A warm and sexy score from Stelvio Cipriani – penned with a beautiful blend of woodwinds, keyboards, and sweet bossa-styled grooves! There's a bit more fullness here than in some of Cipriani's more erotic work, and a bit more groove too – although most of the music moves at a wonderfully mellow pace, and just steps around with lots of great jazzy inflections – even though the music itself isn't really jazz! The blend of softness and fullness is wonderful – and the whole thing's easily one of the more captivating scores from Cipriani during these very vital years. CD features 23 tracks from the film – plus notes in English and Italian too! CD

One of the first great Italian cop movies of the 70s – and a superbly-scored film with a really wonderful soundtrack! The DeAngelis brothers are clearly drawing heavily from an American tradition initiated by Lalo Schfrin – using heavy guitar, funky undercurrents, and even some soulfully righteous touches to really set this one apart from other Italian films of the time. Yet the approach here is also a bit more different, touches with some of the darker modes and more redemptive themes of Italian westerns – a sense of suspension and drama that's incredibly powerful, and heard to best effect on the solo instrumental passages – which include guitar by Maurizio and flute by Guido. CD features notes in both English and Italian, great images from the film, and even a number of previously unreleased tunes! 20 tracks in all – with titles that include "Festa A Genova", "Gangster Story", "Chicca", "The Life Of A Policeman", "Il Libanese", "Casa Di Moda", "Rock Al Porto", and "La Storia Comincia". CD

One of the grooviest spaghetti western scores we've ever heard – penned for an early collaboration between Terence Hill and Bud Spencer! The main theme "Trinity" starts off with some cool vocal backing by Alessandro Alessandroni's I Cantori Moderni, singing underneath the English-language lead vocal – and the group also make an appearance on the film's reprise of this song at the end of the movie. Other tracks mix together guitar, organ, whistling, and some other cool sonic elements that give the soundtrack a cool late 60s feel that reminds us more of some lost French gem than an Italian thriller! Titles include "Lazy Cowboy", "Un Cowboy e Due Ragazze", "Di Fronte Ai Killers", "Trinity Con La Stella Di Viceseriffo", and "C'e Un Tempo Per Vincere". This huge 2CD version offers up the most overwhelming batch of music we've ever seen from the movie and the recording sessions – 16 tracks from the film, 11 more alternate tracks, and then 25 more bonus cuts in all! CD

An amazing little soundtrack that's every bit as groovy as its cover – a great blend of 60s mod and Italian jazz, all in support of the skeleton-costumed master thief Kriminal! This CD represents the first full length presentation of the film's soundtrack – a long-overdue masterpiece that steps off the jazzier modes used in Italian films of the early 60s, touched by some of the more dynamic production and arrangement styles that were creeping in later in the decade – all served up over short, sweet tracks that dance with delight and drama throughout! There's even a bit of the British and American spy modes of the time creeping into the mix – no doubt a way of highlighting the "international crime" reputation of lead character Kriminal. CD features a total of 29 tracks in all, with notes in both English and Italian! CD

The complete recordings of a key stretch in the career of European rocker Ricky Shayne – a singer who was born in Cairo, lived in Paris, then made a whole host of important 60s records on the Italian scene! Much of the work here resonates very strongly with English beat group material of the time, but has a slightly different vibe – as when Spanish or South American groups were taking on the same territory – in part because Ricky uses Italian vocals on most numbers, but also because the production styles are different, and do all sorts of key things to the guitars and organ lines that back up the vocals. The set also features some surprising German recordings from 1968 and 1969 too – a total of 30 tracks in all, with the usual very strong Bear Family packaging and detailed notes. Titles include "Mean Woman Blues", "We Say Yeah", "Uno Dei Mods", "When The Girl In Your Arms Is The Girl In Your Heart", "Apron Strings", "Come Moby Dick", "Hello Josephine", "In Chicago", "Le Catene", "Number One", and "Cosa Pensi Di Me". CD

