... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A gem of a record from Clifford Jordan – proof that the 70s were possibly the greatest decade for his music! Although most of Jordan's contemporaries from the big tenor days of the 50s really didn't grow much during the 70s, Clifford always continued to develop his style – adding in modes and tones that he'd never played before, working in an ever rich tapestry of jazz that makes just about any of his albums from the time a delight. Even this session – a simple quartet date recorded with Tommy Flanagan, Bill Lee, and Grady Tate – offers lots of wonderful moments, and is kind of a post-righteous 70s soul jazz album, filled with lots of warm tones and straight soulful playing that are almost a back to earth moment after his Strata East years – but still equally expressive. Titles include "He's A Hero", "No More", "Quasimodo", and "Adventurer". LP, Vinyl record album

To signal in the "new era", it appears that Raul Marrero decided to appear on the cover of the record hugging a nude model. (That's the sort of era we can get behind!) Apart from the cheesy cover, though, the set's a very tasty batch of 70's salsa tracks, with arrangements by Louie Ramirez, Charlie Palmieri, and Joe Cain – and playing by Charlie and Louie, plus Chocolate, Vinnie Bell, and Javier Vazques. Titles include "Quiero Besarte", "Siempre Alegre", "Mi Filosofia", "Sonar No Me Cuesta Nada", and "El Toca Toca". Tough to find in the original, too! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A tribute to the music of the postwar years – served up with a cool combo that has Louie Ramirez on timbales and Isidro Infante on piano – the latter of whom arranged most of the tracks! LP, Vinyl record album

With the Louie Ramirez Band. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A great soundtrack moment for Tangerine Dream – and one of their darkest, too! Bill Friedkin's films are always pretty darn spooky – but the music of the group definitely adds a lot here – bringing in these coldly hypnotic passages that really work wonders with the images on the screen – and, in a way, also help Tangerine Dream compress their often longform electronic musings into more of an "essence" by focusing on scene-based compositions! And even without the film, the album still really stands strongly on its own – a great maturation moment for Tangerine Dream, but one that still has all the edge and darkness of their best early recordings too. Titles include "Rain Forest", "The Call", "Creation", "Vengeance", "Search", and "Grind". LP, Vinyl record album

Just drums and synthesizer! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Although most Nonesuch Explorer sessions were ethnographic ones, recorded in the field by the label's engineers – this one's a studio session, recorded in New York by a group that's reputedly from Ghana, but which seems to be kind of a "fake" one from our perspective. Why? Well, because Charles Earland's playing tenor, for one – and although his native Philly was kind of far away from New York, we never heard it referred to as "Ghana"! Other players here are US-based jazz ones, too – like drummers Sonny Morgan and Robert Crowder, vibist Garvine Masseaux, and bassist George Brooks. The set's still got a strong High Life sound to it – but it also has jazz flourishes, too, in the way that was used some of the Art Blakey Afro-Drum experiments from the same time. Titles include "Ebony", "Bus Conductor", "Saturday Night", and "Sugar Soup". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark in southern rock! Titles include "Les Brers In A Minor", "Melissa", "Mountain Jam", "One Way Out", "Trouble No More", "Little Martha", and "Blue Sky". LP, Vinyl record album

We know it's hard to think of anyone named Mildred as hip, but take it from us, the lady's actually a great singer with a deep capacity for jazzy blues and mellow R&B. These rare Savoy sides were cut during the years 1946 and 1947, and they feature great backing by pianist Ellis Larkin on nearly every cut, set up in either small combo or large group settings. Titles include "At Sundown", "Love In Vain", "It's A Woman's Prerogative", "You Started Something", and "Born To Be Blue". LP, Vinyl record album

The sixth volume of American Recordings from Johnny Cash – recorded in the months between June's & Johnny's passing – produced by an increasingly reverent Rick Rubin and put together with care and consideration. Cash sounds justifiably weary on these late recordings, with songs chosen from the work of great friends, admirers and the Man In Black himself. It's the second posthumous set in the series, but it's truly good stuff, and certainly respectful of Johnny's astounding legacy. Includes "Ain't No Grave", "Redemption Song", "For The Good Times", "Satisfied Mind", "I Corinthians 15:55", "I Don't Hurt Anymore", "Cool Water", "Last Night A Stranger Had A Dream" and "Aloha Oe". LP, Vinyl record album

This is it – the classic stormer by Bill Doggett that made his group a hit with all the kids! The album features the original two-part version of "Honky Tonk", plus the rarer "Honky Tonk Number Three", which as a wailing bit of vocals next to the chorus. Other tracks have that raw raw groove that Doggett forged, with great guitar by Billy Butler and searing tenor by Clifford Scott – and titles include "Leaps & Bounds", "Nothin Yet", "Big Boy", "Slow Walk", and "Afternoon Jump". LP, Vinyl record album

