... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

A lost bit of funky vibes and Fender Rhodes – one of those few records that's as sublime as it is rare – like work by Billy Wooten or Lyman Woodard! The Bobby Hamilton Quintet were an obscure combo from upstate New York – but they've lived on in our hearts (and ears!) with this rare gem from the 70s – a killer set that features Bobby on Rhodes, vocals, and percussion; Mike Gipson (aka Brother Fundi) on vibes, percussion, and electronics; and additional trumpet, tenor, and percussion – used to just the right effect in these totally great arrangements. Most of the tunes on the album are instrumentals – with a very cool, ultra-hip soul jazz approach that's somewhere between the very early Polydor work of Roy Ayers, and the funky electric grooves of the Nineteenth Whole – and the tracks are long, and have a really deep, soulful feel! Titles include "Pearl", "Priscilla", "In The Mouth Of The Beast", "Roll Your Own", and "Dream Queen". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A searing live performance from Hammond legend Shirley Scott – much more on fire and longspun than her work in the 60s on Prestige Records – and an amazing showcase for the bold tenor talents of the great George Coleman! Coleman's always one of those players who seems to hit an extra something special when blowing live – and that's definitely the case here, as the richness of his tone and dexterity of his imagination – qualities that also really seem to inspire Scott on the organ as well! Unlike earlier dates, Shirley's handling all the basswork herself on the pedals of the Hammond – which only seems to open up and solidify her sense of rhythm – and the trio features excellent work on drums from Bobby Durham, whose loose touch is perfect. Titles include "Blues By Five", "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Like Someone In Love", "Impressions", "Witchcraft", and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" – and Ernie Andrews guests on vocals on a few tracks too, including "Girl Talk" and "Don't Mess Around With Jim". LP, Vinyl record album

With AG, Pete Rock, and T-Max on "Queen (Hip Hop)" and Noel on "Still Searchin". 12-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Classic Hammond work from female organ legend Shirley Scott – in her best mode of the 60s! Here's the reasons: 1) The group features husband Stanley Turrentine on tenor, adding in some nice extra tones to Shirley's usual trio! 2 ) The rhythm section is Bob Cranshaw and Otis Finch – surely one of Shirley's best. 3) The set was recorded live, in the Front Froom in Newark, with a real down-home gutbucket approach that's different from some of the other Impulse albums. 4) Tracks are long, with plenty of room for soloing – even more so than some of Shirley's other records of the time. Titles include "That's For Me", "Rapid Shave", and "Squeeze Me". Nuff said! LP, Vinyl record album

A triumphant third album from The Smiths – one that really focuses the energy of their previous sets, and helps them find a new sort of sonic perfection! Those haunting guitars are still in all the right places – as are Morrissey's heartfelt lyrics – but there's also a nice balance here between humor and honesty, which may well make the album the most appealing Smiths set to our ears! Titles include "The Queen Is Dead", "Never Had No One Ever", "Vicar In A Tutu", "Cemetery Gates", "Frankly Mr Shankly", and "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