A great little soundtrack that's as hard-hitting as its cover image – filled with a mix of Italian crime/cop modes of the 70s, plus some sweeter, more melodic moments as well! There's a depth here that goes beyond some of the typical crime scores of the period – and although some of the tunes are heavy on wah-wah guitar and horns, others employ more sophisticated orchestrations that come across in a variety of different styles. Some tunes are tense, some are spare and beautiful, and still others have a full-on sense of drama that's really great – all supported by wonderful artwork throughout the whole CD package, plus notes in English and Italian. Most tracks are relatively short, and titles include "Everybody Has To Live", "Elena", "Double Gaming", "A Bursting Punishment", "Violent Life", "A Paper Separe", "The Train Robbery", "The Lady From France", and "Smooth Thrill". Also features a bonus mpeg interview with the director! CD

A lost bit of European funk from the JJ Band – a Belgian combo from the start of the 70s, and one with shared members of the more famous Euro funk groups Chakachas and El Chicles! As with those groups, the style here is nicely offbeat – elements learned from American soul and jazz, but reworked into a cool groove that's not afraid to borrow bits from the UK beat group scene – all wrapped together with soaring horns, funky drums, and plenty of riffing guitar to hold the whole thing together! Vocals are in English throughout – maybe no surprise, as some of the cuts are covers of big Anglo hits, mixed with great original tracks by the group – in a lineup that includes "Love In Them There Hills", "Now I've Found Out", "Leaving You", "Norwegian Wood", "Bip Bip", "To Love Somebody", and "We've Been So Happy/Into A World". CD features bonus tracks "Cousins Jack" and "Nicky's At The PC". CD

A wild mix of free jazz and fuzzy rock – played by a groundbreaking Japanese group who mix flute and saxes with heavy Hammond and plenty of guitar! The album begins with the side-long "Question Mark" – a tune that breaches a really metaphysical question at the start, then really trips out with some free-jamming instrumentation. Other numbers are a bit more straight – and almost show a soul jazz influence at times – and the accented English language vocals almost make the set come off like some of those European post-beat sides that were a jamming mix of funk, soul, and rock. Titles include "Shadows Of The Mind", "Runnin Free", "Love Will Make A Better You", and "Facts About It All". CD

A really rare slice of work from legendary UK singer Petula Clark – an artist you'll know best for her swinging pop records of the 60s, but who also cut a fair bit of music in other European languages too! Petula was huge on our shores with her "Downtown" hit in the mid 60s – but she also quickly too over other audiences too – and recorded not just in English, but in French, German, and Italian – the last of which is the focus here. This set is the first to bring together all of Petula's Italian singles – some of which feature songs that she never even recorded in English – and all of the work has the same bubbly, upbeat vibe that you'll know from her familiar songs – but nicely different here with the change in language, and with some surprising details of the recordings that you'll discover in the notes. The 2CD package has a surprising amount of tracks – 31 tunes in all – and titles include "La Frontiera", "Ciao Ciao", "Darling Cheri", "Se Mi Vuoi Amare", "Chariot", "Invece No", "Pagherai", "Gocce Di Mare", "Cara Velicita", "E Stato Il Vento", "Splendido", "Piccolo Baby", "Settembre Mi Riportera", and "Cosa Cherchi Nel Mondo". CD

The Rock Town Express here comes across with lots of fuzz in the guitars – that later psych influence that was tripping across the African scene in the late 70s, often mixed with a bit of funk – as in some of the hipper Zamrock grooves of the period! The approach here is maybe a bit lighter than some of those, but still equally trippy at the best moments – especially when the keyboards get kind of weird and spacey – even as the whole thing's held together by strong lead vocals, and some captivating English language lyrics! Titles include the upbeat groover "Nobody's Man", which has a mad trumpet part at the start – plus "Spaceville Rape", "Peaceful Solution", "I Want To See You Tonight", and "Shake It On Baby". CD