Milt Jackson's third album for CTI – part of a wonderful run that really helped him redefine his sound in the 70s! The album's got the electric approach you'd expect from the label – a great change from the sound of Jackson in the Modern Jazz Quartet, and a surprisingly great setting for his wonderful work on vibes! Milt's laidback style is perfect for the CTI mode – open, flowing, and filled with great tones – matched up here with sax work by Jimmy Heath, bass by Ron Carter, piano from Cedar Walton, and drums by Mickey Roker – a perfect setting to let loose in a way he rarely did on his earlier albums. The whole set's great – and titles include "Lost April", "Rerev", "The Metal Melter", "The Steel Bender", and "I'm Not So Sure". LP, Vinyl record album

Supposedly one of the first records of Dr King's speeches to be recorded – put together by Dootsie Williams in LA, and the forebearer of what would become a very popular genre in the 60s! The album was issued after King's death, but was recorded years before – and themes include the poverty and political situation in India and The American Dream. LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic stuff – and a key example of the penetration of psychoanalysis in the US during the postwar years! The tunes here are all vocal parodies of familiar themes from Freud – sung by Katie Lee in a way that's a bit jazz, but possibly a bit folksy too – very playful at times, with the dry wit that you'd get in some of Tom Lehrer's famous records of the same period. Instrumentation is arranged by Bob Thompson, who really emphasizes the whimsy in the tunes – and titles include "The Will To Fail", "Repressed Hostility Blues", "Gunslinger", "Properly Loved", "Real Sick Sounds", "Shrinker Man", and "Schizophrenic Moon". LP, Vinyl record album

George Lewis on clarinet, Louis "Kid Shots" Madison on trumpet, Baby Dodds on drums, Lawrence Marrero on banjo, Jim Robinson on trombone, and Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau on bass. LP, Vinyl record album

As the liner notes say, "The Magic Beat is not primitive or ritualistic. To the contrary, it emphasizes the more sophisticated and romantic aspects of rhythmic sorcery." We won't say more, except to tell you that tracks include "Fever", "Ziganette", "Lover", "Rots O Ruck", "Colonel Bogey", and "Hot Sombrero". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal album from the American underground of the late 70s – the debut of Pere Ubu, bursting forth from the Cleveland scene with a sound to challenge the greatness of anything coming from New York or LA at the time! The album's not exactly punk, not exactly art rock, but has strong elements of both – all wrapped around the unique conception of singer Dave Thomas, whose vocals are some of the oddest ever recorded! The tunes here are a lot more straightforward and upfront than some of Pere Ubu's later work – in a way that definitely makes the album their biggest favorite with new generations of indie rockers. But there's also still a fair number of more experimental touches too – odd sonic tricks and almost-abstract moments that were quite revolutionary for the time – especially from Cleveland! Titles include "Non Alignment Pact", "The Modern Dance", "Chinese Radiation", "Real World", "Life Stinks", "Over My Head", and "Humor Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderfully groovy score from Carlo Rustichelli – best known to the world for his famous score for Divorce Italian Style, and working here in a style that mixes tight jazzy numbers with sparer themes in kind of a Nino Rota mode! There's some nice organ in the background on some of the best tracks, and the sophisticated writing is extremely compelling – at a level that should have put this one right up there with 8 1/2 or La Dolce Vita – especially in its ability to mix together playful themes and more serious orchestrations. Most tracks are pretty short, and titles include "Distant City", "Steps", "Dusk", "Faded Longings", "Freedom", "Bebo, Goodbye", and "Fog On The River". LP, Vinyl record album

Here's a guy with a great gimmick – whistling! Jack Smith was a youngster, but he could blow with the best of them – whistling his way through the massive international pop hit "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman" – a tune that's as groovy as it sounds, with a crashing goofy approach that's really really great! Smith wets his whistle on 11 other tracks on this one and only album – mixing in a bunch of cool arrangements from Ivor Raymonde that have a nice 60s Brit feel. Titles include "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman", "Song Of The Steppes", "Happy Wanderer", "Union Jack", and "Early One Morning". 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

Essential 2LP set of rare R&B material from the legendary Okeh label – known to many as one of the 50's best labels for the genre! Sure, you'll find a few hits on here – like Screamin Jay Hawkins' "I Put A Spell On Your" – but the real nice bits are the obscurer tracks, like "Please Say You Want Me" by The Schoolboys, "Dumplins" by Doc Bagby, "Peanuts" by Little Joe, "Say Hey (The Willie Mays Song)" by The Treneirs, and "Baby You're My Only Love", a real early one from Billy Stewart. Great stuff throughout, and a nice set of notes. LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent set of rare bossa tracks, all performed by artists related to the legendary scene that circled around the Paramount Theatre, one of Brazil's leading showcases for bossa material in the 60's! Includes versions of "Garota De Charme" and "Balanco Zona Sul" by Zimbo Trio, "Morrer De Amor" and "Onde Esta Voce" by Alaide Costa, "Dorme" and "Desencanto" by Yvette, "Diz" by Walter Santos, "Azul Triste" by the Oscar Castro Neves Noneto, and the groovy "Zero Hora" by Bossa Jazz Trio. LP, Vinyl record album

