey Gyp". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Early recordings by Dollar Brand – recorded in London in 1965, playing solo on a batch of tunes dedicated to two big influences – Duke Ellington and Randy Weston – and also featuring a number of his own compositions. Titles include "Pye R Squared", "Knights Night", "Mood Indigo", "On The Banks Of Allen Waters", "Little Niles", and "Resolution". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful jazzy soundtrack from the end of the 50s – written for the ultra-cool film Bell, Book, & Candle – which starred Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart in a comedy about beatnik witches in New York! Much of the soundtrack has a cool beat jazz sort of feel to it – and many tracks feature strong solo work by Pete and Conte Candoli, who also perform a bit in nightclub scenes in the film. Other tracks have a slightly more orchestral feel, but one that's still quite light, given the nice themes in the movie – and which also features some playful bits that still keep things jazzy. Titles include "Way Out Calypso", "Send Me Nicky", "Pyewacket Returns", "Zodiac Blues", "L'Assassin Ennuye", and "Shep Shook". LP, Vinyl record album