A pair of Verve Classics – back to back on this UK album from the 70s! First up is Jazz Giants 56 – a timeless ensemble session from Verve Records! The feel here is almost in jam session mode, but perhaps a bit tighter – a group of all-star players from the mid-50s, with Lester Young on tenor, Roy Eldridge on trumpet, Vic Dickenson on trombone, Teddy Wilson on piano, and Freddie Green on guitar – a nice mix of generations and styles that really helps open up the sound of the record. Tracks are nice and long, taken in that open, solo-conscious Verve mode – and tunes include "I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan", "This Year's Kisses", "You Can Depend On Me", and "I Didn't Know What Time It Was". Next is Pres & Teddy – a classic session of mellow magic from tenorist Lester Young and pianist Teddy Wilson – both giants of jazz from an earlier generation, but maybe sounding even better here in a sublime Verve Records setting from the 50s! Young's tenor fronts the trio of Wilson – with Gene Ramey on bass and Joe Jones on drums – a somewhat unassuming group, which means that Lester's power really holds sway throughout – these magical solos that so easygoing they almost seem effortless – but which are filled with soul and imagination. Titles include "Love Me Or Leave Me", "All Of Me", "Prisoner Of Love", and "Love Is Here To Stay". LP, Vinyl record album

Astonishing work from Alexis Zoumbas – a Greek musician from the early days of the 78rpm recording, and one who plays violin with the dexterity of Paganini, but in ways that are much more rootsy and fokloric overall! Zoumbas' classic 78s have recently gotten new attention on an excellent compilation – but this set brings together unissued material from the same time – a huge undertaking, given that the recordings are almost 100 years old, but come through with a surprising amount of life here – as Alexis' deft solos on his instrument blend with a bit of percussion, piano, or other instrumentation – depending on the track – all with a timeless vibe that's expanded on nicely in the detailed booklet of notes and photos. Titles include "Selfo", "Arvanitikos", "Skizo Rizo Mor Panaghio", "Epirotiko Moiroloi", "Tsamiko Makedonias", and "Rast Taxim". LP, Vinyl record album

Highly percussive sounds from the kingdom of Buganda – an area that predates the formation of modern day Uganda, and which has an equally ancient sound to its music! The work here is served up on a variety of instruments – percussion, drums, flutes, and stringed instruments – but there seems to be a unifying approach throughout, as all of the cuts have a fast-moving sort of intensity, which also seems to inspire the vocals with similar energy – very different than most other East African work that we've heard, and with a special quality that feels very timeless, even though most of these recordings are from the postwar years! A great discovery of this overlooked tradition – with selections from Albert Bisao Sssempke, Erusana Lutwana & Budo African Music Club, Evaristo Muyinda, Kopolyano Kyobo, Kalema Hassan Katipa, and Semuwemba George William. LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Timeless Legend, Tippie Washington, Forbidden Blackness, Ira Allen, Ti-Fri, Young Underground, Wendy Harris, Spaded Jade, Final Analysis, Capris, Greg Foust, and Brother's Rap. LP, Vinyl record album

Timeless rock & roll from Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – an indie rock pioneer who simply doesn't get the credit she deserves for shattering the glass ceiling for both women and independent souls in mainstream rock in the early 80s! Includes the hit title track and her cool cover of "Crimson & Clover", plus "Nag", "Bits & Pieces", "Be Straight" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Abstract instrumentals by producer/beatmaker Samiyam – on his Stones Throw debut – with just a couple of vocal cuts with guests Jeremiah Jae & Oliver the 2nd, Action Bronson and Earl Sweatshirt! Lots of cool, oddball samples on this one, with a timeless sense of tripped out beatcraft. Good stuff. Tracks include "Taco Chase", "Blowed", "Animals Have Feelings", "Surprise", "Mirror" with Earl Sweatshirt, "One Day", "Paddle Boat", "Ronald", "Gumdrops", "Not A Fluke", "Smoke Break" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A great bit of boogie from the Chicago scene of the early 80s – a set recorded with a nice jazzy bounce overall, and a strong ear for a catchy hook and tight groove – very much in the mode of Omni or Zoom from the same period! Alfonzo's got a warm vocal style that soars up to falsetto one minute, but dips down deep the next – a perfectly fluid approach that works well with the dynamic grooves of the record. And throughout, the whole thing stays nice and cool – nice and classy – never too over the top or schlocky, and in a really timeless way that's held up great for years! Titles include "Gimmie", "Forever", "Only A Winner", "Gimmie Your Love", "Make It Feel Good", "Gotta Be Love", and "Our Love Is For Keeps". LP, Vinyl record album