Very nice record, and one of the rarer sides by Gene Ammons. We can't remember the exact story behind this, but we know that the material was recorded by Jug during the early 60's, when he was violating his contractual agreements with a number of labels, and recording sessions for just about everybody. Paul Winley caught him then, and put him in the studio with Howard McGhee and guitarist Jake Fisher, for this cool laidback soul jazz session that's probably one of Jug's most open-ended from the time. The tracks are all long, with a lot of room for solo space, and a round mellow tone. Winley has his name on all of the writing credits, which is probably false (the lying bastard!), and titles include "Housewarmin", "Nothin' But Soul", and "Jug & McGhee". LP, Vinyl record album

Joe Armon Jones sings and plays lots of cool Wurlitzer electric piano on this gem of an album – but the whole thing is maybe even more of a tribute to the warmly collaborative spirit of the contemporary London scene, as it is to the talents of the man himself! There's a nicely fluid sense of stardom here – as differing artists get their time to shine in the spotlight while others recede a bit from track to track – but not in the kind of "leader with guests" version of older soundsystem albums – and instead maybe more as a cosmic vision for the future. Other singers include Asheber, Big Sharer, Ego Ella May, and Oscar Jerome – and musicians include Dylan Jones on trumpet, Moses Boyd on drums, and Nubya Garcia and James Mollison on tenor. Titles include "Starting Today", "Almost Went Too Far", "London's Face", "Ragify", "Outro", and "Mollison Dub". LP, Vinyl record album

Nice 2LP set that brings together some of his most striking sessions of the early 60s recorded for Emarcy. This set includes pieces composed and arranged by Lalo Schifrin played by a large ensemble led by Benny Carter – with Dizzy as the main soloist, and work by players that include James Moody, Phil Woods, Emil Richards, Francisco Aguabella, and Schifrin himself. Tracks are long, and have complicated introductions – then easily give way to the sort of flowing grooves that Schifrin was penning often at the time. Titles include "The Conquerors", "The Chains", "The Swords", "The Empire", and "The Legend Of Atlantis". The set also features Diz playing tracks from Tom McIntosh, one of the scene's brightest arrangers at the time, and a talent who was looming large, thanks to support from folks like Diz and James Moody. Moody's in the group – blowing tenor with a quintet that includes Kenny Barron on piano, Chris White on bass, and Rudy Collins on drums – and his tone is incredible, with a darkness that he'd rarely had before, and the whole group has a mixture of modern tones and soulful grooves that's beyond compare! Titles include "November Afternoon", "The Cup Bearers", "The Day After". Also included are songs from the soundtrack for the lost Shirley Clarke verite drama The Cool World. Mal Waldron wrote the material for the score, and Diz plays the music with a moody emotionality that you don't often hear in his other 60's work. The recording was made by his great group that included Kenny Barron and James Moody, and the titles include "The Pushers", "Duke's Fantasy", "Coney Island", and "Street Music". LP, Vinyl record album

Great jazz rock jamming from National Health – a group who evolved out of Hatfield & The North, and who work here with an equally complex sound! The album's a bit late in the UK jazz rock scene, but still has all the classic touches – really well-crafted instrumentation, played with a lot of jazzy inflections – but driven towards more rockish leanings in the overall sound, especially given some of the album's jamming moments. Players include Phil Miller on some incredible guitar, Dave Stewart on keyboards, and Pip Pyle on drums – and titles include "The Collapso", "Squarer For Maud", "Dreams Wide Awake", "Binoculars", and "Phlakaton". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer Brazilian soundtrack! The record is a mix of funky easy tracks – in a Blue Brazil kind of mode – with other titles played by trumpeter Marcio Montarroyos that have a jazzier edge to them. The whole thing's kind of a mad mix of old and new Brazilian styles of music, touched by just a bit of 70s sleaze to give it a cool edge. Titles include "As Moca" by Osmar Milito e Trama, "Mentira" by Marcos Valle, "Amar Sofrer E Sonhar" by Nuvens, "Posso Ver O Mundo Pela Janela" by Trama, "Manha De Sol" by Piry, and "Maria", "Mulher", "Carinhoso", and "No Ranco Fundo" by Marcio Montarroyos. LP, Vinyl record album

A great second pairing of this hip team – further proof that Tony Bennett was a hell of a jazz singer when he wanted to be! Titles include "You're Nearer", "Lonely Girl", "You Must Believe In Spring", "Two Lonely People", and "The Bad & The Beautiful". LP, Vinyl record album

One of James Brown's greatest cuts ever – a stone funky monster that never gets old! The tune's got a snapping slow funk beat that's simply incredible, and it builds and builds with a sound that has an intensity that can't be beat! Plus, this 2-part single is actually pretty tough to find – a lot rarer than the album, with a strange spoken announcer over a few parts! 7-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first true moments of genius from saxophonist Nathan Davis – a mid 60s European session cut for the tiny SFP label – and a record that's even rarer than his early classics for MPS! The sound here is similar to the MPS sides – a mixture of soul jazz and modal jazz – served up with a bit more freedoms than Davis might have gotten on the US scene, and featuring a lineup that includes Woody Shaw on trumpet, Jean-Louis Chautemps on baritone sax, Rene Urtreger on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums. The tight rhythm of Woode and Clarke is a nice counterpoint to the modernism of Davis and Shaw – Davis works a bit on soprano, which sounds especially great! Titles include "Peace Treaty", "Klook's Theme", "Now Let M' Tell Ya", "Kansas City Special", and "Sconsolato". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer album from the Fania All-Stars – one that's quite different than most of their other work at the time, with an open-ended jam session feel that really takes us back to the old days! The group here is really just a sextet – the core combo used to launch the group name on Columbia Records – and the session is one that was originally done for Columbia in 1976, when Gene Page had to cancel a studio date, and the band got the chance to jam by themselves in the studio! The result is a groove that's strongly jazzy, with lots of descarga energy – played by a group that features Johnny Pacheco on flute, Papo Lucca on piano, Nicky Marrero on timbales, Ray Barretto on congas, Bobby Valentin on bass, and Roberto Roena on bongos and assorted percussion. Roena sings on one track, but most of the set is instrumental – with nice long cuts that include "The War Gods", "Seis Con El Mismo Sabor", "Vento Conmigo", "Taxi To Aguadilla", and "Guajira Para Los Pollos". LP, Vinyl record album

