A proud 60th anniversary celebration for The Temptations – still going strong as one of the greatest vocal groups in the Motown empire! Over the years, a range of well-chosen younger singers have come in to replace ailing members – but founder Otis Williams is still a key member of the group, and leads the lineup strongly through the kind of material that really sparkles in the well-crafted harmonies of the group! And sure, it's years past the 60s period when the Temps were one of the guiding forces in soul – but they still sound pretty darn essential here, even overshadowing a guest appearance by Smokey Robinson on once track once their vocals let loose. Production is by Narada Michael Walden, Smokey, Ron Tyson, and Williams in collaboration with TC Campbell – on titles that include the great anthem "When We Were Kings", plus "Let It Reign", "Is It Gonna Be Yes Or No", "Time For The People", "I Want It Right Now", and "Elevator Eyes". CD

With Red Holloway on tenor and alto saxophone, Major Holley on bass, John Campbell on piano, and Lewis Nash on drums. CD

A landmark set from the Swedish scene of the early 60s – one that shows just how far that nation's jazzmen had grown during the postwar years! Trombonist Eje Thelin's always one of those talents worth checking out, but we especially like him in these early years – as he's overflowing with fresh new ideas, and really seems to set fire to all around him! At some level, some of the sounds here echo the styles of other American trombone innovators – like JJ Johnson and Curtis Fuller – both particularly good choices for reference here, as a few years earlier, Sweden might have produced a player who was much more in a Bob Brookmeyer or Herbie Harper camp. There's a nice edge to Thelin's playing – and he's definitely not afraid to get a bit dirty with his tone – and other players include Ulf Andersson on tenor, Joel Vandroogenbrock on piano, Roman Dylag on bass, and Run Carlsson on drums. Titles include the originals "Folk Song", "So Far", and "Fast" – plus "Lament" and "It Could Happen To You". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark set from the Swedish scene of the early 60s – one that shows just how far that nation's jazzmen had grown during the postwar years! Trombonist Eje Thelin's always one of those talents worth checking out, but we especially like him in these early years – as he's overflowing with fresh new ideas, and really seems to set fire to all around him! At some level, some of the sounds here echo the styles of other American trombone innovators – like JJ Johnson and Curtis Fuller – both particularly good choices for reference here, as a few years earlier, Sweden might have produced a player who was much more in a Bob Brookmeyer or Herbie Harper camp. There's a nice edge to Thelin's playing – and he's definitely not afraid to get a bit dirty with his tone – and other players include Ulf Andersson on tenor, Joel Vandroogenbrock on piano, Roman Dylag on bass, and Run Carlsson on drums. Titles include the originals "Folk Song", "So Far", and "Fast" – plus "Lament" and "It Could Happen To You". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet bit of pop with lots of hipster late 60s touches – mixed male/female vocals coming together in weird styles on the tracks, in a mode that reminds us a lot of Spanky & Our Gang, and some of the California work under the Curt Boettcher/Millenium camp! The harmonies are nice and sweet – in a style that owes a lot to earlier 60s pop, but which is produced with just the right touches to take that sweetness and give it a dark undercurrent that really makes things interesting. Musical backings are by Al Gorgoni – and titles include "Swinger", "Is Mr Peters Coming", "Boppa Do Down Down", "From A Parachute", "Invisible Man", and "No Return". CD

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

Wolf sounds almost pretty from the first few seconds of the intro, but soon after the soft opening, the gritty beat drops, the gravely/growling vocals kick in, and the wild mix of comical and caustic rhymes let you know good and well that Tyler The Creator's back. Guests include Hodgy Beats, Frank Ocean, Domo Genius, Earl Sweatshirt and other expected heads – plus some wildcards/surprises turns by Laetitia Sadier, Erykah Badu and others. Includes "Wolf", "Jamba" with Hodgy Beats, "Cowboy", "Awkward", "Domo23", "Answer", "Slater" and "48" with Frank Ocean, " "Partyisntover/Campfire/Bimmer" with Frank Ocean & Laetitia Sadier, "Parking Lot" with Mike G & Casey Veggies, "Tamale", "Lone" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Another wonderful CD from Chicago's premier purveyors of creative improvised music. Ken Vandermark and crew cover a lot of ground here, from his angular compositions, to more pastoral pieces and full frontal aural assault. Kent Kessler's muscular bass playing and Tim Daisy's elastic rhythms provide the perfect platform for Vandermark, Jeb Bishop and Dave Rempis to trade lines over. 9 pieces in all: "Cruz Campo", "Staircase", "Plus 5", "Money Down", "Both Sides", "Initials", "Other Cuts", "Long Term Fool" and "Confluence". CD

A rare oddity – and a surprisingly nice record! Sarah Vaughan sings the words of Pope John Paul II – but set to groovy arrangements by Francy Boland, conducted by Lalo Schifrin! This trio of secular talents helps make the album much nicer than you'd expect – an unusual later project from Gigi Campi! LP, Vinyl record album

The debut of a legend – and a record that, we hate to admit it, must have actually had some political and cultural punch at the time – especially as the group had yet to go onto super-stardom, and were here stepping out with a butch camp, all-gay style that still had some power in the immediate post-Stonewall years. The approach here is similar to their later hits, but also nicely grounded in the standard disco mode of the time – thanks to some vocal arrangements from Phil Hurtt, and soulful string and horn backings from Horace Ott. Tracks are long, and as gay as you'd expect – but it's also not like the group's making fun of themselves as much yet either. Titles include "Fire Island", "Village People", "San Francisco", and "In Hollywood". CD

The music of Weather Report, served up by that group's legendary bassist Miroslav Vitous – but at a level that's quite different than the original! There's definitely lots of Weather Report-like elements at play here – not just Miroslav's bass and keyboards, but also the kind of wide-edged approach to fusion that the group had – that way of making your stereo feel as if it was somehow encompassing an extra 90 degrees of the spatial spectrum in the way the instruments come together! Yet the music here is also a lot more freewheeling, too – almost improvisations based on Weather Report themes – stepping "out" much more than that group ever did – save maybe on some of their more brooding live moments – which makes the whole thing way more than just a rehash of older songs. The group's a sextet – with Gary Campbell and Roberto Bonisolo on soprano and tenor saxes, Aydin Esen on keyboards, and both Gerald Cleaver and Nasheet Waits on drums – on titles that include "Birdland Variations", "Pinocchio", "Acrobat Issues", "Morning Lake", "Scarlet Woman Variations", and "Seventh Arrow". CD

Bassist Miroslav Vitous was a key member of the legendary combo Weather Report, so he's obviously a great choice to head a record like this – but the sound of the album's quite different than any easy fusion expectations you might have, put together in ways that definitely showcase the ECM setting of the session! Vitous' basslines are more complicated than ever – those rich, rumbling tones we first came to love many years back – and they're joined here with a core quartet that includes Franco Ambrosetti on trumpet, Gary Campbell on tenor, and Gerald Cleaver on bass – all players with an atmospheric sensibility that matches Miroslav's modes on the record. The lack of any keyboards really makes the album differ from any familiar Weather Report grooves – as does the presence of Michel Portal on guest bass clarinet – so you might do best thinking of the record as more of a "poem" to Weather Report than a straight homage – but a great poem that's filled with all the richest sounds Vitous has to offer. Titles include "Variations On Wayne Shorter", "Variations On Lonely Woman", "Semina", "Surfing With Michel", and "When Dvorak Meets Miles". CD