A great little solo set from Priscilla Coolidge – a singer most folks know from her duo records with Stax legend Booker T (of MGs fame) – who's on hand this time around to handled arrangements, production, and play some sweet Hammond too! The set's got this surprisingly funky feel at some moments – these slinky, groovy currents that really bring out the best in Priscilla's vocals – a nice edge that she maybe didn't even have on her records with Booker – and even some of the gentler, mellower moments have a tightness in the instrumentation that makes the whole thing surprisingly nice – although we definitely like the funkiest numbers the best. Titles include "On The Road", "Hummingbird", "Spring Rain", "T My T", "Salty Haze", and "Come On Sweet". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A triumphant third album from The Smiths – one that really focuses the energy of their previous sets, and helps them find a new sort of sonic perfection! Those haunting guitars are still in all the right places – as are Morrissey's heartfelt lyrics – but there's also a nice balance here between humor and honesty, which may well make the album the most appealing Smiths set to our ears! Titles include "The Queen Is Dead", "Never Had No One Ever", "Vicar In A Tutu", "Cemetery Gates", "Frankly Mr Shankly", and "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of 20 titles over 2 LPs – with "Lament (Love, I Found You Gone)", "Say It Isn't So", "On The Street Of Regret", "In The Dark", "Don't Come Runnin' Back", "Duck Before You Drown", "Why Was I Born", "Funny Thing", "Me & My Gin", "He's Gone Again", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful tribute to one of the first great pairings of Hammond and tenor – the saxophone of Eddie Lockjaw Davis and the organ of Shirley Scott – presented here in four classic albums that would forever change the face of jazz! The "cookbook" in the title is a reference to the name of the first three records in the set – The Eddie Lockjaw Davis Cookbook records, volumes 1 to 3 – and the set is completed with the great album Smokin, which also pairs Scott and Davis together! The records were key dates for both players – for Davis, a way to firmly move into the world of jazz after roots in more R&B-styled recordings – on long tracks that really showed the world what a tremendous soloist he could be when he had the chance to stretch out. And for Scott, a way to showcase her budding talents on the Hammond – in ways that have a lot more bite than her later trio sides, and which also mark her as a different organ jazz stylist from contemporary Jimmy Smith. All four records here are presented with a new set of notes, and in a really wonderful package overall – finally together after all these years! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Queen of Soul is right! Heck, on these early albums, Etta practically invented soul – or at least invented a deep soul style of singing that would be taken up by countless other female singers during the 60s, but rarely matched with this kind of brilliance. Straight up beautiful stuff! The arrangements are uncredited, but we think they're probably by Riley Hampton – who did so much of Etta's other wonderful work in the early 60s. The recordings for sure took place at points between '62 and '64, mostly in Chicago, with couple in New York and one in Nashville. One other thing that is crystal clear about the sessions is that she had access to the very best musicians and the best sound possible – all you need is a listen to know that! The album's an all-solid, all-soul record with loads of obscure tunes and not a bit of filler! Titles include "Flight 101", "Bobby Is His Name", "Breaking Point", "Mello Fellow", "Do Right", and "Somewhere Out There". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Mostly work from famous films of the 30s – but a few later bits, and even some work with Duke Ellington! LP, Vinyl record album

A double-length disco fantasy from Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder – both very much at the A double-length, 4 act disco fantasy from Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder – both very much at the height of their powers here – and able to keep up enough energy to make it through what was originally 2LP set! The work's a unified sort of story – kind of a disco opera of sorts – but more than the lyrics or the story, what makes the album great is the rhythms – full-on and non-stop, rolling strongly from tune after tune in a highly energized blend. Titles include "Once Upon A Time", "Fairy Tale High", "Queen For A Day", "Now I Need You", "Dance Into My Life", "A Man Like You", "I Love You", and "Rumor Has It". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic pop glam from Sweet – easily one of the best torchbearers of the genre in the 70s! The album's got a sweetly compressed sound that's right up there with the best of Queen – but even more rocking overall, and without any of the too-flowery or too-flashy moments. Tunes are stompingly catchy, and filled with loads of fuzzy guitar that's mixed right down into the roots of the rhythms – and although this album doesn't have as many hits as some of the group's other work, it's a killer set through and through. Titles include "The Lies In Your Eyes", "Lady Starlight", "Action", "Yesterday's Rain", "Healer", "White Mice", and "Keep It In". LP, Vinyl record album

The second album from Traffic, and a set that forever cemented their legacy in the annals of modern music – a set that has Dave Mason returning to the group after a brief hiatus, and maybe helping the quartet find a tighter, rootsier sound overall! The approach here is nicely mixed – almost half Dave Mason moments, and half from the energy of Jim Capaldi and Steve Winwood – held together wonderfully by the reed work of Chris Wood! There's a few key classics here, and lots more overlooked gems – and titles include "You Can All Join In", "Forty Thousand Headmen", "Pearly Queen", "Who Know What Tomorrow May Bring", and "Feelin' Alright". LP, Vinyl record album

Pretty darn nice stuff from McCoy Tyner, from a period when he was opening up to the soul jazz spiritualism that was around him – a movement that was clearly directly inspired by his work with Coltrane, but which also helped to shape his playing, and return the favor of influence. The group here is a quartet, Sonny Fortune playing some excellent post-Coltrane soprano, plus a bit of flute and alto – and with rhythm by bassist Calvin Hill and drummer Alphonze Mouzon. The title tune – "Sahara" – takes up all of side 2 of the album, and side 1 features shorter tracks like "Ebony Queen", "Rebirth", and "Valley Of Life", which features McCoy on koto! LP, Vinyl record album