A later date – but proof that the Fania All Stars groove can always be strong, no matter what the setting! This album's actually recorded by a smaller ensemble from the larger group – a sextet that includes Ray Barretto on congas, Roberto Roena on bongos, Nicky Marrero on timbales, Bobby Valentin on bass, Papo Lucca on keyboards, and Johnny Pacheco on flute and guiro – a very percussive ensemble working here in a strongly jazz-based mode! The sound is great – and even at the few points when the keyboards are slightly modern, there's always an overall sound that preserves an older Latin jazz approach. Some numbers have chorus vocals, but these really don't dominate – and the main focus here is instrumental work – on titles that include "The Click","Allegria", "Guasasa", "Quasedito", "De Nuevo A La Carga", and a great cover of Timmy Thomas' "Why Can't We Live Together". LP, Vinyl record album

A full-on set from the mighty Fania All-Stars – a session that matches some of the larger arrangements of their Columbia Records albums, but which also returns the group to more of a salsa-focused groove! Tracks are somewhat short – none of the jam sessions of the group's earliest years – but the sound is top-shelf all the way through, and a lot more classic than you'd guess from the cheesy cocaine image on the cover! Group members include Papo Luca on piano, Nicky Marrero on timbales, Roberto Roena on bongos, Yomo Toro on cuatro, and Lewis Khan on trombone – and singers include Hector Lavoe, Adalberto Santiago, Willie Colon, Ismael Rivera, and Celia Cruz. Titles include "Semilla De Amor", "Bilongo", "La Montana", "Rosa En El Fango", "Mi So Den Boso", and "Nina". LP, Vinyl record album

A fresh new groove from The Fania All Stars – one that definitely has them picking up some of the Spanish elements mentioned in the title – the fusing them into the tight mix of Latin, club, and jazz they were doing at Columbia Records in the late 70s! These new elements are often light – a bit of acoustic guitar here, maracas there, or some slightly different rhythms – and they're warmed up nicely by the mix of electric and acoustic instrumentation used by the group – who are definitely at the height of their disco powers here! Core players include Papo Lucca on keyboards, Nicky Marrero on timbales, Johnny Pacheco and Roberto Roena on percussion, and Bobby Valentin on bass – and other players include Hubert Laws on flute, Eric Gale on guitar, Luie Ramirez on vibes, and Luiz Perico Ortiz on trumpet. Vocals are by Ismael Miranda, Pacheco, and Ruben Blades – and titles include "Spanish Fever", "Que Pasa", "Space Machine", "Donde", "Your Sereneness", and "Sin Tu Carino". LP, Vinyl record album

A funky treasure from the glory days of the De Wolfe sound library – and one of the rarer titles on the label too! LP, Vinyl record album

Much more interesting than some of Barney's earlier records – possibly because he's working with a hip, flexible combo – one that includes Marv Jenkins on piano and flute, Jerry Good on bass, and Stan Popper on drums. The tracks are a mix of groovers and mellow numbers – with Jenkins breaking out the flute on the sparer ones – and titles include "The Good Lil Man", "Spanish Scenery", "Pedal Point", and "New Rhumba". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic set from reedman Charles Lloyd – a set that really pushes forward all the experiments he'd begun in the Chico Hamilton group – and shows a bold move forward for rhythms in 60s jazz! The tracks are long, and spiral out wonderfully – but in ways that are different than those used by other creators of the time – like Eric Dolphy or John Coltrane. Even though leading the group on tenor and flute, Lloyd's got a real sense of rhythm to his playing – echoes of the Hamilton group – but set loose with a stellar quartet of younger players – including Keith Jarrett on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums – all perfect choices for inventive music like this! The standout cut is the amazing "Sombrero Sam", a tight little groover that we never tire of – and one that has Jarrett sounding much more in the pocket than you'd ever imagine – and other tracks include "Dream Weaver", "Autumn Sequence", and "Bird Flight". LP, Vinyl record album