A really overlooked album from Caetano Veloso – one that's quite different than the more experimental modes of records like his Tropicalia sets, or his Araca Azul record – but with a unique charm that makes it every bit as special as those! The set's quite stripped-down and personal – and really has Veloso getting back to basics – in ways that are a bit like his UK album from 1971, but more upbeat and positive too. The tunes are really thoughtfully presented, with spare backing that puts Veloso's amazing vocals right out front – heard to especially wonderful effect on the album's English-language readings of three late Beatles tracks – "Eleanor Rigby", "For No One", and "Lady Madonna". All titles are great, though – and tunes include "Nicinha", "La Flor De La Canela", "Drume Negrinha", and "Samba E Amor". CD

The groovier side of the mod scene in 60s London – music that's not just rock, but which mixes together jazzy instrumentals, soulful stompers, and other wild sounds – all created by British groups who were bursting with new ideas at the time! The music is as bursting with color as the image on the front cover – and the collection is way different than other mod mixes on the market – with no American soul, less British blues, and plenty of unfamiliar cuts that makes the whole thing a treasure trove in groovy music from the English scene at the time! The package comes with a hefty booklet of notes, tracking the groups and the tunes – a stack of 93 great cuts, with work from Basil Kirchin, Mood Mosaic, The Troggs, Creation, London Studio Group, Kiki Dee, The End, Mike Cotton Sound, The Knack, Des James, Twinkle, Artwoods, Easybeats, Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede, Georgie Fame, Moon's Train, Richard Kent Style, Wynder K Frog, The Syn, Dana Gillespie, Miki Dallon, The Mickey Finn, Stan Butcher, Miss X, Mandy Rice-Davies, The Hi-Fis, Electric Banana, and dozens of others! CD

Two rare albums from Uncle Victor Chukwu – a hell of a guitarist, and the driving force behind both of these Nigerian gems from the late 70s! Akalaka is a record that's maybe higlife in outward appearance, but which has a very different quality overall – in part because the guitar work from Victor Chukwu is so sharp and searing, there's often a bit more edge on some of the tunes than the lighter, brighter notes you'd usually associate with the genre! Plus, the vocals have this nicely echoey vibe – ringing out with a quality that's equally great, whether the lyrics are in English or Igbo – on long titles that include "Akalaka", "Born Throw Away", "Ogbu Mmadu", and "Nwanne Bu Nwanne". Next up is an album that Victor Chukwu did with the Black Irokos group – a set that's even more striking, and almost experimental at times – with all these odd elements played right down near the bottom of the guitar strings, which are then echoed out with effects that make them sound very cool next to the percussion! There's a bit of horns in the mix, but the guitar and offbeat vocals are the main appeal – on the long tracks "Onwu Uwa", "Anya Ukwu", and "Oge Chukwu Ka Nma". CD

A very different picture of the British scene than you might know from the worlds of classic rock and chart hits of the early 70s – as this collection focuses on a really special sort of sound that hints at the bleaker, less satisfying sides of English life – often with a slightly sinister quality that might come as a big surprise! The package is a follow-up to previous gems from compilers Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs – like the compilations English Weather and State Of The Union – and like those, there's a wonderfully unified vision to the whole package – almost a mini-sociology statement, but one that's completely fun – given the fantastic range of music chosen for the album. Tracks are a non-stop surprise all the way through – as glammy bits mix with offbeat pop, catchy prog, and plenty of other tunes that maybe defy any sort of generic description altogether! Titles include "Rod" by Matchbox, "Kill" by Mike McGear, "Part Of The Union" by The Brothers, "The Hertfordshire Rock" by Ricky Wilde, "Sailing" by Sutherland Brothers Band, "And The Fun Goes On" by Lieutenant Pigeon, "War Against War" by Pheon Bear, "Roly Pin" by Roly, "Stardust" by David Essex, "What Ruthy Said" by Cockney Rebel, "Why Am I Waiting" by Robin Goodfellow, "Urban Guerilla" by Hawkwind, "Londonderry" by Phil Cordell, and "Cut Loose" by Stud Leather. CD