A very groovy album from 70s Japan – one that makes all the best use of the sexy vocal style of Kaoru Yumi, set to a warm mix of funky and easygoing backings! Yumi's as famous for her appearances on screen as she is on record – a role that was unified here through the scandalous album cover – which maybe gets at the way her music was marketed. Yet despite that crass approach, Kaoru's got a strong vocal style too – one that really fits well with the backings, no matter the style – just the right subtle sense of drama from the earlier generation, but refitted here for a nice 70s approach. Lyrics are in Japanese throughout – and titles include "Delta Queen", "Miami Beach Rumba", and "Taboo". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe not the complete roots of African funk, but a set that does a great job of bringing together a range of different cuts that show the new sounds and styles that were really hitting the scene as the 70s moved in – work from a wide variety of sources, but which all seems to share a sound and spirit with some of the newly independent African nations! There's a few African funk cuts in the mix, but the more interesting ones are almost those from the Anglo world that show a similar sense of groove, but with a slightly different vibe – coming across here on cuts that include "Waterbed (inst)" by LTD Exchange, "African Queen" by Allez Allez, "Them Changes" by Lionel Hampton, "Sangandongo" by Niagara, "Wassahoumba" by Africa Djole, "Do The Choo Choo" by Jack Ashford, "Africa Gone Funky" by Screaming Jay Hawkins, "Super Kumba" by Manu Dibango, "Tite Rope" by Harold Alexander, "Fat City Strut" by Mandrill, and "Corey Died On The Battlefield" by Wild Magnolias. LP, Vinyl record album

A really cool idea for a collection – a set that brings together vintage 70s tracks and more contemporary cuts – all with a globe-spanning ear for a groove, and an approach that's as heavy in soul as you'd expect from the title! This isn't your usual collection of sample tracks or funk classics – as the selection moves way past the obvious, and does a brilliant job of combining tracks we never would have thought to put together – while also introducing us to a number we'd never heard before too! Titles include "Every Time I See Him" by Metropolis, "Eva" by Robson Jorge & Lincoln Olivetti, "O Galho Da Roseira" by Airto, "Apocalypse Now Ho" by Nar'Chiveol, "Wache" by Francisco, "After All" by Soylent Green, "Space Queen" by King Errison, "Robot Man" by Yusef Lateef, "Stay This Way (lunar dub)" by Brand New Heavies, "Le Train" by Chene Noir, "Southern Freez" by On, "The PL (ext edit)" by Typesun, and "Le Cyclope" by Daniel Humair, Francois Jeanneau, and Henri Texier. LP, Vinyl record album

Cosmic grooves and spacey post disco compiled by Dompteur Mooner – a great third volume of the Elaste series from Compost Records! The soul if disco splintered in the cosmos in the early 80s, soaring strings giving way to funky synths, proto-techno programming and all around galactic feel in the clubs of Europe and pretty much all around the world – and this set pulls together the widest range yet! Definitely not disco in a conventional set, but spacey synth funk and influential club grooves from the early 80s underground that sounds great today! Includes "Take A Chance (Dompteur Mooner Edit)" by Queen Samantha, "Urth" by Mobius, "Beats of Love" by Nacht Und Nebel, "Allein (Original Version)" by Tabu, "Beuys Boys" by Pollyester, "Jamacia Running" by The Pool, "Powerslide" by Mythos, "Africa (Dub Mix)" by Key Of Dreams and more. Includes "Take A Chance (Dopmteur Mooner Edit)" by Queen Samantha, "Urth" by Mobius, "Beats of Love" by Nacht Und Nebel, "Allein (Original Version)" by Tabu, "Beuys Boys" by Pollyester, "Jamacia Running" by The Pool and more. 10 tracks on 2LP for the vinyl version. LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible collection – and one that fills in a crucially under-documented side of the New York dancefloor generation – the wealth of special mixes and edits that were made for that city's important DJs for their own use in clubs! The package sorts through a mountain of never-issued acetates, and goes way past conventional disco or rare club collections – to showcase the special mixing talents these DJs brought to their re-presentation of the material – which was usually done on tape, then pressed onto acetate discs for their own private use! Those rare treasures are brought forth here – in a beautiful package that's also overflowing with fantastic notes that finally give this lost history its due – all handled by Al Kent – who's a hell of a mixer himself, as well as an underground club historian. Vinyl part 1 features five different records, all with lots of space for the tunes to stretch out – and titles include "I Just Wanna Say I Love You (John Luongo rmx)" by Leon Collins, "What About Love (Tony Gioe rmx)" by Marboo, "Ten Percent (Walter Gibbons Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Double Exposure, "Inside America (Rick Gianatos disco queen acetate edit)" by Juggy Murray Jones, "Dancing Free (John Luongo rmx)" by Hot Ice, "Black Water Gold (Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by The Sunshine Band, "Magic Bird Of Fire (Francois Kevorkian Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Salsoul Orchestra, "It's Good For The Soul (Jay Negron Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Salsoul Orchestra, "My Love Is Free (Walter Gibbons disco madness rmx)" by Double Exposure, "Reaching Out For Happiness (Jonathan Fearing rmx)" by Fay Hauser, "Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Tom Savarese rmx)" by Love Symphony Orchestra, "The Beat Goes On & On (Jim Burgess rmx)" by Ripple, "I Wanna Be Near You (John Morales Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Ruby Andrews, "I've Been Looking For Somebody (Walter Gibbons rmx)" by TC James & The Fist O Funk Orchestra, "The Disco Scene (Rick Gianatos rmx)" by Lake Shore Drive, "Bumpsie's Whipping Cream (Tom Savarese rmx)" by TC James & The Fist O Funk Orchestra, and "Janice (Bobby DJ Guttadoro rmx)" by Skip Mahoney. LP, Vinyl record album

