A richly-detailed look at England's Ambassador magazine of the postwar years – a publication devoted to promoting the rise of the British cloth industry, but which had an approach that made it much more like a fashion magazine overall! The book is lovely – heavy, oversize, and overflowing with photographs, images from the publication, and other ephemera – all brought together as part of an exhibition at London's V&A museum. Obviously, the publication was not one that we saw on our shores – but the book brings forth this crucial addition to magazine culture in all its glory – in a heavy hardcover book that's 240 pages in length, with images throughout. Book
One of two albums produced by Rudy Ray Moore – the other being The Sensuous Black Man – which define the art of making love from a gender-based perspective. Like Rudy's Sensuous Black Man, The Madam's version features one side of "instructional" dialogue – very XXX-rated, in bitchy mode that verbally orders a man to make love to a woman properly. Side two features "Rap Session", kind of a Q&A session in which The Madam lays down a bit more knowledge about sex over some bluesy music. There's plenty of bits on here that have been sampled over the years – and the record was a big one in the early mixes of the Chicago house scene. LP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing. Cover has some light wear and a small bit of splitting on the spine – but this is a very nice copy.)
4
Specials, Selecter, Madness, English Beat, etc —
Dance Craze ... LP 2 Tone/Chrysalis, 1981. Near Mint- ...
$24.99
A big moment for the British ska scene – and the soundtrack to a film that featured live work by nearly all of the big names at the time! The album features live work by artists who owed a lot to 2 Tone, but who'd even moved onto bigger fame by the film – but who are working here in a nice back-to-basics mode – and titles include live versions of "Concrete Jungle", "Man At C&A", and "Nite Klub" by The Specials; "Mirror In The Bathroom", "Big Shot", and "Ranking Full Stop" by The English Beat; "Inner London Violence" and "Lip Up Fatty" by Bad Manners; "Easy Life" by The Bodysnatchers; and "Razor Blade Alley" and "One Step Beyond" by Madness. LP, Vinyl record album
(US pressing. Cover has a promo stamp. A nice copy.)
5
Circle —
Paris Concert ... LP ECM, 1971. Near Mint- 2LP Gatefold ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
An essential 2LP set that's just about the only vinyl release you can find that documents the work of the legendary (and short-lived) Circle group – an important avant jazz combo that featured Anthony Braxton, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, and Barry Altschul. The record captures a Parisian concert from 1971, and the band runs through a great reading of Wayne Shorter's "Nefertitti", plus original material like "Duet", "Toy Room – Q&A", "Song For The Newborn", and "Lookout Farm". LP, Vinyl record album
(US pressing. Cover has a mark from sticker removal and light wear.)
6
Love Childs Afro Cuban Blues Band —
Out Among 'Em ... LP Roulette, 1975. Very Good ...
Out Of Stock
A sweet set of 70s Latin Disco – less Afro-Cuban than you might expect, but a great illustration of the way that older Latin modes had filtered down to more mainstream dancefloors at the time! There's definitely still some Latin elements in the mix – but the set's also got Michael Zager arranging and producing, and giving the whole thing more of a disco focus overall – in ways that criss cross nicely throughout the record. Titles include a sweet clubby cover of Joe Cuba's "Bang Bang", a remake of Sly Stone's "Life & Death In G&A", and the titles "Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys", "Once You Get Started", and "Get Dancin". LP, Vinyl record album