A war soundtrack – but with some different touches that make it nicer than you'd think! The music was written by groovy French composer Georges Garvarentz, and performed in the KPM studios by Roland Shaw's orchestra – so despite the fact that the setting of the film is a military thriller, there's also some nice numbers that have kind of a 60s easy feel to them. Tony Allen sings the title song – and other tracks include "Victory Day", "Rendez-vous Of Paulette & Eddie", "Test For Parachute Landing", "Le Bistro De Paulette", and "Elga & Eddie's Farewell". LP, Vinyl record album

We're always big fans of Bev Kelly's work, but this album is way hipper than the usual vocal album of its type from the time – thanks to a sweet little lineup that features Pony Poindexter on alto sax and Flip Nunez on piano! The presence of Poindexter's horn is always a treat, on the handful of smaller group sides he cut from this time – and Nunez's piano lines have an inherently rhythmic groove that comes out even on the mellower numbers – which often are somewhat spacious, but stepping along with a gentle groove underneath Kelly's fantastic vocals. Part of the credit for this groove goes to Johnny Allen, whose work on bass is great – and the group's completed by the drums of Tony Johnson, who's a bit more down in the mix. Titles include "Long Ago & Far Away", "My Foolish Heart", "Night & Day", "Just Friends", "Love Letters", "This Is Always", and "My Funny Valentine". LP, Vinyl record album

A really seminal album from Fela Kuti – searing live set that's presented with drummer Ginger Baker – formerly of Cream, and a huge supporter of Fela's music on the UK scene! Baker had already picked up a lot of Fela's influence in his music – and his presence here made for a key moment of global exposure for the new Afro Funk sound that Fela was creating with his Africa 70 group – playing here as part of the ensemble, which oddly doesn't seem to include Baker at all. That hardly matters, though, as the young Tony Allen is on drums, and the set features great trumpet from Tunde Williams and tenor from Igo Chiko – really wailing alongside Fela on the long tracks "Egbe Me O", "Ye Ye De Smell", "Black Man's Cry", and "Let's Start". LP, Vinyl record album

David Thomas has left Pere Ubu behind – but he's got great help here from The Wooden Birds – a group that features Allen Ravenstine on keyboards and electronics, and Tony Maimone on bass! Thomas also plays a bit of accordion alongside his increasingly wild vocals. LP, Vinyl record album

Really mindblowing work from Fela – a seminal 70s set that may well open up even more than any other album from the time – as the leader and Africa 70 stretch out on a single track that takes up the entire record! "Confusion" is almost proggish at the start – with a long passage that just features drums from Tony Allen and some really offbeat electric piano from Fela – slowly building up a groove out of the darkness, then letting the rest of the group come into the mix – all at a level that definitely sets the tune on fire for the righteous politics of the lyrics! The whole thing's no sloppy, over-extended jam – and instead, the record's a great demonstration of the care and craft that Fela brought to his musical vision at the time. LP, Vinyl record album

A gem of a set from the legendary Fela Kuti – a classic set of Nigerian grooves produced by Ginger Baker – who was already a frequent musical partner of Fela! The set's got a sharp groove right from the start, and possibly some slighty darker elements than some of Kuti's other records of the time – particularly in the way the guitars echo out next to the saxophones, which are often highlighted by the wonderful rhythms of the great Tony Allen! "Monday Morning In Lagos" is a really blue-tinged track that goes beyond the usual Afro Funk of the time – one of those moments when it seems as if there's a surprising link between Fela's Africa 70 group and Sun Ra's Arkestra. "He Miss Road" is a burning, building groove that has the keyboards layered up strongly with the saxes – and "It's No Possible" is a great side-long track with this really wonderful use of electric piano – again sometimes at a level that almost feels Sun Ra-like! LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the more hillbilly-oriented work from the Mar-Vel label – with tracks by Shorty Ashford, Jim Gatlin, Jack Bradshaw, Stony Calhoun, Billy Hall, Bill Lillpop, Basil Smith, Harold Allen & JT Watts, Bob Burton, Tex Justus, and Ronnie Durbin. LP, Vinyl record album