A fantastic bit of space age funk – and maybe one of the greatest moments ever from Philly Soul maestro Dexter Wansel! The album goes way beyond any of Wansel's other work – and blends his warm soulful styles with some of the more keyboard-oriented funk that was coming out of the Herbie Hancock camp during the mid 70s – a vibe that's every bit as electric and spacey as you'd guess from the cover! Some cuts have a bit more of a soul focus, but others have loads of jazzy keyboards from Dexter – driven on by some great drums at points too. Titles include Wansel's legendary version of "Theme From the Planets" with the much sampled breakbeat at the beginning – plus the funky "Life On Mars", and the tracks "One Million Miles From The Ground", "You Can Be What You Wanna Be", "Prophet Named KG", "Rings Of Saturn", and "Stargazer". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic bit of space age funk – and maybe one of the greatest moments ever from Philly Soul maestro Dexter Wansel! The album goes way beyond any of Wansel's other work – and blends his warm soulful styles with some of the more keyboard-oriented funk that was coming out of the Herbie Hancock camp during the mid 70s – a vibe that's every bit as electric and spacey as you'd guess from the cover! Some cuts have a bit more of a soul focus, but others have loads of jazzy keyboards from Dexter – driven on by some great drums at points too. Titles include Wansel's legendary version of "Theme From the Planets" with the much sampled breakbeat at the beginning – plus the funky "Life On Mars", and the tracks "One Million Miles From The Ground", "You Can Be What You Wanna Be", "Prophet Named KG", "Rings Of Saturn", and "Stargazer". LP, Vinyl record album

Masterpiece records from Philly soul maestro Dexter Wansel – stepping out here in a beautiful blend of jazz and soul! Life On Mars is a fantastic bit of space age funk, easily the best album that Wansel ever recorded – and a sublime blend of Wansel's Philly grooving sensibility with some of the more keyboard-oriented funk that was coming out of the Herbie Hancock camp during the mid 70s. The result is a tight batch of crossover tracks that work well both as jazz funk groovers, and as smoother modern soul tracks. Includes the version of "Theme From the Planets" with the much sampled breakbeat at the beginning – plus lots of other nice ones, including "Life On Mars", "Rings Of Saturn", and "Stargazer". What The World Is Coming To moves the focus back to soul a bit more than Life On Mars – but also keeps in plenty of jazzy touches! Dexter's groove here is similar to the best work he did with other Philly vocalists in the same time – and the set features guest vocals from Jean Carn and Terri Wells, sliding into a warmly soulful realm on the mellower tracks, and stepping out with a fully jazzed up groove on the more upbeat numbers. Titles include "What The World Is Coming To", "Dreams Of Tomorrow", "Holdin On", "Dance With Me Tonight", "Disco Lights", and "Prelude #1". 1978's Voyager is a bit like Dexter's space jazz classic Life On Mars – and with those fat, thumping bass lines, elastic lead guitar, atmospheric soul vocals and loads and loads of keys – spatial work on Rhodes, Moogs and ARPs! It's all done in a funky style not always heard on Philly – plus Dexter arranged and produced just about everything! Tracks include "Solutions", "Voyager", "I'm In Love", "Latin Love", and "I Just Want To Love You". 1979's Time Is Slipping Away is a straighter Philly soul outing than some of Wansel's earlier work – a nice batch from a talent that was responsible for crafting some of the best smooth modern numbers at the end of the 70s! It features the killer cut "The Sweetest Pain" – a smooth stepper with some subtle keyboard grooving behind warm female vocals by Terri Well – plus "Funk Attack", "New Beginning", "One For the Road", "It's Been Cool", and "I'll Never Forget (My Favorite Disco)". CD

2 of Johnny Guitar Watson's best albums ever – back to back on a single CD! First up is Listen – quite possibly the rarest of all Johnny Guitar Watson albums – and his first from the 70s – a mindblowing batch of trippy soul tunes that sounds far different than much of his later work! Johnny's not yet in the funky mode here – and he's working in a very cool flanged-out approach that has his vocals tripping lightly with his guitar – in a spacious soul mode that captures some of the energy of Shuggie Otis at the time. The overall sound is incredibly righteous – and the album's a delight throughout! Titles include "Lovin You", "If I Had The Power", "You Bring Love", "I Get A Feeling", and "You're The Sweetest Thing I've Ever Had". I Don't Want To Be Alone Stranger is sublime mid 70s work from Johnny Guitar Watson – a Bay Area blend of soulful production, jazzy playing, and bits of bluesy phrasing, with a hard-to-match quality that we'd put in the same camp as work by Shuggie Otis from the time. Johnny's vocals and guitar are amazing – very laidback and trippy, without all the silly stuff that you sometimes get on later records. "I Don't Want To Be A Lone Ranger" is a great stepper with a jazzy finish and a really catchy hook – and other good cuts include "Lonely Man's Prayer", "You Make My Heart Want To Sing", "Tripping", "Strong Vibrations", and "It's Way Too Late", a reworking (and real steal) of a song from Jon Lucien's great "Rashieda" album! CD

Sweet 80s fusion from saxophonist Ernie Watts – one of his key albums as a leader in that decade, after countless years as a session player on other folks' records! The album's mostly jazz, but there's also a soul component as well – thanks to vocals from Phil Perry on some of the album's best tracks, used in a way that settles in nicely alongside Watts' work on alto and tenor sax. And despite the date of the album, there's a nice sense of warmth throughout – instrumentation that's never too forced or commercial – handled by other fusion stalwarts like Don Grusin on keyboards, Lee Ritenour on guitar, and Jimmy Johnson on bass. Titles include "Rock Camping", "One Love", "Red Dress", "Looking Glass", "Where The Spirit Lives", and "Music Prayer For Peace". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few albums ever made as a leader by tenorist Don Wilkerson – a hell of a talent who was usually working in the background of the Ray Charles band, but got this chance to step out as a leader for Blue Note – in a session that's also one of the rarest on the label! Brother Don plays lean and mean, in a nice tight group that features Grant Green on guitar, Sonny Clark on piano, and Billy Higgins on drums – all of whom give Wilkerson a freer setting than he ever got working with Ray Charles – a groove that's right in the best soul jazz pocket of early 60s Blue Note! The groove has a freer edge than on some of Wilkerson's few other albums, with touches that almost reach a Latin sound at times – an influence most likely from Green's exotic work on guitar, and Higgins' wonderfully free rhythms. Titles include "Pigeon Peas", "Camp Meetin", "Jeanie Weanie", and "Dem Tamborines". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little soundtrack – as campy as the film it was written for – and a record that's gone on to be one of the touchstone soundtracks of the 60s! Some of the tunes are more straight numbers by Johnny Williams – a bit dreamy, but with some nice easy touches – but the best tunes are the swinging vocal numbers, like "Give A Little More", "Come Live with Me" and "I'll Plant My Own Tree" – which have the fierceness of the film's characters set loose on record (an important thing in the years before you could watch a DVD copy of the movie at home!) Plus, the album starts out with the great monologue which begins the film – kind of a dreamy narrative about the beginning of the downfall that destroyed the life of Neely Bruce – and leads into tracks that include "It's Impossible", "Theme From Valley Of The Dolls", "Jennifer's Recollection", and "Jennifer's French Movie". LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing stuff – one of those records you see for years, and always pass by – but which yields some real surprises once you dig in! Mason Williams is one of the cooler cats in the Warner Brothers stable of the late 60s – but he's also one of the more subtle, too – a folkie at heart, but an artist with a really great sense of wit, warmth, and variety – very much in the best genre-stepping style of the Burbank scene of the time. The set features, of course, Mason's huge hit "Classical Gas" – an instrumental you'll recognize instantly – but next to that is the sublime "Baroque A Nova", a very cool scatting harmony track that's like some lost late 60s Hugo Montenegro gem – and the camp psych gem "The Prince's Panties" – done with all the wit of late 60s Warner – as is the whole album! Other tracks include "Wanderlove", "Overture", "All The Time", and "She's Gone Away". LP, Vinyl record album