Our favorite kind of funk is Super Funk – and this fab entry to the long-running series definitely keeps up the groove! As before, there's plenty of rare tracks here – most pulled from obscure singles of late 60s/early 70s vintage – and some even from rare studio tapes that were never issued at the time! Most tracks are short, with a nicely gritty groove – the kind of funky 45 madness that will always keep us digging for rare 7" singles – put together by the BGP crew with a real understanding of the groove! There's some especially nice female singers in the mix – almost creating a mini Sister Funk focus on the package – but there's also great guy singers and groups too. 20 tracks in all – with cuts that include "The Sneak" by The Douzer, "Queen Of Losers" by Eleanor Rigby, "Groovy Baby" by Kim Tamanga, "It's Mookie Time" by Cleveland Eaton & The Kats, "Party Time" by James Carpenter, "Moving Woman" by 87th Off Broadway, "Bad Bad Woman (part 1)" by Marie Franklin, "He Say She Say" by Chet Ivey, "Cold Sweat" by Julio Zavalla, "Shakin Up The Nation" by The Radiations, "One Sweet Song" by Gloria Lucas, and "I'm Moving Home" by Mary Alice McCall. LP, Vinyl record album

An assortment of rare female hip hop tracks from the old school – including a few by MCs we're not sure we've ever heard before! Tuff City must have dug deep in the vaults for this one – as we're not sure these all were issued on the label at the time – and titles include "The Goddess" by Wanda Dee, "Round One" by Roxanne Shante with Sark D, "Sparky's Turn" by Sparky D, "Roxanne's Revenge" by Roxanne Shante, "Greetings From The Queen" by Queen Latifah, "We Are The Champs" by Nasty Girls, "The DMX Will Rock (rap mix)" by Davy DMX with Sweet Tee, and "Sixteen" and "The Boogaloo" by Traedonya. LP, Vinyl record album

A lean take on the double-length self-titled set from this mighty funky combo – one that brings together a range of great funky 45s, plus a few other hefty nuggets! If you don't know the group, they're totally great – as Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band go back to the funkiest moments of the 70s steel pan scene from the Caribbean – but also have a harder edge that comes from the group's ties to the Mighty Mocambos, and other corners of the deep funk universe! These cuts are funk first, steel drums second – and have a wicked groove that's actually hipper than most of the original steel drum records from back in the day. Titles include "Queen Of Cheeba", "Port Of Spain Hustle", "Tender Trap", "Dog Was A Doughnut", "Beetham Highway Ride", "Pimp", "Bacao Suave", "Jungle Fever", and "Tropical Heat". LP, Vinyl record album

There's no denying that Hunky Dory is one of the most significant albums ever in the catalog of David Bowie – a real turning point that pushed both his songwriting and performance to a whole new level! And while the core album is completely wonderful, and one of our favorite Bowie albums ever – this package brings forth new material from the same period – showing some alternate versions of songs pulled both from the sessions, and an early promo album – all at a level that definitely lives up to the promise of the title! Tracks include "Changes (alt mix)", "Oh You Pretty Things (Bowpromo mix)", "Eight Line Poem (Bowpromo mix)", "Life On Mars (original ending)", "Kooks (Bowpromo mix)", "Quicksand (early version)", "Fill Your Heart (alt mix)", "Bombers (alt mix)", "Andy Warhol (original mix with alt intro)", "Song For Bob Dylan (alt mix)", "Queen Bitch (Bowpromo mix)", and "Bewlay Brothers (alt mix)". LP, Vinyl record album