A great document of the crossover between the New York Latin scene and the Catskills – the upstate resort community that was as important to the Latin groups as the uptown clubs! Like many groups of the period, Machito's found a heck of a lot of work in the Catskills during the 50s – most notably at the Concord Resort, paid tribute to by this set – which includes photos of famous Concord staffers that include swimming instructor Buster Crabbe and golf pro Jimmy Demarest! But apart from that gimmicky approach, the album's actually a strong one for Machito – showing the kind of grooves that helped his 50s group cross over big – a mix of mambo and early cha cha tracks that include "Patricia", "Guaglione", "Torero", "Cha Cha Cha Loco", "Cotillon Mambo", and "Mambo La Concord". LP, Vinyl record album

A bit more pop soul than some of Sergio Mendes' work from a few years back – but still the kind of set that shows that he's got a better ear for music than most of his contemporaries! As with Sergio's previous album, this one's got a fair bit of contributions from Robbie Buchanan – who arranges, produces, and plays keyboards on a good deal of tracks – often bringing a vibe to Mendes' music that's a bit more electric than before. Yet at other points, things are still warmly soulful – in ways that hearken back nicely to Sergio's more soul-based sets of the 70s. Vocals are by Joe Pizzulo, Gracinha Leporace, and Siedah Garrett – and titles include "Olympia", "Real Life", "Morrer De Amor", "Dance Attack", "Alibis", "Let's Give A Little More This Time", and "Say It With Your Body". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful split album between British soprano sax genius Lol Coxhill and prog jazz keyboardist Stephen Miller. Coxhill's side is the standout one – as it features tunes that run from quirky solo numbers ("Tubercular Bells"), to hippy dippy ensemble ones ("Soprano Derivato", which features Robert Wyatt and Kevin Ayers), to experimental tunes with some great effects (like the "recorder echoes" on "Oh Do I Like To Be Beside The Seaside", or the cathedral organ on "In Memoriam".) Miller's side is sparer – and mostly features solo electric piano, played in a way that reminds us of the jazzier moments in Matching Mole or Soft Machine. LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the best blue-eyed soul of the 70s – material by a really wonderful group with raspy soul leads and full, soaring harmonies! The Mob had a groove that was partly influenced by crossover soul of the late 60s, but which also had a touch of the jazz/rock modes of their generation – tight horns that swing along with the rhythms wonderfully – all in a way that almost links the group to some of the southern party circuit combos, like The Swinging Medallions or Tempests. Lead vocalist Al Herrero has a totally great way of putting over a tune – a style that never tries too hard, and which always keeps things right on the edge without going over the top. This approach is heard especially well on the classic "I Dig Everything About You", but the whole album's great too – overflowing with fresh original tracks that include "Maybe I'll Find A Way", "Lost", "Give It To Me", "Love's Got A Hold On Me", and "For A Little While". LP, Vinyl record album

A cool album – featuring one side of the score to A Fistful Of Dollars and one side of the soundtrack of For A Few Dollars More! The songs are short, but tense – and mix plodding solo instrumentation with some sparer dramatic moments, creating a sublime tension that's unsurpassed in the realm of western scoring! Titles include "A Fistful Of Dollars", "Almost Dead", "The Chase", "The Result", "Without Pity", "Sixty Seconds To What?", "The Watcher Watched", "Vice Of Killing", "The Showdown", "Goodbye Colonel" and "For A Few Dollars More". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic middle period work from drummer Idris Muhammad – a set recorded after his initial run of lean funk recordings for the jazz scene – with a bit more soul in the mix, and definitely a bit of boogie in the groove! Arrangements are by David Matthews – the maestro of the soul-styled charts who first honed his craft with James Brown – and the approach here is tight jazz funk, with both a good ear for the clubs, and some of the more sophisticated styles that the CTI/Kudu crowd could appreciate! There's some vocals at times – sung by Frank Floyd, Ray Simpson, and others – but the instrumental component of the album definitely takes the lead - with percussion by Nicky Marrero alongside Muhammad's tight drums – plus Hiram Bullock on guitar, Cliff Carter on keyboards, David Friedman on vibes, and solos from Ray Davis on alto and Jeremy Steig on flute. Titles include "One With A Star", "Boogie To The Top", "Bread", and "Stick It In Your Face". LP, Vinyl record album

Chef Raekwon cooks up one of finest hip hop albums in history – a standout moment in the Wu Tang canon and the 90s in general! Given Ghostface's presence throughout, the prime RZA production and other top shelf guests, you could almost call this one a Wu Tang Clan album, if not for Raekwon's incredible leadership behind the mic. Guests include Nas, Method Man, Inspektah Deck and more from the Wu Tang family. An absolute standard-bearer! Titles include "Knuckleheadz", "Knowledge God", "Criminology", "Incarcerated Scarfaces", "Guillotine (Swords)", "Glaciers Of Ice", "Ice Cream", and more! LP, Vinyl record album