At this point in his career, Joe probably was living off of nickels and dimes – despite the fact that he was one of the 70s hipper jazz singers, in a soulful spiritual camp that included vocalists like Andy Bey and Rufus Thomas. This album's a nice mellow effort, taken from a live show at Columbia Radio in 1972. The record features a nice moody reading of Harold Ousley's "Aquarian Melody", plus Horace Silver's "Strollin", Gloria Coleman's "You Make Me Want To Dance", and the groovy "Jazz Ain't Nothin But Soul". LP, Vinyl record album

Great early stuff from Paul Winter – a player who's certainly done some terrible stuff over the years, but who really sounded great in his younger days! Winter was a hip young player coming out of Northwestern U in Chicago, and he had a well-educated, slightly-modern approach to jazz that was still supported by a lot of straight soulful playing. Here, Winter's working with a great group – his sextet that included Jay Cameron on baritone, Dick Whitsell on trumpet, Chuck Israels on bass, and Ben Riley on drums. The set list includes some very hip numbers like "The Sherrif" by Gil Melle, "All Members" by Jimmy Heath, and "With Malice Towards None", "Cupbearers", and "Ally" written by Tom McIntosh. LP, Vinyl record album

A big double-length issue of The Wire – one that offers a very detailed look back at the musical year of 2023 – but from that decidedly leftfield perspective that makes the magazine so great year after year! There's special features that include "Beyond Bandcamp", "Practical Uses For AI", "Modern Antiquarians", and "The Gaza Effect" – plus other more standard features on Fred Frith, Laetitia Sadier, and the usual huge number of reviews – as well as the great Linton Kwesi Johnson on the long-running Invisible Jukebox feature! Magazine

An obscure album by a group from Milwaukee – recorded at a time when that city didn't have much of a scene at all – which left these guys to perform in a coffee house for all the songs on the album! The set's got a vibe that's up-close, and more tightly produced than just a local live record – really great acoustics that bring out the personal, folksy qualities of the songs – which get strong direction from group leader Bill Camplin on vocals and guitar. The overall vibe is maybe more Marin County or Woodstock than any Midwestern music of the period – and titles include "Jesse's Mountain Range", "The Harvest", "Old Man", "Hold On", "Save The Life Of A Simple Child", "Red Velvet", and "Can A Star Disappear". 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

A strong trio set from guitar great Attila Zoller – a set that sometimes has more swing than you might be used to from his records, but which also opens up into some nicely offbeat moments too – thanks in part to the inventive work on drums by Daniel Humair, and the bass of Michael Formanek! Zoller's always been one of the more unique players on his instrument – roots in a modern jazz legacy of the postwar years, but soon following a path that's completely his own – which is definitely the case here, on a record that's the sort that we couldn't imagine coming from anyone else. Titles include "Beam Me Up", "Obsession", "Circle Waltz", "Memories Of Pannonia", and "Sophisticated Lady". CD

A very cool collection – one put together in celebration of the centennial of the Hollywood sign that rises above Sunset Strip in LA – and which brings together a whole host of unusual performances by actors who sing, singers who act, and other artists who made some key contributions to the American film scene in the postwar years! Most of the music here is from the late 40s through 60s period that you'll usually find on Bear Family collections – but there's also some surprises from later years too – a few tracks near the end from later films, thrown in for good measure. As always with Bear Family, the package is as cool as the set list – a set of 61 titles that feature work from Jane Russell, Anthony Perkins, Julie London, Robert Mitchum, Sophia Loren, Henry Manciny, Jayne Mansfield, Telly Savalas, Hugo Montenegro, Twiggy, Richard Chamberlain, Ray Campi, Carl Parkins, Gene Ray, Laurel & Hardy, Gina Lollobridigda, Jerry Lewis, Fred Astaire, Val Kilmer, and dozens of others. CD

With selections by Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, Anne Murray, Glen Campbell, Patsy Cline, Wanda Jackson, Loretta Lynn, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

A massive amount of rare Northern Soul cuts – almost all of them from the Heritage Records empire of producer Jerry Ross! There's plenty of Philly elements in the mix, but the set also shows Jerry's good ear for crossing over into other camps too – and some of these tunes also have a sound that would have been right at home in the Detroit scene of the late 60s. A few numbers are even rock/pop cuts, but still work very well in the context of the soul material – and the CD features 20 titles that include "Green Grow the Lilacs" by The Festivals, "Ain't Nothin' But A House Party" by The Showstoppers, "I Dig Everything About You" by The Mob, "You Gave Me Somebody To Love" by The Dreamlovers, "Loan Shark" by Chapter One, "I Get By Without You" by Kenny Gamble & Tommy Bell, "Baby Show It" by The Festivals, "Bok To Bach" by Father's Angels, "Eeny Meeny" by The Showstoppers, "Pick Up My Toys" by The Devonnes, "I've Been Hurt" by Bill Deal & The Rhondels, and "You Aint' Sayin' Nothin' New" by Virgil Henry. CD

Music from Dee Dee Sharp, Bobby Rydell, Chubby Checker, the Dovells, the Orlons, the Dovells & Jo Ann Campbell. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most obscure Trojan Records collections of the 70s – maybe in part because it looks more like an airline promotional album than it does a collection of rare reggae nuggets! Yet the set is definitely the latter – a Trojan LP that brings together earlier singles recorded by Alvin GG Ranglin at a time when he was a key tastemaker on the Kingston scene – work that's right in the cusp of rocksteady/early reggae work, from a time when Ranglin was really at the top of his game! Tracks include a mix of vocal and instrumentals, solo singers and groups – with titles that include "Joan" by The Tidals, "Marie Song" by Fitz Major, "Sitting On The Sidewalk" by Ansil Linkers, "I Need Your Love" by Gregory Isaacs, "The Same Folks" by Rainy Davis, "Atlantic One" by Ansel Collins, "Hurricane Fifi" by GG Allstars, "Musical Coma" by Ranking Magnum, "Sensuous Woman" by The Maytones, and "Open Up Your Door" by Freddie McKay. This great 2CD set adds in 32 bonus tracks, most on CD for the first time ever – with work from The Starlites, GG Allstars, Keith & Dennis, Meditations, U Roy, Maytones, Vince Powell, Glen Washington, Elpedo & The Marveltones, Austin Campbell, and others – all served up with the usual high quality Doctor Bird notes and production! CD

A very well-titled set – and the best so far in this cutting-edge series! The "beats and pieces" this time around are mostly underground club tracks from the past few years – the cream of the crop of the best bits that hit our New Grooves section, often served up in harder-to-find mixes that represent the best version of the tunes so far! There's no overall stylistic logic to the set, which is what makes it so great – as mellow soul steps into funky club, into spacey fusion, global house, 21st century groove, then dancefloor jazz! 2CD set features 22 tracks that include "Wake Up" by Herbert, "La Malanga (Kenny Dope rmx)" by Bobby Hutcherson, "Fall Into You" by Stateless, "Hot In Here" by Tiga with Jake Shears, "Take Off (Nicola Conte's Campi's Idea version)" by Nathan Haines and Marco Di Marco, "Bukom Mashie" by Oscar Sulley & The Uhuru Dance Band, "Somebody New" by Georg Levin with Clara Hill, "Besides Myself" by DJ Shaheer Williams, "Timbuktu" by Pan African Electronic Beats, "Someone To Love" by Crusho, "Love & War (version)" by Amp Fiddler, "Forty Days" by Billy Brooks, and "Fall Into You" by Stateless. CD