Michael Henderson definitely does it all here – mixing jazz and soul and funk with his own strong sense of personality – all at a level that's head and shoulders above most of his contemporaries! Henderson's that rare breed in soul music – part of an elite 70s lineup who were rooted in jazz, able to sing soul, and yet still keep all the depth of their roots in their grooves! At times, Henderson sings with the poise and class of a jazz vocalist – at others, he's got the sensual slink of a R&B giant – always amidst instrumentation that goes way past the obvious, and avoids any of the commercial cliches that were plaguing mainstream soul at the time. There's a really timeless feel to the record – the sort that's kept Henderson at the top of the hip soul stacks for years – and titles include "Wait Until The Rain", "In The Summertime", "Riding", "To Be Loved", "I Do It All", and "Playing On The Real Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

Timeless sounds from Lewlewal – a contemporary group from Senegal, and part of a vanishing culture in the city of Podor! The tracks were recorded recently, but have a feel that goes back decades – mostly acoustic instrumentation on percussion and guitar, played with an intimate approach that draws strongly on tradition – but which also allows for some personal inflections from the group members too. The vocals – sung by Demba Doka Barry – are especially nice – with this hauntingly soulful feel that really grabs us, even over the space of a language difference. Titles include "Ziarre", "Patrimonie", "Jaanfa", "Diaraby", "Yela", and "Almamy". LP, Vinyl record album

Mancini's Hollywood material, admittedly with a couple of snoozers, but also it's share of timeless classics, like "Dreamsville" and "Days of Wine & Roses", plus some great versions of other film stuff like "Walk On The Wild Side" and Nino Rota's "Drink More Milk". LP, Vinyl record album

Oregon open the door for a few friends to appear on the album – and in doing so, they also open themselves up as well – in a shifting set of tracks that sometimes features different groupings of the core musicians! The guests here are Bennie Wallace on tenor, Larry Karush on piano, and David Earl Johnson on congas and timbales – and the tracks move from longer to shorter, quintet to duo performances – all showing different aspects of the guitars of Ralph Towner, reeds of Paul McCandless, bass of Glen Moore, and sitar and percussion of Collin Walcott. Karush and Moore duet on piano on the beautiful "Love Over Time", Wallace and Walcott mix sitar and tenor on "First Thing In The Morning" – and other titles include "Time Remembered", "Interstate", "Timeless", "Love Over Time", and "Grazing Dreams". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album by The Tom Tom Club – a group that started out as a side project by Talking Heads members Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz – but which went onto have a surprising life of its own! Like the Talking Heads at the start of the 80s, Tom Tom Club were very open to pulling together rhythms from the soulful underground – bits of Caribbean influence and certainly some sounds from hip hop too – but used in these cool sing-songy tunes that also had ties to the same New York underground scene that gave the world ESG and Liquid Liquid! Yet there's also a nicely complex set of textures, too – thanks to work on the record by Adrian Belew and Steve Stanley – both of whom can balance out funky elements and more interesting textures. The record took off immediately with the track "Genius Of Love" – inspired by hip hop, and respected by that scene too – as was the album's classic "Wordy Rappinghood". The whole thing's great – an excellent document of the moment, but more timeless too – and other titles include "L'Elephant", "As Above So Below", "On On On On", "Lorelei", and "Booming & Zooming". LP, Vinyl record album