Another masterpiece of RCA's Stereo Action series – billed on the front cover as "The Sound Your Eyes Can Follow"! Schory certainly gets in the spirit of the session – using a variety of percussion instrumentation to bounce between the right and left channels, coming up with a tweeter-popping batch of tunes that transform typical Broadway numbers into whimsical little instrumentals! Tracks include "El Sombrero", "I Got Rhythm", "Camelot", "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue", "Bali Hai", "Heat Wave",a nd "Show Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that's graced by a fantastic 70s cover by Hipnosis, and one that's got exactly the kind of groovy UK sound that you might expect! Stackridge have this blend of hard rock elements with some of the tighter, more compressed production that was coming into play in British studios – which makes for an especially great, very cool touch on the vocals as they mix with the guitars and larger arrangements – almost a touch of Jeff Lynne or Godley & Creme at times, with some cool harmony vocals at points that really send the record strongly! Titles include "Percy The Penguin", "Marigold Conjunction", "32 West Mall", "Slark", "Let There Be Lids", "Dora The Female Explorer", and "Grande Piano". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice little record by Gabor – one that reproduces the kind of groove he was hitting on his classic Impulse albums, a mix of tripped-out modal jazz with exotic influences, and more than a bit of soul. Gabor's reunited here with his old bandmate Charles Lloyd from Chico Hamilton years – and Charles plays flute on a remake of "Sombrero Sam", one of Szabo's nicest tunes. Anthony Ortega plays flute on a version of "Stormy", and another long track features nice keyboards by Tommy Eyre. Also includes a remake of "Spellbinder", a great little tune! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the freshest groups on the New York scene of the 70s – really cooking on this firey set for Inca Records! There's some slight funky currents that really make the record stand out – a bit of keyboards from Sonny Bravo, and some sweet wah-wah guitar lines that don't seem to be credited on the cover, but which give the whole thing even more of a groove than previous albums! The mix of modern and classic is sublime throughout – handled by key arrangers who include Louie Ramirez, Sonny Bravo, Marty Sheller, and Luiz Perico Ortiz – and the album also features lead vocals from Camilo Azuquita and Jose Alberto, violin from Alberto De La Fe, and drums and timbales from Nicky Marrero. Titles include "Los Campeones De La Salsa", "Xiomara", "Baila Que Baila", "Tina Tinoso", "Si No Eres Tu", "Somos Dos", and "La Mujer Dominicana". LP, Vinyl record album

Genius, pure genius – Trevor Horn's transformation of the overcluttered Yes groove down into a lean, mean bit of bass and funk for the 80s! The whole thing snaps, crackles, and vamps along magnificently – a blueprint for Art Of Noise, and countless other groups to come! The remix is even more in the Horn trickery camp – and is also a bit sparer than the original tune. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Vintage recordings by Texas Troubadours, Roanoke Jug Band, Roanoke Entertainers, Johnnie Autrey, Dixie Playboys, Wanderers Of The Wasteland, Roy Hall & The Blue Ridge Entertainers, and Tommy Magness & The Orange Blossom Boys. LP, Vinyl record album

One of Chet's rarer albums from the Pacific Jazz years – a late 50s set that compiles earlier recordings, making for a whopping 14 tracks in all from Chet's glory days! The core of the album features Chet fronting the original quartet with Russ Freeman on piano, plus some occasional guest guitar work – but a number of tracks also feature appearances by Bill Perkins and Jimmy Guiffre. Tracks are short and very to the point – in that early Baker mode – and titles include "Look For The Silver Lining", "Band Aid", "Pavane", "Winter Wonderland", "Batter Up", "Long Ago & Far Away", "Carson City Stage", "But Not For Me", and "My Funny Valentine". LP, Vinyl record album

11 tracks in all, including "Til I'm Laid To Rest", "Murderer", "Champion", "Not An Easy Road" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Carlos Barberia cooks things up nicely here – thanks to arrangements from Manolo Albo, a triple-sax section, and vocals from Tito Contreras and Willy El Baby! Titles include "Mofoibale Al Tambo", "Para Balboa Me Voy", "Milagro De Borinquen", and "Yo Tengo Un Gozo En El Alma". LP, Vinyl record album

Features vocals from Menique, Tito Contreras, and Willie El Baby – on titles that include "La Negra Tomasa", "Humo Y Espuma", "Rarezas Del Siglo", "Yo Soy Rumbero", "La Siteria", and "Pare Cochero". Features arrangements from Tito Puente, Bebo Valdes, and Rolando Aguila! LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic illustration of the live music tradition on Brazil – one that really arose on records during the 60s, and blossomed strongly on 70s records like this – which feel almost more like an event than a recorded document! The concert features a magnificent meeting of Chico Buarque and Maria Bethania – both very strong talents on their own, balanced in this really great way amidst larger backings from Maestro Gaya – duetting on tunes that really turn into something special from their performance – never a challenge of egos, but instead a wonderful folding of strong ideals. Terra Trio provide the rhythms – and most numbers are Buarque originals – with titles that include "Flor Da Idade", "Vai Levando", "Bem Querer", "Noite Dos Mascarados", "Tanto Mar", "Gota D'Agua", "Com Acucar E Com Afeto", and "Sem Fantasia". LP, Vinyl record album

A contemporary legend in Latin music – one that was done in collaboration with the film of the same name – organized by Ry Cooder, directed by Wim Wenders, and put forth as a reminder to America that Cuban culture was still going strong, even decades after we turned our backs on the nation! The "social club" in the title is well-put – as there's a relaxed, easygoing approach to the music here – warmly collaborative efforts from some of the greats of the scene in Havana – many of whom were able to enjoy renewed global attention, thanks to the efforts of the record and film. The lineup features Ruben Gonzalez on piano, Eliades Ochoa on guitar, Cachaito on bass, and Guajiro on trumpet – plus famous vocal contributions from Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, and Omara Portuondo. Titles include "Chan Chan", "Dos Gardenias", "El Carretero", "Candela", "Viente Anos", "El Cuarto De Tula", "De Camino A La Vereda", "Murmullo", and "Orgullecida". LP, Vinyl record album