Big deal, indeed – as this excellent set looks at a really under-tapped source of sound library funk from the 70s – a small British company who was turning out glorious grooves in the same classic years as KPM or DeWolfe! The players here are mostly British, and many are more obscure than the other UK sound library musicians who worked for the bigger labels – and often had soundtrack and jazz studio recordings as well. These guys are fresh names, with fresh sounds, and some heavy grooves that have hardly seen the light of day after their limited 70s circulation on non-commercial albums. You've got a taste of a few Weinberger tracks on the Bosworth Library Sessions from Strut many years back – but these are all different grooves, chosen with the great ear for jazzy funk we expect from the Sonorama label. Titles include "Integration" by Trevor Bastow, "Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm" by Reginald Wale, "Over & Out" by Toni Campo, "Big Deal" by Midals Touch, "Santaren" by Vick Flick, "Focus On The Middle East" by Ishfahan Farid, "Knock On Wood" by Sid Dale, "Make No Bones" by Midals Touch, "Centrefold" by Toni Campo, "Soul Punch" by Piet Van Meren, and "Gone Gone Gone" by Reginale Wale. CD

A nicely rootsy set – one that mixes vintage work with new material done in a similar mode – all at a level that criss-crosses between rural blues, trad jazz, and a range of other older styles! The package is maybe less a full compendium of the roots of black music than it is a set that does a good job of changing artists while keeping an eye on a thematic sense of expression – beginning with actual roots, then using roots revival and contemporary material to echo a unified aesthetic! The package has track by track notes, and essays on the music – and the 40 track set features work from Cedric Burnside, Corey Harris & Sharde Thomas, Ranky Tanky, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Lightnin Hopkins, Staple Singers, Bennie Richardson, Golden Eagles, Martin Bogan & Armstrong, Bessie Jones, Skip James, Cephas & Wiggins, Inmate Named Peter, Rev Gary Davis, John Jackson, Odetta, Mississippi John Hurt, Professor Longhair, Campbell Brothers, Dom Flemons, Tuts Washington, and others. CD

Includes performances by Stevie Wonder, Lou Reed, John Mellencamp, Eddie Vedder, Johnny Winter, Ron Wood, George Harrison, The Band, Neil Young, Chrissie Hynde, Willie Nelson, and others. Cassette

Music from Dwain Louis, Darrell Speck, Orbits, Ken Reed, Chuck Mills, Butch St. Clair, Bobbye Shadle, Skip Goodspeed, Harold Lee, Ken & Roy, and more - 30 tracks in all. CD

With selections by Robert Anderson, Delois Barrett Campbell, Irma Gwynn, Gladys Beamon Gregory, and Lucy Smith. LP, Vinyl record album

Featuring tracks by Bobby McFerrin, The Beach Boys, Georgia Satellites, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Starship, John Cougar Mellencamp, and others. Cassette

Featuring tracks by Bobby McFerrin, Beach Boys, Georgia Satellites, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Starship, John Cougar Mellencamp, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first-ever albums issued by Clement Coxsone Dodd on the Kingston scene – and the start of a huge legacy of music to come on his Studio One record label! The work here is already marking new territory for Jamaican music – strongly influenced by American jazz and R&B of the postwar years, but already finding rhythms that would really burst out in the years of ska and rocksteady to come – as horns and vocals mix it up with rhythms that are definitely different than anything that was getting recorded up north in the US! The album mixes great vocal group and solo singers with instrumental acts to – in a set list that includes "Lonely Boy" and "My Heart" by The Charmers, "Campus Hop" and "Rub Up" by Dennis Sindrey, "Freedom" by Clancey Eccles, "I Was Wrong" by Winston Samuels, "I Need A Little Loving" by Owen Gray, "Beeston Street Riff" by Clue J & The Blues Blasters, "Little Willie" by Aubrey Adams & The Blues Blasters, "I Love You" by Zoot Simms & Arthur Robinson, and "I've Done You Wrong" and "Donna" by The Blues Busters. LP, Vinyl record album

A true revolution in Cuban music – not the familiar cha cha and pachanga modes of the pre-Castro years, but instead the huge wave of fresh styles and combinations that sprung up in the years to come! The tracks here aren't the kind of Cuban sounds that are locked in time by the all-star representations of the scene that circle widely – and instead, this music represents the younger, more experimental side of the scene – continually creating new styles and hybrids during the 70s and 80s, even at a time when most of the records weren't making it out to the world at large! Make no mistake, there's certainly elements of older Afro Latin rhythms, and Latin jazz instrumentation – but those are blended with new approaches to rhythm, instrumentation, and the overall role of the musicians and singers – on tracks that will really open up your ears. Gilles Peterson helped put the package together for Soul Jazz – and the whole thing's got the same hybrid hallmarks as his more recent recording forays in Havana – with cuts that include "Cancion Con Todos" by Grupo De Experimentacion Sonora Del Icaic, "Hast Las Cuantas" by Grupo Monumental, "Luna Wanestain" by Emiliano Salvador, "Te Quiero Porque Te Quiero" by Pablo Milanes, "Un Lamento Heco Cancion" by Los Reyes 73, "Dacapo" by Raul Gomez, "La Patica" by Paquito D'Rivera, "Rompe Cocorioco" by Juan Pablo Torres, "Mi Ritmo Caliente" by Juan Formell & Los Van Van, "Chequere Son" by Grupo Irakere, "El Son Del Campeon" by Conjunto Rubavana, and "Con Cadencia Y Con Dulzura" by Las D'Aida. CD

American grooves go Kingston – as the set features a wonderful assortment of funk and soul classics, all delivered here in reggae-styled versions! The approach is similar to the material featured in the older Reggae Disco collection from Soul Jazz – but the mix of modes here is much more expansive – so that you'll get some cuts that are very heavy in a New York clubby groove, while others are much more Jamaican in approach – and have an American soul tune bending down towards more reggae-oriented territory. As always with Soul Jazz, the choice of cuts is wonderful – and includes "Move On Up" by Devon Russell, "Caught You In A Lie" by Derrick Harriott, "Young Hearts Run Free" by Hortense Ellis, "Wanna Be Startin Somethin" by Ed Watson & Brass Circle, "For The Love Of You" by Bill Campbell, "Flight To Jamaica" by Crashers, "Fool's Paradise" by Valerie Harrison, "Reasons" by Seventh Extension, "Don't Let Love Get You Down" by Pete Campbell & The Sunshine Girls, "In The Rain" by Webby Jay, and "Just A Groove" by Glen Adams Affair. CD

American grooves go Kingston – as the set features a wonderful assortment of funk and soul classics, all delivered here in reggae-styled versions! The approach is similar to the material featured in the older Reggae Disco collection from Soul Jazz – but the mix of modes here is much more expansive – so that you'll get some cuts that are very heavy in a New York clubby groove, while others are much more Jamaican in approach – and have an American soul tune bending down towards more reggae-oriented territory. As always with Soul Jazz, the choice of cuts is wonderful – and includes "Move On Up" by Devon Russell, "Caught You In A Lie" by Derrick Harriott, "Young Hearts Run Free" by Hortense Ellis, "Wanna Be Startin Somethin" by Ed Watson & Brass Circle, "For The Love Of You" by Bill Campbell, "Flight To Jamaica" by Crashers, "Fool's Paradise" by Valerie Harrison, "Reasons" by Seventh Extension, "Don't Let Love Get You Down" by Pete Campbell & The Sunshine Girls, "In The Rain" by Webby Jay, and "Just A Groove" by Glen Adams Affair. LP, Vinyl record album

A funky little collection, and one that's got way more going on than just the blues 45s mentioned in the title – as the cuts here include some great instrumentals and soulful work as well! We loved the previous volumes in this series, and this one is every bit as smoking – a mix of cuts we never would have put together ourselves, and which sound stunningly great together – pulled from a time when the worlds of blues, funk, and soul weren't as separate as they became in later years – when fans of a funky 45 would just reach out for anything that was good, greasy, and gritty. Titles include "Harmonica Boogie" by The Confiners, "Hotel Blues" by Eddie Boyd, "For Liz" by Andrew Brown, "All Nite (part 2)" by Big Eddie C Campbell, "You Better Cut That Out" by Eddie Burns, "Sting Ray" by Mack Johnson, "Sunny Side Of Love" by Raful Neal, "Down In The Chile" by The Wild Child, "Rock" by Chuck Higgins, "67 Blues" by Little Willie Pollard, and "You Don't Believe A Word I Say" by Big Daddy Simpson. CD