A major label set, but one that stays very true to the new ideals that James Blood Ulmer was trying to bring to jazz guitar at the time – a really revolutionary style that moves beyond simple genre conventions, and embraces a whole world of new ideas that would inspire others in the decade to come! Ulmer plays with a real frenzy at points – deep currents that reflect the bluesy touches of his early work in jazz organ combos, but given a skittish energy that reflects his association with the downtown crowd – and which was very fitting for his record with Rough Trade! The core group here features James, bassist Amin Ali, and drummer G Calvin Weston – and some tracks feature work from David Murray on tenor, Oliver Lake on alto, and Olu Dara on trumpet. Titles include "Timeless", "Pleasure Control", "Night Lover", "Happy Time", "Rush Hour", "Stand Up To Yourself", and "High Time". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet collection of early 70s female post folk revival material – independent and long lost recordings from unknowns that used folk and psychedelia as offerings to each singer's idiosyncratic muse – and another incredible collection of deeply sought rare tunes from the Numero Group! Numero really blows us away with their ability to seek out and lovingly reissue lost recordings – and package them in beautiful and insightful collections – and this one is as impressive as anything they've done to date. It features singer songwriters from sleepy midwestern Illinois and Minnesota, to the enlightened, heightened Bay, and points between and beyond – with songs from records originally pressed in runs of 500 to 5000. The music is warm, groovy and sincere as can be, much of it surprisingly timeless! Includes: "A Special Path" by Becky Severson, "Cricket" by Collie Ryan, "Sunlight Shadow" by Linda Rich, "Engram" by Caroline Peyton, "And I A Fairytale Lady" by Carla Sciaky, "Window" by Judy Kelly, "Dedication" by Mary Perrin, "Rain" by Marj Snyder, "Wildman" by Ginny Reilly. LP, Vinyl record album

A rawer Badfinger emerges on Ass – self-produced with a no frills vibe that was apparently something of a controversial way for the boys to record at the time, as Apple initially rejected it. It sounds like great rock & roll to us! Sweet melodies and tuneful songs are still the order of the day, but it isn't sweetened, embellished or lushed up in the studio. Titles include "Apple Of My Eye", "Get Away", "Icicles", "Blind Owl", "I Can Love You", "Timeless" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Timeless metal from Black Sabbath and their first album with Ronnie James Dio out front – and we'd honestly put it up there with the best work of all their careers! No disrespect to Ozzy or the early, definitive era of Black Sabbath – those first few album are among the most influential rock & roll albums of all time and Heaven & Hell doesn't reinvent the wheel – but this new phase with another veteran front man is a masterclass heavy riffs, soaring vocals and hasn't aged a day. Includes the classic title track and "Neon Knights", "Children Of The Sea", "Wishing Well", "Die Young", "Walk Away" and "Lonely Is The Word". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best debuts in the history of hip hop – and one of the most important albums the genre ever produced! Criminal Minded is a landmark for a number of reasons. Among the biggest is, of course, that it was recorded with the late great DJ Scott La Rock – and he was soon to fall prey to the very street violence that BDP documented with such raw brilliance by KRS-One. Importance aside, Criminal Minded is simply a great, timeless record that no true fan of gritty classic hip hop should be without. The track list alone is a full chapter in the hip hop book of legends – with tunes like "Poetry", "Elementary", "South Bronx", "Super-Hoe", "Bridge is Over", and the "P is Free" remix. Also includes "Criminal Minded", "Dope Beat", and "9mm Goes Bang". LP, Vinyl record album

Nothing too sweet or lovely here – given that Eddie Lockjaw Davis plays with a tremendous growl on some of the best tracks on the set! Davis is a hell of a tenorist who found his biggest recording fame in the US during the 50s and 60s – but also cut some wonderful work overseas in the following decade – timeless tracks like these that show that the Lockjaw fire was alive and well, and maybe getting even a bit more room for expression in the freedom of the European scene! The album's simple, but wonderfully powerful – longish, open tracks with lots of room for Eddie to solo in a soulful way – with additional trumpet from Harry Sweets Edison, who's also at the top of his game – and great rhythms from Gerald Wiggins on piano, Major Holley on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums. Titles include "Jim Dawg", "Meditation", "Land Of Dreams", and "The Good Life". LP, Vinyl record album