Quite possibly David Bowie's first complete moment of genius – an incredibly-formed album that's filled with tunes beyond definition and description! There's still some traces of the earlier madman in the mix, but the overall sound is much more rock-heavy – although not without the fuzzed-up and full-on guitars of Space Oddity or Man Who Sold the World – and often augmented with a bit of strings and softer touches that really bring out the humanity in the songs. The balance here is amazing – as is the fact that a few short years before, Bowie was singing "The Laughing Gnome", but is here one of the most sensitive songwriters of his generation. Tunes are quirky and personal, and titles include "Changes", "Oh You Pretty Things", "Andy Warhol", "Life On Mars", "Kooks", and "Queen Bitch". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes covers of "Bette Davis Eyes", "Jessie's Girl", "Take A Chance On Me", "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", "Leader Of The Pack", "Queen Of Hearts", "Whip It", "Heartbreaker", "Hold On Tight", and "Losing You (I Really Wanna Lose You)". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning early moment in the long career of reedman Idris Ackamoor – music that predates his famous 70s work with The Pyramids, but which came from the same Ohio scene – an early collective of spiritual jazz players who are captured here in an amazing live performance! Unlike work by The Pyramids, The Collective were never issued on record at the time – yet they've got a tremendously powerful blend of spiritual currents and avant ideas – always skating the line between inside and out, structure and freedom – with work from Ackamoor on alto, Margaux Simmons on flute, Steve Rumboat on French Horn, Lester Knibbs on piano, Greg LaMont Wright on soprano, and Steve Maniscoso on percussion. Titles include "Beginning Roots", "The Shepherd's Tune", "Idrissa's Dream", "Black Queen", and "Veil Of Solitude". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic soul from the Chicago scene of the 60s – the legendary first ABC album by Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions! Although the group first broke big on Vee Jay Records, it was at ABC that their genius really took flight – tightening up the harmonies of the earlier singles, and hitting a mode that was a lot more soul than the doo wop of their roots! The sound here is a great bridge between the two eras of the group's career – and a number of the best tracks here are done in a mellow, gentle sort of way that relies heavily on the harmonies – crackling out with beautifully human sounds throughout. Nearly every tune is an original by Curtis Mayfield – and there's not a spot of filler on the album! Titles include "Minstrel & Queen", "Gypsy Woman", "Never Let Me Go", "It's All Right", "Sad Sad Girl & Boy", "Little Young Lover", "Can't You See", and "I Need Your Love". Nice cover, too – with Curtis smiling the biggest ol' bucktoothed smile you'll ever see! LP, Vinyl record album

A bit of an obscure session, but the first of John Lewis' works for a larger jazz orchestra – recorded with a lineup that includes larger strings and woodwinds next to rhythm backing by Percy Heath and Connie Kay of the MJQ! The tracks are all longer originals arranged by Lewis – except for one track orchestrated by Gunther Schuller – and the album's especially noteworthy for its extensive solo work by British baritone saxophonist Ronnie Ross, a player who's been one of the great under-discovered sides of the European scene of the late 50s and 1960s for years – and who really steps out here in some wonderful moments. The only other major soloist on the set is flute player Gerry Weinkopf – who provides a nice lighter tone next to that of Ross. Titles include "Midsommer", "The Queen's Fancy", "Cortege", "Three Windows", "England's Carol", and "Two Degrees East Three Degrees West". LP, Vinyl record album

Lydia Lunch's solo follow up to the great Queen Of Siam – we're not sure if the underground classic status of the predecessor is the reason this one's been so comparably underappreciated, but for whatever the reason, it's time to wake up! Stark, unnerving, bleak and sexy all at the same time. It's one of those records that didn't make a huge dent in its time, but sounds pretty amazing way too many years later! Includes "Stares To Nowhere", "3 X 3", "The Side Of Nowhere", "Suicide Ocean", "Lock Your Door" and "Afraid Of Your Company". LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal work from Ian Hunter and group – recorded in 1969, and a great harbinger for the sound of the 70s! Titles include "Rock & Roll Queen", "Half Moon Bay", "Rabbit Foot & Toby Time", "Wrath & Wroll", "Laught At Me", "Backsliding Fearlessly", and "You Really Got Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes "Rat Patrol", "Surf Combat", "Gear", "Metastasis", "Leeches", "Roller Queen", "On", "I Don't Know", "Libido", "Only In America", "No Sex", "Stupid", and "Managua" LP, Vinyl record album