Music from The Downbeats, The Scamps, The Dappers, Four Dukes, Ted Taylor, Buddy Ace, The Clefs, Chester McDowall, Junior Ryder, Johnny Otis Orchestra, Kenneth Deal, Sonny Woods And His Downbeats, Buddy Ace, and more - 26 tracks in all. CD

A rare Brazilian soundtrack on Som Livre – one that features work recorded for this story set in the 50s, which gives most of the tracks a rock n roll-ish kind of sound, a bit like the jovem guarda work coming out of Brazil in the 60s. A few titles are covers of American pop or rock tunes – and there's a few bossa ditties thrown on the end to even things out a bit. Titles include "Ela E Carioca" by Os Cariocas, "Bata Baby" by Wilson Miranda, "Tete" by Silvinha Telles, "Sereno" by Paulo Molin, "Banho De Lua" by Celly Campello, "Broto Legal" by Sergio Murilo, "Meu Mundo Caiu" by Maysa, and "Quem E?" by Osmar Navarro. LP, Vinyl record album

A collection that's maybe unlike anything we've heard before – music that's acoustic, but groovy – easygoing, yet funky – served up by a really wide range of artists, but presented with a style that's a really unified whole! Just about every artist here is completely obscure, but together they represent this amazing underground that's dedicated to crafting work that goes far beyond the obvious, and way past any sort of cliches you might expect! The vibe is almost as if a bunch of folk and acoustic musicians were hipped to spiritual jazz of the post-Coltrane generation – then set out to make music from their new inspirations – on titles that include "Let Me Ride" by Peter Campbell, "The Ballad Of Ho Chi Minh" by Mike Glick, "Morning Brings The Light" by Grand Union, "Wild Canada" by Dan Donahue, "Song Of Creation" by Chris Rawlings, "Turn On Your Lovelight" by Summer Rain, "Prospect Of Wealth" by Henry Parker, and "Change Is Me Change Is You" by Harris & Crane Band. LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful, simply beautiful! The set features 23 tracks from a range of western-themed movies and TV shows – not really spaghetti westerns, but the sort of popular American work of the 50s and 60s, which often starred bigger names in show business, and which features popular vocal themes interpreted by chart stars of the time. The approach is quite different than most of our other soundtrack selections – a wealth of groovy pop vocal tunes united through western themes, and compiled together in a fantastic package with images from the films. Titles include "Fury" by The Prarie Chiefs, "The Man From Laramie" by Al Martino, "The Ballad Of Cat Ballou" by Nat King Cole & Stubby Kaye, "The Lonely Man" by Tennesse Ernie Ford, "Man With True Grit" by Glen Campbell, "Buttons & Bows" by Bob Hope, "The Wind The Wind" by Dean Martin, "Old Turkey Buzzard" by Jose Feliciano, "Marmalade Molasses & Honey" by Andy Williams, "The Legend Of Wyatt Earp" by Shorty Long, "Stagecoach To Cheyenne" by Wayne Newton, and "Bronco" by Johnny Gregory. CD

Did you think that Star Lord launched into space with only one special mixtape from his mom? Think again – as this second volume serves up an equally great array of pop tracks from the past – a mad musical mixup that made the second Guardians Of The Galaxy film every bit as enjoyable as the first! As before, most of these tracks are familiar, but they really sound great together – and hey, for the youngsters hearing them for the first time, they're a perfect path back to the musical genius of the 70s! Tracks include "Brandy" by Looking Glass, "Mr Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra, "Fox On The Run" by Sweet, "Lake Shore Drive" by Aliotta Hayes Jeremiah, "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac, "Southern Nights" by Glen Campbell, "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison, "Wham Bam Shang A Lang" by Silver, "Surrender" by Cheap Trick, and "Flashlight" by Parliament. Also includes "Guardians Inferno" – the fake disco tune at the end of the film, with vocals by David Hasselhoff! CD

The darker side of the hillbilly sound of the postwar years – a whole host of tracks that deal with inner fears, worldly temptations, and external terrors – served up in a mix of tracks that resonates strongly with the long running Hillbillies In Hell series! The approach here is a bit wider-ranging, and maybe a bit more rough around the edges – but we also appreciate that, and the way the package lets the CD format really open up the amount of tracks that are included – 28 numbers that include "Let Me Go Devil" by Wade Ray, "Spellbound" by Jimmie Holt, "Haunted Blues" by Jimmy Littlejohn, "Haunted House Boogie" by Happy Wilson, "Satan's Daughter" by Gene Davis, "Shudders & Screams" by Ben Colder, "Tennessee Hillbilly Ghost" by Red Folkie, "Spookie Boogie" by Cecil Campbell, "Satan's Chauffeur" by Jimmy Minor, and "Marijuana The Devil's Flower" by Mr Sunshine. CD

The second great batch of tracks from Chilli Funk Records – and like the first, a warm soulful selection of modern house tracks, with plenty of acoustic jazz in the mix, and a really strong sound all the way through. Titles include "Que Calor" by Soul Camp, "Kurage (daylight mix)" by Su Paka Pooh, "Mint Sauce" by East West Connection, "Surgical Spirit" by East West Connection, "Mundo Latino" by Ghetto Swing, "Never Lost Faith (deep mix)" by UC Heights with Anthony Flanagan, "Off & On (bush shuffle mix)" by Lacarno & Burns, "Waiting On The Corner" by Man Alive, and "Loca Blue" by DSL & Nate Juan. CD

Discomix versions of stellar late 70s and early 80s selections from Joe Gibbs & Errol Thompson– giving the extended mix treatment to some stellar singles by a number of great vocalists and augmented by the top notch players! The approach essentially pairs up jams for an extended mix – running 6 to 8 minutes each – and the musician ship is incredible! Players including Sly Dunbar, Lloyd Parks, Ossie Hibbert, Tommy McCook and others. Volume 2 includes "Tribal War/Jah Did It" by George Nooks & Prince Weedy, "Rope In/Love In A Jamdown" by Cornell Campbell & Lui Lepkie, "When I Think Of You" by Ruddy Thomas, "Naggo Morris" by Jah Guide, "Innocent Blood/Rock It Up" by Culture & U-Brown, "Good To Be There/Jah A The Magician" by Chalice & Puddy Roots and more. CD

A killer collection of cuts from a time when the new wave of Jamaican dancehall was really taking off – and a time when the music was shifting from a reworking of older styles and rhythms to a completely new style of expression overall! The package is overflowing with key creations from the Mighty Two team of Joe Gibbs and Errol Thompson – 22 of which appear here on CD for the first time ever, and much of which were issued as rare singles that hardly saw much global circulation back in the day – which makes the whole thing a really crucial grass roots look at the way dancehall was changing on the Kingston scene at the end of the 70s! Many of the singers are working in that mode that would really begin to explode in the 80s, as dancehall reached a larger audience in the US and UK – but the approach here is much more down to earth, and has nice ties to the grittier productions of the dub generation too. The set features 46 tracks in all – with work from Ranking Joe, Errol Scorcher, Cornel Campbell, Kojak & Liza, Welton Irie, Lui Lepke, Barrington Levy, Prince Mohammed, Junior Murvin, Danny Mangaroo, Sammy Dread, Echo Minott, Joe Tex & U Black , Eek A Mouse, and many others! CD