A sharp Statement Of Intent from DJ Format – whose format is timeless boombap and deft live instrumention on this solid set – which includes collaborations with Sureshot La Lock, Phill Most Chill, Nostalgia 77 and others! Classic craft, though timelessly inventive. The spacey sci fi funk of the Nostalgia 77 collabos is as hot as you'd expect, as are the other diverse sounds at play here. Includes "Staetement Of Intent", "A Quick Ego Trip", "Dope Pusher" and more with Sureshot La Rock, "Spaceship Earth" feat Edan, "Notes In Quotation" and "The Long Goodbye" feat Nostalgia 77 Quintet, "Terror" feat Mr Lif, "Beyond Disco" with The Simonsound, "Live At The Place To Be" with Phill Most Chill & Sureshot La Rock and more. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best ever albums from maestro Will Downing – a smooth rolling, impeccably arranged gem of an album from the early 90s – with a timeless sound that's as fresh and breezy as ever! The production is immaculate, without losing any of the warmth and emotion – a clean approach that's really close to perfect when done by artists as capable as Downing. Will's vocal arrangements are front and center, with gorgeous female backing singers, keys, piano and synth, crisply popping bass, and horn accompaniment. Very nice stuff from an overlooked early 90s contemporary soul cat. Titles include "I'll Wait", "She", "Giving My All To You", "I Try", "For All We Know", "Something's Going On", "Don't Make Me Wait", "I Go Crazy", No Love Intended" and unique take on War's "The World Is A Ghetto". LP, Vinyl record album

Aretha's grooving sweetly on a record that's produced by Luther Vandross – and a damn strong one, too! Aretha wasn't the first, or the last classic soul singer to embrace the modern sounds of the early 80s, but relatively few outshined their younger peers as brilliantly as Aretha does here. She's great on this one! There's plenty of space in the arrangements for Aretha to do her thing – emoting naturally, improvising some of the vocals, and really just knocking it out of the park. Luther's production shows ample love and respect for the previous generation of soul, while still sounding right at home in '82 – with some timeless ballads along with contemporary chart-ready groovers. Titles include "Jump To It", "Love Me Right", "If She Don't Want Your Lovin'", "This Is For Real", "It's Just Your Love", "I Want To Make It Up To You" and "It's Just Your Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

Timeless sounds from this legendary group – a Somalian combo who issued all this music only on cassette back in the 80s, and who finally get a proper presentation in a much more durable format! The music is at once ancient and contemporary – with plenty of echoes of older East African rhythms and unusual horn inflections – blended with occasional use of electric guitars or keyboards, but still at a level that never overwhelms the music in the sort of way that certain West African groups were hitting at the time – which leaves the cuts here nice and raw, and with an energy that really holds up brilliantly after all these years. In addition to providing the first proper format for this work, the set's also got some great notes too – and presents tracks that include "War Wayneey", "Umaayey Iyo Abo", "Wiilkii Aan Ku Waashee", "Shavdan Buulow", "Haba Ley Habaaree", and "Ruuney". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible record from Mississippi Fred McDowell – a set that was issued on a big label, but which has a wonderfully rootsy feel throughout – in a way that almost out-does any work from the indie blues labels of the time! The package was put together by Tommy Couch as an early Malaco production – but it's even more stripped-down than later blues work from those studios – as it features mostly just Fred on vocals and guitar, introducing himself and his music – then working through these incredible inflections on electric guitar, which are as far from the rockish sound of all the crossover blues that McDowell promises he won't provide in the title! Really timeless stuff, brilliantly recorded – with cuts that include "Red Cross Store", "61 Highway", "Jesus Is On The Mainline", "Kokomo Me Baby", and "Good Morning Little School Girl". LP, Vinyl record album