A great bit of blue-eyed soul from the German scene of the 60s – music by a group who have a sound that's like some of the best UK soul acts of the same period – definitely rooted in American modes, but also tinged with a bit of 60s mod as well! Vocals are all in English, and tunes are all originals – which really puts these guys ahead of so many of their contemporaries, who were often just covering tunes from the US! There's lots of Detroit soul influence in the arrangements, which are upbeat and swinging – and even the occasional garagey moments still have a way of coming across with a nice current of R&B. Titles include "Save Me Save Me", "See How They Run", "Only With You", "I Didn't Trip You Baby", "You Made A Man Out Of Me", "We Can't Be Friends", "That Ain't Where It's At", and "You Let Me Live". CD

Excellent work from the South African scene of the 80s – music that maybe provides a pathway to the new freedom to come, thanks to a joyous, upbeat sense of spirit – one that's equally wonderful all these many years later! The cuts here are all clubby, but less in the disco mode that you'd guess from the title – as styles include a fair bit of influences from both the New York and European scenes, especially some of those cross-cultural elements that might have been coming out of places like Paris, or the downtown clubs in New York! Vocals are mostly in English, and the tunes are heavy on basslines, beats, and keyboards – but often have a much warmer, more soulful vibe than some of the tinnier South African synth cuts of the period – in a mode that makes the whole thing equally appealing to any fan of 80s soul from around the globe. Titles include "You & Me" by Margino, "Good Vibes" by Hot Soul Singers, "No No Senor" by Brenda & The Big Dudes, "Let's Get It On" by Supa Frika, "Ea Kgiba Ngoale" by Black Fire, "Ambiguously The Same" by Soundburger, "Saturday Night Special" by Varikweru, "Love Satisfaction" by Supa Frika, and "Holiday" by Margino. CD

Some of the coolest work we've ever heard from Polish film composer Andrezj Korzynski – material from an important movie from the early 70s, presented here in two different sections of the soundtrack, which were each made for different chapters of the film! The style is wonderfully hard to peg – a mix of orchestrations, Fender Rhodes, stepping basslines, and these light lyrical passages – often wrapped together, but in ways that are quite unconventional – as exotic currents mix with dramatic ones, but often with a slightly offbeat vibe, as you'd find in the music of Francois De Roubaix! And while not entirely like De Roubaix's material of the time, the approach here is similarly unique – very aware of funky elements, yet not overly dressed in them – and instead just used lightly to augment larger musical passages in this really cool way. Book features notes in English and Polish – and titles include "Oaza/Hamis", "Porwanie", "Chora Nel", "Nowa Oboz", "Stasiu Slon", "Pozar", "Smain", "Fatima", "Skorpion", and "Bitwa". CD

Really rare grooves from an incredibly obscure scene – and that's saying a lot, given how many global sounds have been circulating in recent years! The cuts here represent a unique outpouring of funky club styles from the nation of Surinam – tracks recorded by a handful of groups in the wake of their mid-70s independence – and as filled with as much joy and positive energy as you might imagine from such a political moment! The grooves are surprisingly great – upbeat funk, with lots of jazzy inflections – in a space that's somewhere between the sound of Fantasy Records in the mid 70s, and Capitol soul at the start of the 80s – tight, but never too slick – and as cool as it is classy. Lyrics are in English, and titles include "Sweet Dream" by Alwin Reingoud, "Groovy Weekend" and "Disco Party" by Erwin Bouterse & The Group Roetoe, "Try Try Try" and "You Are Gonna Miss Me" by Solat, "Funkin In Your Mind" and "Going Insane" by Sumy, "Here's To You" by Thunderstorm, and "Waiting For Your Love" by Usje Sukatma. CD