A wonderful follow up to one of our favorite compilations in recent years! London Is The Place For Me compiles the stylistically varied music coming from the emergent West Indian and African communities of 50s and 60s London – far more than just the topical, and often quite whimsical calypso tunes of the era! Calypso is well represented, but the set includes strains of jazz, percussive instrumentals that veer towards native Trinidad and Nigeria, and loads of Caribbean grooves! It's all exceptionally bright – with some lovingly, and knowingly, naive vocals that are as sweet as they are wise. A truly wonderful compilation. Essential! 20 tracks in all: "Calypso Be" by Young Tiger, "Yolanda" by Ambrose Campbell, "Calypso Blues" by Mona Baptiste, "My Wife's Nightie" by Lord Kitchener, "Ominara" by West African Rhythm Brothers, "Gerrard Street" by King Timothy, "ET Mensah's Rolling Ball" by West African Swing Stars, "West Indian Drums" by Russ Henderson, "Gbonimawo" by Rans Boi's Ghana Highlife Band and more! LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite volumes in the London Is The Place For Me collection – and a brilliant batch of work that criss-crosses West African, West Indian, and postwar jazz styles! Most of the recordings here were done under the leadership of Ambrose Adekoya Campbell – a transplant to London from Lagos in the postwar year, and an artist who had a huge influence on the changing rhythms of his scene. Campbell mixed styles of his roots with those of the larger London community around him – in a way that let in more Latin and Caribbean influences to more traditional African styles – often using guitar in a high-life styled way, but also bringing in some key jazz phrasings as well. As usual with Honest Jons' reissues, the notes are quite detailed, but ultimately a bit unspecific about the actual recordings in the set – although we can say that Campbell's on nearly all of these, and they were all done as 50s 78rpm singles for the Melodisc label. Titles include "We Have It In Africa", "Iku Koni Payin", "I Am A Stranger", "Lagos Mambo", "Ela Da Awa", "and "Calabar-O" by West African Rhythm Brothers; "The Wind In A Frolic" and "Unity" by Nigerian Union Rhythm Group; "Ibikunle Alakija" by Ayinde Bakare & His Meranda Orchestra; and "Late Ojo Davies" and "Geneva Conference" by West African Rhythm Stars. LP, Vinyl record album

The first two volumes in this legendary series – back to back in one set! Volume 1 is an amazing collection – and one that really helped completely revise our understanding of Caribbean music! The collection features a fair bit of artists with roots in the West Indies, but who made a huge impact on London's postwar immigrant population – the new rise of non-native residents who were swelling the ranks of the city in the years after the way – bringing with them new cultures, new sounds, and new traditions – with all the requisite ideas and politics that might imply! The work here often has a subtle social agenda – working through themes important to these new Londoners, yet still echoing modes of the homeland as well – often with great musical backings that's heavy on percussion, jazzy instrumentation, and very upbeat rhythms. Titles include "London Is The Place For Me" by Lord Kitchener, "I Was There" by Young Tiger, "Some Girl Something" by The Lion, "No Carnival In Britain" by Mighty Terror, "Jamaica Hurricane" by Lord Beginner, "Birth Of Ghana" by Lord Kitchener, "Victory Test Match" by Lord Beginner, "Spanish Calypso" by The Lion, "Bulldog Don't Bite Me" by Timothy, "My Landlady" by Lord Kitchener, "If You're Not White You're Black" by Lord Kitchener, and "Aguiti" by Lord Invader. Volume 2 compiles the stylistically varied music coming from the emergent West Indian and African communities of 50s and 60s London – far more than just the topical, and often quite whimsical calypso tunes of the era! Calypso is well represented, but the set includes strains of jazz, percussive instrumentals that veer towards native Trinidad and Nigeria, and loads of Caribbean grooves! It's all exceptionally bright – with some lovingly, and knowingly, naive vocals that are as sweet as they are wise. A truly wonderful compilation. Essential! 20 tracks in all: "Calypso Be" by Young Tiger, "Yolanda" by Ambrose Campbell, "Calypso Blues" by Mona Baptiste, "My Wife's Nightie" by Lord Kitchener, "Ominara" by West African Rhythm Brothers, "Gerrard Street" by King Timothy, "ET Mensah's Rolling Ball" by West African Swing Stars, "West Indian Drums" by Russ Henderson, "Gbonimawo" by Rans Boi's Ghana Highlife Band and more! CD

Two groundbreaking collections in one cool package! Volume 3 is one of our favorite volumes in the London Is The Place For Me collection – and a brilliant batch of work that criss-crosses West African, West Indian, and postwar jazz styles! Most of the recordings here were done under the leadership of Ambrose Adekoya Campbell – a transplant to London from Lagos in the postwar year, and an artist who had a huge influence on the changing rhythms of his scene. Campbell mixed styles of his roots with those of the larger London community around him – in a way that let in more Latin and Caribbean influences to more traditional African styles – often using guitar in a high-life styled way, but also bringing in some key jazz phrasings as well. Titles include "We Have It In Africa", "Iku Koni Payin", "I Am A Stranger", "Lagos Mambo", "Ela Da Awa", "and "Calabar-O" by West African Rhythm Brothers; "The Wind In A Frolic" and "Unity" by Nigerian Union Rhythm Group; "Ibikunle Alakija" by Ayinde Bakare & His Meranda Orchestra; and "Late Ojo Davies" and "Geneva Conference" by West African Rhythm Stars. Volume 4 features a collection of incredible work from the postwar, post-colonial years in the UK! As with other volumes, there's an array of Carribean and African influences at work here – often highly rhythmic and performed with lots of percussion, but also served up in ways that has the original modes coming into contact with more contemporary UK styles! Most of the work here was recorded in London, but overflowing with global styles that include mentos, high life, calypso, Latin, and even a bit of jazz – played by an array of artists who all found new means of expression in the capital. Titles include "Mambo Indio" by Shake Keane, "Alphonso In Town" by Lord Kitchener, "Give Her The No 1" by Eric Hayden, "Khauleza" by Dorothy Masuka, "Chicken & Rice" by Young Tiger, "Egyptian Bint Al Cha Cha" by Ginger Johnson, "Don't You Go Away" by Cab Kaye, "Highlife Piccadilly" by The African Messengers, "Darling Don't Say No" by Nat Akins, "African Jazz Cha Cha" by Ginger Johnson, "Piccadilly Folk" by Lord Kitchener, and "Ilu Oyinbo Dara" by Victor Coker. CD

A beautiful set of cool Now Sound grooves, and a compilation that resembles the now-legendary first volume in this cool series! 21 groovy 60's cuts, including "Bloop Bleep" by Gary McFarland, "Soul Lady" by Don Sebesky, "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by Peter Thomas, "Sorry Bout That" by Harold Johnson, "The Look of Love" by Bill Plummer, "Groovy Spirit" by Jackie Mitoo, "Cat Walk" by Peter Moore, and loads more cool tracks with a stripped down vibe, a jazzy twist, and kind of a campy edge. Sexy stuff, and expertly compiled by the Partners in Crime! CD

The great first entry in this overlooked series – a mix of sound library gems and other soulful delights from the European scene – most of which never got release over here on this side of the Atlantic! A good number of tracks are from the Sonoton label archives, and they're sprinkled here with a few other key cuts as well – all in a hip blend of funky fusion, electric jazz, and electronic numbers – most of which are quite different than the usual sound library bag! Titles include "The Camp" and "Don't Play That Game (part 2)" by Klaus Weiss, "Whistler On The Rocks" by Eric Vanell, "Asteroide" by Racines Synthetiques, "Integrate" by Sam Sklair, "Wall Paper Music 6" by Dave Sarkys, "Actual 39" by Georges Rodi, "Iron Wood" by Africna Voodoo, "Pop Boutique" by Fritz Maldener Trio, and "Light & Shadow" by George King Organ Sounds. LP, Vinyl record album