The group's led by Elvin Torres, features vocals from Mariano Civico and Wichy Cortez, and saxes from Carlos Carrera and Paco Pepe – on titles that include "Ni Presto Ni Fio", "Ranchito Mio", "Despertar", and "Dale Machete". LP, Vinyl record album

A great album from Blossom Dearie – done with a soaring jazzy groove that makes it one of her best! Blossom's working here with Capitol arranger Jack Marshall – and he gives the album a much more upfront approach than some of Blossom's sparer sides for Verve – a groove, a bounce, and a sweeping sort of sound that works wonderfully with Dearie's sweetly-crafted vocals. We love the sound a lot, and wonder why Blossom hardly ever recorded in this mode again – save, perhaps, for her excellent British sides from the end of the 60s. The album includes a wonderful vocal version of Henry Mancini's "Charade", plus other great cuts that include "Love Is A Necessary Evil", "I Wish You Love", "In Love Again", "Quiet Nights", and "May I Come In". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that blew the world away when it was first released – and still continues to delight all these many years later! Brian Eno had first rose to fame in Roxy Music – where his sonic sensibilities and ear for electronic experimentation really added a lot to their initial albums – and here, on his own, he's in somewhat side-stepped territory – mixing things up in the art/glam generation of Roxy and Bowie, but also already showing a darkness that really sets him apart from the pack! The first three songs alone are a hell of a statement from any musician in the 70s, and the titles alone almost get at their impact – "Needles In The Camel's Eye", "The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch", and "Baby's On Fire" – all songs that offer a rare blend of ferocity and humor that wouldn't emerge elsewhere until the punk movement. Yet Eno's hardly the forerunner of punk, but he's also not glam, metal, or anything else – a supremely impactful artist with this record, completely in his own space – like a rare breed that might include The Velvet Underground, Gram Parsons, or Bowie. Titles include "Needles In The Camel's Eye", "The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch", "Baby's On Fire" "Blank Frank", "Some Of Them Are Old", "Cindy Tells Me", "On Some Faraway Beach", and "Dead Finks Don't Talk". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful work from one of Dizzy's greatest periods – and a record not to pass up! The set features Diz playing 5 old bop tunes, and 4 new tracks from the pen of the great Tom McIntosh, one of the scene's brightest arrangers at the time, and a talent who was looming large, thanks to support from folks like Diz and James Moody. Moody's in the group – blowing tenor with a quintet that includes Kenny Barron on piano, Chris White on bass, and Rudy Collins on drums – and his tone is incredible, with a darkness that he'd rarely had before, and the whole group has a mixture of modern tones and soulful grooves that's beyond compare! Titles include "November Afternoon", "The Cup Bearers", "The Day After", "This Lovely Afternoon", "Good Bait", and "Dizzy Atmosphere". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible session from the legendary Tribe Records scene – an equal effort from leader Doug Hammond and keyboardist David Durrah, who contributes some groundbreaking Fender Rhodes and moog work to the set! Hammond handles drums plus a bit of vocals and synthesizer on the session – working alongside Durrah in a groove that mixes electric and acoustic instrumentation into a totally righteous sound with lots of heavy Afro Jazz leanings. A number of tracks feature great vocals from Hammond – righteous, and with a beautifully soulful message-oriented approach – and a few other tracks, such as the classic "Space I" and "Space II", feature a sparer all-electric sound. The whole thing's wonderful – skittishly rhythmic, warmly flowing, and righteously beautiful. Titles include "Sea Of Nurnen", "Fidalgo Detour", "Reflections", "Space II", and "For Real". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the rarer JBs singles on People, and one that has 2 great tracks that weren't on any of the LPs by them. "Back Stabbers" is their funky cover of the O'Jays' hit, and "JB Shout" is a good instrumental, with a stunning solo by Fred Wesley. 7-inch, Vinyl record

Pretty great sounds from the legendary Antonio Carlos Jobim – an album cut a bit later than his bossa years, but with a darkly sophisticated sound that's pretty darn compelling! The album features larger orchestrations by Claus Ogerman, and in a way, it's similar to the Jobim album on Decca from 1973 (aka Maita Pere) – in that it's got all the simple elements of Jobim's earlier bossa scoring, flushed out into moodier orchestral forms that we'd rank right up there with the modernist work of Gil Evans or Duke Ellington. A few cuts have a breezier sparer sound, and you'll hear English versions of some older bossa tunes. Titles include "Dreamer", "Canta Mais", "Olha Maria", "Wave", "Two Kites", "This Happy Madness", "Song Of The Sabia", "Estrada Do Sol", "Voce Vai Ver", "Off Key", and "Triste". LP, Vinyl record album