An unimpeachable metal masterpiece! Master Of Puppets is one of the rare cases when the critical and popular consensuses match right up and are both right on the money – there's just no arguing against this being considered one of the greatest, most influential, and surprisingly timeless metal albums of all time – and it built that reputation organically, fan by fan, without radio or music videos to hype it. All the more impressive for the few disarmingly quiet moments and borderline pretty instrumental passages before the heaviness comes walloping back in. All classic songs on this one: "Battery", "Master Of Puppets", "The Thing That Should Not Be", "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", "Disposable Heroes", "Leper Messiah", "Orion" and "Damage, Inc.". LP, Vinyl record album

A heavy, timeless blast from the mighty Motorhead – when they were at the absolute top of their game! Bomber came out a scant few months after their Overkill LP, and the idea was clearly to strike again while tihe iron was hot, and sure enough, it's blistering stuff. Beginning-to-end, just as strong as Ace Of Spades or Overkill, and honestly, we might revisit this one even more than those, as it's just a tad underappreciated. The band's most classic line-up of Lemmy, Eddie Clarke and Philthy Animal Taylor firing on all cylinders. Includes "Don't Men Tell No Tales", "Lawman", "Sweet Revenge", "Sharpshooter", "Stone Dead Forever", "All The Aces", "Talking Head", ""Step Down", "Poison" and "Bomber". LP, Vinyl record album

A full length collabo from Nas & Damien "Jr Gong" Marley – who've worked together in the past on a track two – and overall it's a win that goes well beyond simple hip hop/dancehall fusion! The duo samples Mulatu, collaborate with K'Naan , Dennis Brown, Stephen Marley and others, and bring global dramatic sweep and and timeless funk to Distant Relatives that ends up working better as an eclectic whole than you may have suspected! Titles include "As We Enter", "Tribes At War" feat K'Naan, "Strong Will Continue", "Leaders" feat Stephen Marley, "Count Your Blessings", "Nah Mean", "Patience", "Africa Must Wake Up" feat K'Naan and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Previously unreleased material recorded by Phineas Newborn for Contemporary Records – a set that has him ringing out the notes in ways that are almost earthier than in earlier years – sometimes bluesy, but other times with almost a more traditional approach to the keys! There's a timeless sensibility here that's a bit hard to describe – and you can definitely hear that Phineas has been soaking it up strongly over the years, and works hard to get his musical vision out in the studio – sometimes sacrificing his lighter touch for a stiffer, almost startling approach to the keys. Ray Brown is on bass and Elvin Jones is on drums – and titles include "Sugar Ray", "Ill Wind", "Back Home", "Pamela", "On Green Dolphin Street", and "Love For Sale". LP, Vinyl record album

An Afro-Peruvian classic, and a folkloric set that really gets at the complicated modes of the genre! There's plenty going on here, but always in a relatively organic way – an unusual blend of Spanish-styled guitar, earthy percussion, and vocal passages that evoke styles from island cultures in Cuba, Haiti, and even Cape Verde! The real mystery is how these elements came into play on the other side of South America – and with such a timeless quality that the record feels far more ancient than the 1973 date of its release – maybe like some of the Discos Marcos Pereira releases in Brazil at the same time. Titles include "Cancion Para Ekue", "El Payande", "Negrito De Donde Vienes", "Ollita Noma", "Toro Mata", and "Pobre Negrita". LP, Vinyl record album

Benchmark dub by Scientist – and introduction to a truly pivotal figure! Introducing Scientist is certainly one of his best records – and if it doesn't fully live up to the subtitle boast ("the best dub album in the world"), it really does come pretty darn close! Mixed at master King Tubby's studio and bearing Tubby's influence very strongly, the record features Scientist and dub music at a genuine, pre-Space Invadors peak. A timeless dub masterpiece from one of the greatest ever! Titles include "Steppers", "Rubber Foot", "Elasticated", "Rocking", "Lovers", "Front Line", "Scientific", "Jungle", "Bali-Hi" and "Chemistry". LP, Vinyl record album