The name Channel One is well known to even the most neophyte aficionados of Jamaican music. One of the cornerstone studios on the Kingston scene, the birthplace of so many classic numbers, any collection is of tracks cut there is going to be heavy. This great set collects both well known hits and some tasty lesser known selections, 36 numbers in all! "I Need A Roof" by the Mighty Diamonds, "Without Love" by Leroy Smart, "CB 200" by Dillinger, "Fade Away" by Junior Byles, "Up Park Camp" by John Holt, "Far East" by Barry Brown, "Things & Time" by the Wailing Souls, "Road Block" by Sammy Dread, "Truly (DJ mix)" by Rankin Trevor, "Dances Are Changes" by Barrington Levy, "Ballistic Affair" by Leroy Smart, "Satisfaction" by John Holt, "Natty Burial" by the Lone Ranger, "Natty Have Credentials" by Don Carlos, "Hard To Confess" by the Tamlins, "MPLA" & "Burial" by Revolutionaries, "I Know Myself" by Ernest Wilson, "Welding" by I Roy, "Smoke Ganja Hard" by Little John, "Babylon" by Sugar Minott, "Worries In The Dance" by Frankie Paul and "Queen Majesty" by Jay & Trevor Rankin. LP, Vinyl record album

Super-heavy reggae from the early days of Trojan Records – something that might come as a surprise if you just look at the image on the cover! That photo is from the cover of the first set on here – the Reggae Reggae collection, issued by Trojan in 1972, and a killer batch of work from producer Alvin GG Ranglin – who also handled all the material on the second collection, Pipeline – as both are presented here, along with a huge amount of bonus tracks, many of which appear on CD for the first time ever! There's a really wonderful overview of sounds and styles here – both vocal and instrumental tracks, and a few key numbers that really show the shifting sounds of reggae as the 70s were moving forward. Doctor Bird present both records in a much richer setting than the original vinyl – really focusing on Ranglin's work in the notes, and adding in 27 bonus tracks as well – for a whopping 51 titles in all. Includes work by Shorty Perry, Lloyd & Carey, GG All stars, Del Williams, The Maytones, Billy Dyce, Gary Ranglin, John Holt, U Roy, Dennis Brown, Bongo Herman, Max Romeo, Dennis Alcapone, The Untouchables, Cat Campbell, The Ethiopians, and others. CD

A set of all vocal tracks from producer Lloydie Slim Smith, all recorded in Jamaica in the mid 70s – and in this very cool style that blends the soulful elements of early rocksteady work with more message-oriented roots material, touched with some of the trippier elements of dub! There's not too much of the latter, but Smith has a way of using some slight echo in ways that wouldn't have been done a few years before – creating a cool sense of space that really makes magic with the wonderful vocals on the tunes! Titles include "Look A Boom" by I Roy, "Judge I O Lord Inri" by Tappa Zukie, "Jah Jah Jahovah" by Ronnie Davis, "Heading For The Mountain" by Cornell Campbell & The Eternals, "Live In Unity" by Ronnie Davis, "Tripe Girl" by The Heptones, and "Why Did You Leave Me To Cry" by Barrington Spence. LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet early 80s tracks from the legendary Bunny Striker Lee – work that shows him stepping effortlessly into the dancehall modes of the time – still a master of rhythm, and of finding the right sort of talents to add to his sound! The package features a nice mix of bigger names and up-and-coming talents – and also includes a number of unissued tracks from Bunny's archives, which fit perfectly alongside the singles in the set – music that's mostly in a late roots-into-dancehall mode, instead of some of the bigger, more commercial work that would circulate under the dancehall name a few years later. As always with Pressure Sounds, the presentation, sound quality, and notes are great – and titles include "Gun Fever" by Frankie Jones, "People Cruel (12" mix)" by Cornell Campbell & Errol Scorcher, "Lay Down Flat" by Devon Edwards, "Revolution Fighters" by Simple Simon, "Too Popular" by Trevor Castell, "Babylon No Badda Haul & Pull Me" by Devon Edwards, "A Place Called Zion" by The Paragons, "The Right Time (12" mix)" by Neville Brown & John Wayne, "Bandulo (12" mix)" by Cornell Campbell & Scientist, "Know Yourself Mankind" by The Paragons, "Lazer Beam (12" mix)" by Don Carlos & Papa Tullo, and "I Man Come Again" by Johnny Clarke. LP, Vinyl record album

Features selections by Willie Mae Ford Smith, Thomas A Dorsey, Delois Barrett Campbell & The Barrett Sisters, The O'Neal Twins, and Zella Jackson Price. LP, Vinyl record album

The very first album from Coxone Dodd – the start of a huge legacy that ran into classic Studio One Records productions of the 60s and 70s, and which started with this initial album of early Jamaican grooves! There's plenty of jazz in the mix here – freer-flowing solos than you'd hear in Jamaican music a few years later – especially on the saxophone lines, which seem to get strong solo space in both the vocal and instrumental cuts! The music has some strong currents of American R&B at points, particularly the jazzier west coast variety – but the rhythms are already clearly the sound of Kingston, and really give the music a unique appeal. Titles include "Campus Hop" by Dennis Sindrey & Rico, "Beeston Street Riff" by Clue J & His Blues Blasters, "I Done You Wrong" by Simms & Robinson, "Freedom" by Clancey Eccles, "Donna" by Blues Busters, "I Was Wrong" by Winston Samuel, "Rub Up" by Dennis Sindrey & City Clickers, and "Little Willie" by Aubrey Adams & Blues Blasters. CD

The very first album from Coxone Dodd – the start of a huge legacy that ran into classic Studio One Records productions of the 60s and 70s, and which started with this initial album of early Jamaican grooves! There's plenty of jazz in the mix here – freer-flowing solos than you'd hear in Jamaican music a few years later – especially on the saxophone lines, which seem to get strong solo space in both the vocal and instrumental cuts! The music has some strong currents of American R&B at points, particularly the jazzier west coast variety – but the rhythms are already clearly the sound of Kingston, and really give the music a unique appeal. Titles include "Campus Hop" by Dennis Sindrey & Rico, "Beeston Street Riff" by Clue J & His Blues Blasters, "I Done You Wrong" by Simms & Robinson, "Freedom" by Clancey Eccles, "Donna" by Blues Busters, "I Was Wrong" by Winston Samuel, "Rub Up" by Dennis Sindrey & City Clickers, and "Little Willie" by Aubrey Adams & Blues Blasters. LP, Vinyl record album

Soul Jazz gets the royal treatment, or should we say gives us the royal treatment! The royal court is in session with a fine, fine batch of today's sound today, another regal dip into the Studio One vaults, showcasing the top male vocal stars in Coxsone Dodd's stable! The set includes both classic cuts and some well chosen lesser known nuggets, and as you now know (or are about to find out) the Soul Jazz selectors pull together a compilation fit for a king! 17 numbers in all, including "I've Got To Make It" by Larry Marshall, "Every Tongue Shall Tell" by Horace Andy, "Well Run Dry" by Alton Ellis, 'Water More Than Flour" by Johnny Osbourne, "I Am The Ruler" by Anthony Rocky Ellis, "Pretty Looks Isn't All" by Cornell Campbell, "Please Be True" by Alexander Henry, "Them A Come" by Burning Spear, "Change Of Plan" by Joe Higgs, "Roots Natty" by Devon Russell, "Be Yourself" by Ken Boothe, "I Shall Be Released" by Freddie McGregor, "Father Will Cut You Off" by Freddie McKay, "Locust" by the Ethiopian, "One, One" by George Philip, "I Don't Want To See You Cry" by John Holt and "Won't You Come Home" by Delroy Wilson. LP, Vinyl record album