A plenty great dancefloor number, done in an extended Miami mode that features plenty of bass and percussion breakdowns in the middle! Lots of sparer passages really make the instrumental tune sparkle! The flipside is a vocal number, and a bit more conventional club. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Proof that the Kenton sound could work in just about any format – as Stan transforms a host of older tunes from his book into a bossa nova groove! The approach is simple, but great – as the rich Kenton tones and colors are infused with some added rhythms laid down by Milt Holland, Larry Bunker, and Frank Guerrero on Latin percussion. Horn players Steve Marcus, Jack Nimitz, Dalton Smith, Conte Candoli, and Gabe Baltazar carve out some great lines in the set – cascading waves of sound that are a wonderful counterpoint to the driving rhythms of the set – almost in a way that recalls the Kenton Latin sides of the 50s, but a bit more subtle. Titles include "Kentonova", "Opus In Chartreuse", "Artistry In Rhythm", "Concerto To End All Concertos", "Loco Nova", "Artistry In Bossa Nova", "Eager Beaver", and "Painted Rhythm". LP, Vinyl record album

Really great work from Kiko Kids Jazz – neither a jazz group, nor a batch of child musicians – but instead an East African collective who have a sound that mixes familiar guitar lines and percussion with a slight bit of mandolin too – all in a mode that's this beautiful blend of the strings of the instruments, the lilting currents of percussion, and the haunting lead vocals of Salim Zahoro – the enigmatic singer who really gives the group a unique flavor! The sound here is maybe in similar territory to highlife – but the tunes are more compact overall, and have a focus that's really carried by Salim's vocals – often with a quality that's relatively lean, especially when you consider that most of these recordings feature the group with almost 20 members in play. The set's the first we've ever seen to bring together these rare singles recorded in Mombasa in the early 60s – and titles include "Sili Sishibi", "Nyerere Karume", "Bahati", "Sauti Yako Tamu", "Nda Kuharashe", "Mineona Ua", "Tanu Imeleta Uhuru", "Tula Ubona", "Lumumba", and "Mpenzi Wanionea". LP, Vinyl record album

Great work from one of the most compelling trombonists of the 50s! Jimmy Knepper is probably best known for his excellent work on some of Charles Mingus' best records – but this set from 1957 shows that Knepper was also an extremely capable (if under-recorded) leader in his own right! The album is one of the rarest Bethlehem sides – and it features Knepper leading a crack group that includes Bill Evans, Gene Quill and drummer Dannie Richmond, making a rare non-Mingus appearance here! The tracks are shortish, and a number of them are standards, but the group swings nicely, and Knepper's tone is nice and edgey on most tracks. Titles include "Avid Admirer", "Close As Pages In A Book", "Ogling Ogre", "Irresistable You", "How High The Moon", "Love Letters" and "Idol Of The Flies". LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible work by one of our favorite 60s groups! If you don't know The Left Banke, their unique style of "baroque rock" is a wonderful mix of groovy organ, electric harpsichord, and swirling strings – all set as instrumentation for some of the tightest, grooviest little songs you'll ever hear. Nearly every track on here is a toe-tapping hummer, and even if you know their big hits like "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina", you'll still find lots of other goodies like "Barterers & Their Wives", "Evening Gown", "Lazy Day", and "What Do You Know". LP, Vinyl record album

A great overview of the modal, spiritual jazz genius of Charles Lloyd on Atlantic Records – performed by a great group with Keith Jarrett on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums! Titles include "Forest Flower Sunrise/Sunset", "Sombrero Sam", "Love In", and "Dream Weaver". LP, Vinyl record album

Mel Torme gives Barbara McNair some mighty big props in the notes to this one – and hearing the set, we certainly have to agree! The record may well be McNair's most dramatic of the 60s – still a mix of vocal and jazz styles with a touch of soul – but also done with a bit more dynamism in the arrangements, and sung in a bold, powerful voice that's quite different from some of her more easy-going Motown recordings of later years. A good portion of the work here is from 60s shows, but Barbara sings the tunes with a personal style that gets past their roots – and backings are by Ralph Carmichael, in a way that's sweet one minute, swinging the next! Titles include "The Best Is Yet To Come", "My Love Is A Wanderer", "The Friendliest Thing", "On The Other Side Of The Tracks", "If Love Ain't There", and "For Lonesome Me". LP, Vinyl record album

You might not be able to understand the lyrics, but you'll definitely be moved by the instant charm of Malaysian rocker Adnan Othman – a singer who works here in a groovy blend of fuzzy guitar, mod rhythms, and all the other great sounds we love from late 60s French and British tracks of the time! In fact, there may be more French elements at work here than some of the more typical Anglo-influenced singers in Southeast Asia at the time – especially those romping rhythms and jangly guitar lines of the yeh-yeh generation, which really get these tunes moving even before Othman comes in with his vocals. By the end of the set, Adnan's expanding his sound a bit – moving from the work with The Rhythmn Boys that takes up most of the collection, to singing with The Wanderers and Flamingoes – all documented nicely in the notes and images in the package. Titles include "Bila Kah Gembira", "Doa Ku", "Bershukor", "Sapu Tangan", "Hari Bahagia", "Berlenggang", "Merana", "Mormah", and "Hidupu Tambah Gembira". LP, Vinyl record album