Nothing weird here, just wonderful – a fantastic assortment of music from a time when the British scene was really changing things up – served up in a book-styled package with notes that are as dynamic as its music! The tracks here move way past the obvious – that's an image of John Lennon on the cover, but these aren't the tracks by The Beatles and bigger acts of the time – and instead, the collection really does a great job of digging around all the really wonderful groups that were recording for the bigger British labels of the period, but who were given a lot of freedom to really try out new ideas – both in their music, and in the way the music was recorded. The package is the best we've ever seen to present this slice of English rock – and the set features 122 titles on 5CDs – with work from Ron Geesin, Atlanta Roots, Simon Dupree, The Smoke, John's Children, Ivor Cutler, Tinsel Arcade, The Soft Machine, Canto, New Generation, Medium Rare, 117 Venusian Moonshine, Friday's Chyld, New Generation, Third Ear Band, Wimple Winch, The Deviants, Sorrows, Rupert's People, Orange Bicycle, Shuster, Felius Andromeda, Tomorrow, Crystal Ship, The Moles, and many others – and the set also features 9 never-issued tracks! CD

One of the grooviest records ever from the lovely Astrud Gilberto – a session that beautifully mixes her usual bossa nova with bits of Sunshine Pop and other hip late 60s grooves – all in a mode that really takes off a lot more than other Gilberto albums on Verve! The style here is really wonderful – upbeat, soaring, and joyous on most of the best numbers – a real transformation of Astrud's usual groove, and a great departure from too familiar bossa nova material. The record's been a little bit lost to the shifting sands of time – possibly because it's not as iconic as it might be – but we totally love it, and really consider it one of Gilberto's best moments ever in the studio. Arrangements are by Albert Gorgoni – and titles include a fantastic long jamming version of the track "Beginnings" that sounds completely different from the Chicago hit, and which is a stunning dancefloor groover! The album also includes an English version of "Canto De Osshana" called "Let's Go", plus a groovy uptempo version of the Bee Gee's "Holiday", and the great cut "Love Is Stronger Than We" from the soundtrack to A Man & A Woman. Other tracks include "Think Of Rain", "A Million Miles Away Behind The Door", "Don't Leave Me Baby", and "Summer Sweet (part 1, part 2 to be continued)". CD

Sunshine Pop is a style that's usually associated with the American west coast scene of the 60s – music that sprung up in the wake of The Beach Boys and some of the other upbeat, harmony-heavy groups of the time – yet as you'll see in this set, there was also plenty of sunshine pop coming from the UK too – some by older artists influenced by musical changes, some by very cool English groups, and some by artists who were really taking the sound and spirit in their own direction! The box tracks a great stretch in the UK scene when things were sweet and well-produced, with a really great focus on well-crafted vocals amidst lovely arrangements – never too slick or sleepy in a soft rock way – and often presented with some unique British twists that make the tunes a great change from Sunshine Pop in the US! We love it when the Grapefruit label digs into a genre we never would have explored this deeply – and the 3CD package is a wonder throughout – with 87 tracks in all, alongside a big booklet of notes – presented by a huge array of artists who include Butterscotch, Dawn Chorus, The Mirage, Design, The Zombies, Paul Ryan, Roger Webb Sound, Agincourt, The Flies, Jason Cord, Symbols, Pinkerton's Colours, Tony Rivers & The Castaways, West Coast Consortium, The Seekers, Wilson Malone Voiceband, Orange Bicycle, Ken Smart, Harmony Grass, Episode Six, and many many others! CD

A classic groover from Yasuko Agawa – proof that the Japanese scene had an ear for soul in the years before Monday Michiru! The early 80s set is made up from equal parts jazz, soul, and Brazilian influences – all used nicely with tight, fusiony production that really works nicely with Yasuko's lighter-voiced approach to the lyrics. One of the highlights of the record is a remake of Viva Brasil's "Skindo-Le-Le", a great little groover with a catchy riff that's right in the Gilles P mode – but other tracks are pretty great too, and come together in a mix of different modes that's somewhat similar to an American jazzy soul album from the same time. Most of the arrangements are by keyboardist Naoya Matsuoka – and titles include "She-Senior Dreams", "Cinema", "Island Breeze", "Here & Now", and the very appropriate "Pardon My English". CD