A righteous early classic from The Staple Singers – a record that rings out with a spiritual note in the title, but one that also covers a whole host of social issues with its power too! The music has that sublime blend that the group perfected right from the start – almost a secret inclusion of a larger social agenda, presented amidst gospel tunes re-arranged by Pops Staples – plus a few of his own great tracks too. The result is a record of timeless power – different from the group's later 70s soul hits, but equally great – with titles that include "More A Hammer Than A Nail", "Nobody's Fault But Mine", "As A Eagle Stirreth Her Nest", "Do Something For Yourself", and "This Train". LP, Vinyl record album

The self-titled set by Wailing Souls on Studio One! Although we believe this release to have a mid 70s release date, we're not sure definitely sure of the recording dates or anything else about it, really – but we do know that it's a great batch of rootsy reggae that's timeless as can be! Includes "Back Out With It", "Fire Coal Man", "Real Rock", "Hot Rod", "Without You", "Got To Be Cool" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

The great compilation of early 80s singles by Robert Wyatt – as timeless, inventive and awe inspiring as some of his best proper LPs – and essential Wyatt however you want to approach it! Titles include the original "Born Again Wyatt", but there's a number of pretty amazing cover's in the set, including Chic's "At Last I Am Free" and Ivor Cutler's "Grass" – plus "Caimanera", "Strange Fruit", "Stalingrad" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A set with the date of 1956 very firmly planted in the title – but one that's also gone onto become a timeless ensemble session from Verve Records! The feel here is almost in jam session mode, but perhaps a bit tighter – a group of all-star players from the mid-50s, with Lester Young on tenor, Roy Eldridge on trumpet, Vic Dickenson on trombone, Teddy Wilson on piano, and Freddie Green on guitar – a nice mix of generations and styles that really helps open up the sound of the record. Tracks are nice and long, taken in that open, solo-conscious Verve mode – and tunes include "I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan", "This Year's Kisses", "You Can Depend On Me", and "I Didn't Know What Time It Was". LP, Vinyl record album

An early breakthrough for ZZ Top – a raucous hard electric blues rock classic that was popular at the time, if not critically beloved – finally getting its deserved respect nowadays for timeless grit and groove! The opening couple of classics "Waitin' For The Bus" and "Jesus Just Left Chicago" flow one to the other seamlessly and set the mood perfectly, and it's pretty much one great tune after another from there, including "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers", "Master Of Sparks", "Hot, Blue And Righteous", "Move Me On Down The Line", "Precious And Grace", the almighty, never to diminish "La Grange", "Sheik" and "Have You Heard". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful musical discovery that we'd somehow never managed to hear all these years – the debut of (and possibly only album by) Appaloosa, a group who mix together gentle folk and a bit of strings – in a mode that's strongly resonant with some of Tim Hardin or Tim Buckley's best work of the late 60s! As you can guess from the cover image, the group is pretty young – but they work with a timeless quality beyond their years, a mode that mixes guitar, violin, and cello together as the core instrumentation for the tunes – topped by wonderful vocals from singer Robin Batteau, who has one of those "shoulda been huge" voices that really grab you right away. Al Kooper produced and contributed some instrumentation – but in a really subtle way that respects the band's sound strongly – and titles include "Pascal's Paradox", "Now That I Want You", "Georgia Street", "Rosalie", "Rivers Run To The Sea", "Glossolalia", and "Feathers". LP, Vinyl record album

Beat Happening's brilliant second album – raw, beautiful and timeless indie pop at its late 80s best! It's stunning how many underground rock bands still try their damnedest to sound like Beat Happening – but Calvin, Heather and Bret make it sound easy! It's certainly more full sounding than their debut, but it's still got a perfect less is more. Raw drums, barely chiming guitars and plaintive voices elevate naive little gems to the the avant pop heavens. Includes "Indian Summer", "Bewitched", "Hangman", "Crashing Through", "Cat Walk", "Midnight A Go-Go", and "The This Many Boyfriends Club". LP, Vinyl record album