Bubblegum glam badassery from Suzi Quatro – her namesake and possibly best album – leading off with the killer "48 Crash" and barely letting up from there! Punchy, arse kicking and catchy rock & roll from a real 70s pioneer! It's a ridiculous shame that on our shores, Suzi is better remembered for Happy Days than this damned record! Other tracks include "Glycerine Queen", "Shine My Machine", "I Wanna Be Your Superman", "All Shook Up", "Skin Tight Skin", "Get Back Mama", "Shakin All Over" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A great little groover from Sonny Stitt – blowing here with a very soulful group that features piano by soul jazz giant Ronnie Matthews! Matthews is at his prime here, and his heavy left-handed approach lays out some wonderful grooves for Stitt – crackling little tunes that are extra-great because they include a good number of original compositions by Sonny! The group's a quartet, with Sonny and Ronnie alongside Art Harper on bass and Lex Humphries on drums – and the session's got the great tone and inventive solo work of Stitt's best work on Roost, but also a more pronounced role from the rhythm section, who really help drive the record! Titles include "Rearin Back", "Cut Plug", "Queen", "Carpsie's Groove", and "Bunny R". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic sounds from this ultra-cool project – music that's neither straight disco, nor really reggae – and instead a great dubby reworking of dancefloor modes from a few generations past! The range of material here comes a number of different settings – but is all worked together carefully with a very cohesive feel – thanks to a selection of like-minded artists and producers who've made this Disco Reggae project one of the better experiments of this nature in recent years! Most tunes are familiar numbers, but remade in this fresh new vision – and titles include "Tainted Love (Grandmagneto orig 7")" by Grandmagneto, "Watermelon Man (Taggy Matcher disco reggae mix)" by Taggy Matcher, "Sabadi (7 Samurai electro disco reggae mix)" by Lucas Arruda, "Stand On The World (7 Samurai electro dub mix)" by Joubert Singers, "I'll Do Anything For You (Mato reggae mix)" by Lee McDonald, and "Queen Of The Minstrels (Taggy Matcher disco reggae mix)" by Mr Day. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the mellower albums on the Nilva label – a session of guitar work from John Collins, a player we don't know that well, but who has a really beautiful sound on the set! The album's Collins' first (only?) album as a leader – and it features him soloing in a pretty spare setting on most numbers – working either with a trio that features Jimmy Woode on bass and Alvin Queen on drums, a duo with bassist John Heard, another trio with Heard and trumpeter Harry Edison, and even solo on one track – always with a tone that's great, and a sound that's clean, clear, and creative. One longer track – a version of "All The Things You Are" – features a quintet with Dolo Coker on piano, plus Edison, Woode, and Queen – and other titles include "Nature Boy", "Dearly Beloved", "I've Grown Accustomed To Your Face", and "Come Rain Or Come Shine". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare late LP Sam & Dave cut for United Artists in the mid 70s – with raw & gritty soul vocals and rough hewn, yet soulfully resonant production by Steve Cropper, and backing by a slew of Memphis sessions specialists! Back At Cha is a coulda-shoulda-woulda been great comeback effort, and if failed to chart them for renaissance revival, it sounds pretty sharp all these years later. Sam & Dave's vocals go more for raw emotional grittiness, well matched by heavier Memphis soul backdrops for the most parts, and a touch of string accented sweetness in a spot or two. Titles include "When My Love Comes Down", "There's A Party In My Heart", "Blinded By Love", "Under The Boardwalk", "Come Into My Life", "Queen Of The Ghetto", "Give It What You Can" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A set that's way more than the classic rock outing of some of the group's Bay Area contemporaries – as the young Carlos Santana finds a way to mix inspirations from blues and Latin music into this fierce fusion of so many different elements at once – stretching out, jamming, and touching decades of listeners in the process! The whole thing's a perfect sonic blend – guitar, keyboards, and plenty of percussion – on the group's stunning remake of "Oye Como Va", their fusion of "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen", and the cuts "Se A Cabo", "Samba Pa Ti", "El Nicoya", and "Singing Winds Crying Beasts". LP, Vinyl record album