One of the most enigmatic soundtracks we've ever heard from Luis Bacalov – a set that's still as groovy as his work from the 60s, but with a lot more 70s rock touches overall! These elements come through in some of the English language vocals at the start, but then slide into lighter variations on some of the more instrumental tracks – which move between sweet keyboards, flute lines, spare percussion, and a few more guitar-based moments! But there's also quite a sense of variety in the music – as the expanded reissue allows for a number of additional material that further expand past the few core themes, to some moodier, darker moments. Titles include "Like A Play", "Run & Run", "The Summertime Killer", "Lisboa's Tram", and "The House On The Lake". Great LP sleeve edition – with 21 tracks in all! CD

The start of rock and roll was a bit different in the UK than it was over here – still with the requisite inspiration from R&B and other American styles, but also inflected with some elements from the colonial scene, the world of music hall, jazz, and other instrumental styles – in ways that made for a slightly different genesis than you might expect! This well-done 3CD package traces the roots in a really great way – especially on the first CD, which features initial postwar moments of musical inspiration, from artists who include Ray Ellington, Ken Colyer, Alma Cogan, Art Baxter, Marty Wilde & The Wildcats, Tommy Steele, Terry Wayne, Lonnie Donegan, Lita Roza, and even a young Alexis Korner! CD2 has things coming together a bit more with a pop-styled polish – work from Cliff Richard, Vince Taylor, Johnny Kidd, Sally Kelly, and Billy Fury – plus later tracks from a few of the artists on CD1. And CD3 sends it home from the early 60s years right before the British Invasion – lots more from Billy Fury, and other cuts from Screaming Lord Sutch, The Shadows, Outlaws, Tornadoes, Blues Incorporated, and even The Beatles. 72 tracks in all – with notes in English and French! CD

A European disco world that's ripe for rediscovery – one that's much more obscure than better-known club work from Germany, France, and Italy – but which may well be even groovier than the work from those three scenes! The package is a great complement to some of the funk and jazz sets on the Sdban label – and like those, it really digs deep – to uncover a vast array of music from the small nation – which was clearly a hotbed of groovy activity in the 70s, at a level that none of us realized at the time! The tunes here mix together funk and pop, soul and disco – all in ways that criss-cross strongly with more familiar modes of the period – but often have an offbeat quality, and sometimes a surprising sense of humor that comes through in the mostly English lyrics in the lead. 2CD set features 30 tracks – and titles include "Ethereo Disco" by R Roland, "King Kong" by Carl Watson, "Baby Won't You Turn Me On" by Charles Watson, "Sexy" by Lovedream, "La Gomme" by L2, "Cool & Get Up" by Quartz, "I'm Free" by Steve, "Groovin To The Music" by Flame, "Queen To The Pharoah" by Marianne, "Feel So Glad" by Dan Davis, "Ivro De Vie" by Kevin Moraine, "Be My Love Tonight" by CC Band, "Strange How You Move" by Venus, and "Bubblegum" by Bubble. CD

The Apostles are nice and groovy here – working in this offbeat way that combines upbeat cuts with some unusual mellower numbers – but all at a level that really keeps things interesting throughout! These guys can clearly move with the groove and hit some sharp funky instrumentation at all the right moments – but they're also maybe more song-conscious than some of their contemporaries, which really comes through in the way they put together their lyrics! The vocals are in English throughout, but very oddly accented – not just because of the origin of the group, but also because of the way the lead singer has of clipping off some of his words and phrases – an odd style, but one that fits the moody modes of instrumentation. Titles include the sweet chromatic "Disciple Funk" – plus "Banko Woman", "Mr Too Know", "Yours Sincerely", and "Faith Luck Music". CD