Great early work from the legendary Studio One – and some important sounds that really show the link between Jamaican reggae and American soul! The grooves at this point draw heavily from the US soul and R&B that had been hitting Jamaican shores via radio broadcasts from up north – but they also already have a Kingston influence coming heavily into the mix – in the stepping rhythms, bubbling instrumentation, and mellow production of the cuts! The instrumentation here is wonderful – lots of special little touches on organ, tenor, bass, or drums – in that key Studio One way – and the vocals have a flow that really works well with the echoey production on most numbers too. A few tunes show some early social and political themes – and titles include "Stars" by The Eternals, "Joy In The Morning" by The Gaylads, "My Ambition" by Marcia Griffith, "Throw Me Corn" by Larry & Alvin, "Lick It Back" by Duke Morgan, "Pack Up" by The Classics, "Fancy Make Up" by John Holt, "Whisper To Me" by Cecile Campbell, "Hurting Me" by Alton Ellis, "Our Thing" by Jackie Mittoo, and "Row Fisherman Row" by Wailing Souls. LP, Vinyl record album

Pull on your board shorts, fasten those bikinis, and look out for speeding hot rods – we've got a killer batch of movie surf grooves for you soak up! Summer Beach Baby gathers up some of most sun-soaked, cornball fun tunes from the mid 60s surf days – soundtrack cuts featuring cast members and participating music groups from camp classics like Bikini Beach and Dr Goldfoot And The Bikini Machine – and features standout work by a few rock and garage heroes, to boot! 19 tracks in all: "Beach Party" by Frankie Avalon, "Secret Surfin' Spot", "Surfin' And A-Swingin'" by Dick Dale, "Pajama Party" by Annette, "Ride The Wild Surf" by Jan & Dean, "Bikini Drag" by The Pyramids, "Love's A Secret Weapon" by Donna Loren, "Gotcha Where I Want You" by The Exciters, "Surf Party" by The Astronauts, "Girls On The Beach" by The Beach Boys, "Hot Rod Roadster" by The Rip Chords and more! CD

Includes tracks by Al Campbell, Dennis Brown, Admiral Tibett, King Kong, Don Angilo, and Junior Delgado, Johnny Osbourne, Pad Anthony, and Eccleton Jarrett. LP, Vinyl record album

Rare Motown – a treasure trove of obscure singles, b-sides, and collectors favorites from the glory days of this Detroit soul powerhouse! The set was put together for the UK soul market – and as such, it features a wealth of tunes that go beyond the usual Motown collections in the US – really excellent tracks that conjure up a whole new picture of the label that goes way beyond the hits. There's loads of killers on here – the kind of top-shelf numbers that make you say "Hey, why wasn't this one a hit too?" – and titles include "Blackmail" by Bobby Taylor, "California Soul" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, "My Love For You" by Marvin Gaye, "Come See About Me" by Choker Campbell, "Take Me Back" by Freddie Gorman, "You Got Me Hurtin All Over" by Barbara Randolph, "Look What You Done Boy" by The Lollipops, "Tear It On Down" by The Originals, "Red Hot Love" by The Four Tops, "Don't Wanna Play Pyjama Games" by GC Cameron, "Way Over There" by Edwin Starr, "It Happens Every Time" by Barbara McNair, and "If I Could Give You The World" by Hearts Of Stone. 21 tracks in all! CD

An all-star tribute to the great Curtis Mayfield – served up by a generation of artists who were influenced by his classic work! The set mixes soul singers and pop stars – in a really surprising lineup of tracks that includes "The Makings Of You" by Aretha Franklin, "Choice Of Colors" by Gladys Knight, "Gypsy Woman" by Bruce Springsteen, "I'm The One Who Loves You" by Stevie Wonder, "Woman's Got Soul" by BB King, "Keep On Pushin" by Tevin Campbell, "Fool For You" by The Impressions & Bradford Marsalis, "I'm So Proud" by The Isley Brothers, "Look Into Your Heart" by Whitney Houston, "Billy Jack" by Lenny Kravitz, "Amen" by Elton John & The Sounds Of Blackness, "If There's A Hell Below" by Narada Michael Walden, and "Let's Do It Again" by The Repercussions and Curtis Mayfield himself! Cassette

50 Trojan master cuts on 3 CDs – all original, unfettered with deep reggae masters! Many of these 60s & 70s cuts went on to be pop hits in later covers by Blondie, UB40, Selector, Shaggy, and many others, but these reggae, rocksteady, and ska originals are as the title informs, the real deal by the cream of the Trojan roster! 50 cuts on three CDs, including "Cherry Oh, Baby" by Eric Donaldson, "Many Rivers To Cross" by Jimmy Cliff, "I Will Never Let You"by Cornell Campbell, "Wear You To The Ball" by U-Roy, "Mr. Fix It" by Max Romeo, "Sweet Sensation" by the Melodians, "Johnny Too Bad" by the Slickers, "Groovin' Out On Life" by Ken Parker, "Soul Rebel" by Bob Marley & The Wailers, "My Best Girl" & "The Tide Is High" by the Paragons, "Blood & Fire" by Niney the Observer, "Let Your Yeah Be Yeah", "Time Hard" & "Long Shot Kick De Bucket" by The Pioneers, "Red Red Wine" by Tony Tribe, "Crying Over You" & "Everything I Own " by Ken Boothe, "Love Of The Common People" by Nicky Thomas, "Rudy A Message To You" by Dandy Livingstone, "Monkey Man" by the Maytals and tons more! CD

Music from Sweet Honey In The Rock, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Little Richard With Fishbone, Arlo Guthrie, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal, Brian Wilson, and more. CD

A wealth of rare work from Jamaican studio genius Bunny Striker Lee – unusual cuts and unreleased material – all of it a further testament to his legendary ear for a mindblowing sound! These aren't half-baked cuts, or material that deserved to fall to the cutting room floor – because the style is years ahead of its time, and put together with techniques and styles that are still pretty darn revolutionary after all these many years! Some tracks have a strong vocal presence, others are more instrumental – and in addition to Lee's famous flying cymbals technique, there's lots more going on here too – including some totally cool space age sounds. Unreleased tracks include "Bell Road Rock" by The Aggrovators, "Joe Frazier" by Tommy McCook, "Go Jah Jah Pickney" by Linval Thompson, "No Man Is An Island" by Johnny Clarke & Horace Andy, "Bunny Lee & King Tubby's Dubplate Special" by Cornell Campbell, "Life Of My Own" by The Raver, "Look How Long Nyabinghi Calling You" by Linval Thompson, "King Tubby's Vs Arrows Dubplate" by Cornell Campbell, "Jamaican Fruit Of African Roots" by Lennox Brown & Sheila Richards, "No Babylon Shall Escape In This Time" by Johnny Clarke, and "Every Knee Shall Bow" by Ronnie Davis. LP, Vinyl record album

A wealth of rare work from Jamaican studio genius Bunny Striker Lee – unusual cuts and unreleased material – all of it a further testament to his legendary ear for a mindblowing sound! These aren't half-baked cuts, or material that deserved to fall to the cutting room floor – because the style is years ahead of its time, and put together with techniques and styles that are still pretty darn revolutionary after all these many years! Some tracks have a strong vocal presence, others are more instrumental – and in addition to Lee's famous flying cymbals technique, there's lots more going on here too – including some totally cool space age sounds. Unreleased tracks include "Bell Road Rock" by The Aggrovators, "Joe Frazier" by Tommy McCook, "Go Jah Jah Pickney" by Linval Thompson, "No Man Is An Island" by Johnny Clarke & Horace Andy, "Bunny Lee & King Tubby's Dubplate Special" by Cornell Campbell, "Life Of My Own" by The Raver, "Look How Long Nyabinghi Calling You" by Linval Thompson, "King Tubby's Vs Arrows Dubplate" by Cornell Campbell, "Jamaican Fruit Of African Roots" by Lennox Brown & Sheila Richards, "No Babylon Shall Escape In This Time" by Johnny Clarke, and "Every Knee Shall Bow" by Ronnie Davis. LP, Vinyl record album

Two LP set featuring Wanda Jackson, Buck Owens, Rose Maddox, Ferlin Husky, Glen Campbell, Faron Young, and lots more! LP, Vinyl record album