With a name like Home Boy & The Cost Of Living, it's gotta be the 80s – as just a quick listen to this set will attest! The rhythms are heavy in basslines and drum machine modes – with lots of sweet styles that are somewhere between electro/street soul, and a mellower boogie bounce ... (Soul) read moreCD
Sophisticated fusion from Japanese reedman Toshiyuki Honda – a set that's kind of an extension of the straighter sounds he'd crafted a few years before! The album has almost a soundtrack-like feel at times – and comes off like a suite of tracks that blends core combo instrumentation ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
John Lee Hooker —
Chill Out ... CD Pointblank, 1999. Used ...
$0.991.99
A mighty tribute to the music of John Lee Hooker – a set that's got a nice batch of work from his important early years, and is especially heavy on Vee Jay Records material – and one that also includes tracks from his later recordings too! The first three CDs here are the meat of the ... (Blues) read moreCD
Legendary jazz drummer William Hooker is in some pretty heady territory here – improvising alongside two different guitarists, both of whom really push the sound in ways that are different than some of Hooker's other records! Thurston Moore provides plenty of freaky sonic fuzz in the first ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Classic work from this Bay Area combo – with cuts that include "Hesitation Blues", "Don't You Leave Me Here", "Uncle Sam Blues", "How Long Blues", and "Mann's Fate". (Rock) LP, Vinyl record album
A compelling new group from Japan – one who work in a mix of jazzy styles and gentler modes that reminds us a bit of the earliest grooves from Jazztronik! Hotel New Tokyo share a similar love of space and sensitive sounds with Jazztronik mainman Ryo Nozaki, but also know how to kick up a ... (New Grooves) read moreCD
An album with a classic modernist cover image – and one that's also got the same sort of sound to match – brilliant early work from trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, who's really coming into his own as a leader with this date! Freddie's really finding a voice here – a sharper edge than ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Moody genius from Freddie Hubbard – a really unusual album that stands out not only from some of his other Blue Note work of the 60s, but also from most of the rest of his catalog as well! Part of the album's uniqueness is its group – an unusual lineup with McCoy Tyner on piano, Wayne ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Michael Hudson Casanova is a saxophonist, but the sound of the record draws equally strongly from the contributions of Erik Skov's guitar – a player whose sense of color is balanced wonderfully by the sharper edges of the saxophone – then given some nice structure through the work on ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
William Odell Hughes with Wendell Harrison —
Cruisin (Japanese pressing) ... LP Wenha/P-Vine (Japan), 1981. New Copy (reissue)...
$19.9944.99
A really fantastic soul record from the post-Motown underground in Detroit – and one that also has ties to the Tribe Records scene of the 70s! William Odell Hughes is a great soul singer, with an ability to stretch out on a long, sensual line – a quality that's a bit in the territory ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Two great female blues talents, recorded at a time when they were still alive and well in Chicago – Alberta Hunter on vocals, and Lovie Austin on piano! (Blues) CD
Illa J —
No Traffic ... LP BBE (UK), 2023. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ...
$24.9939.99
Illa J seems ready to live up to his long legacy on the Detroit scene here – almost with a vibe that has him refining his sound even more than before, while also opening the door to some of the younger talents on the scene as well! We love the crisply cosmic energy of some of the beats ... (Hip Hop) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Impressions & Jerry Butler —
Vintage Years ... LP Sire, Mid 60s/1976. Near Mint- 2LP Gatefold ...
$4.996.99
Nifty 2LP set that brings together a motherlode of the Impressions' best material from their ABC years – plus some of Jerry Butler's nice solo material for Mercury from the same time, and a few Curtis cuts from the early 70s. Too much to mention here, but titles include "Keep On ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cutout notch, light wear, and lightly bent corners.)
A really lovely debut from Kurena Ishikawa – both a singer and a bassist, and one who works here with a universal appeal that could well have new ears digging her music around the globe! Kurena sings in English and Japanese, with a very personal, down to earth vibe that's really wonderful ... (Vocalists) read moreCD
Mahalia Jackson —
Newport 1958 ... LP Columbia, 1958. Very Good ...
$6.998.99
The tremendous debut of the great Millie Jackson – a new standard-setting deep soul record for the 70s, and one that's quite different than some of Jackson's work from later years! The record's got a heartbreaking southern female soul approach – similar to work by underground favorites ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Wicked early work from Milt Jackson – a record that's got a lot more of an edge than some of his later work with the Modern Jazz Quartet – a near-perfect modernist bop sound that's every bit the best side of Blue Note in the early 50s! The groups here are really great – one a ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A seminal session from 70s French synth maestro Jean-Michel Jarre – a great bit of electronics that was almost France's answer to Kraftwerk at the time! Jarre's style is a bit warmer and more focused on the melody – and the range of keyboards and synthesizers used create a rich ... (Rock) read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Excellent funky jazz from Czechoslovakia – served up in a blistering mix of big band arrangements and electric rock elements! The group's a jazz-rock orchestra – with a hard wailing instrumental sound that's sort of like the Clarke Boland Big Band, mixed with fuzzed-out guitars – ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Nenad Jelic & Laza Ristovski —
Opera ... LP RTB/Soundway (UK), 1985. New Copy (reissue)...
$16.9929.99
A really unique project from the Serbian underground of the 80s – a record that mixes together global elements, electronics, and some other live instrumentation – all in a way that's as tuneful as it is experimental, and which has a nice sort of post-punk sense of freedom throughout! ... (Rock) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Most people know Albert Oehlen as an artist, yet he's also one with a very sensitive ear for music as well – one that comes in pretty darn handy in this set of duets with legendary drummer Sven Ake Johansson! The recording grew out of a meeting in Oehlen's studio, which includes his ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Includes poster and download – in a beautiful hand-pressed cover!)
The overdue debut as a leader for reedman Josh Johnson – once part of our scene here in Chicago, but also a musician with a wide range of experience that includes work with Leon Bridges, Jeff Parker, and Marquis Hill! Yet despite those ties, Josh breaks out here as a musician with a vibe ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Early Detroit soul – the second LP by the great Marv Johnson, one of the first talents to be supervised by a young Berry Gordy! In fact, it could be said that everything Berry put into his work with Marv led to the formation of Motown – as Marv's mixture of smooth vocals and swinging ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono pressing with deep groove. Cover has a split bottom seam with printed clear tape, small top seam split, light surface wear & aging.)
Quincy Jones/Evie Sands/Jeff Bridges —
John & Mary ... LP A&M, Late 60s. Near Mint- ...
$6.999.99
A groovy soundtrack, written for this film that starred Dustin Hoffman and Mia Farrow as two young lovers on a one night stand. The film sports a great vocal theme – "Maybe Tomorrow", sung by Evie Sands in a haunting airy way, and also performed at another point by the Morgan Ames ... (Soundtracks) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(White label stereo promo. Cover has a promo sticker in back.)
A really goofy little record – one that has the great Spike Jones taking on the hi-fi generation – demonstrating the qualities of your system with a huge amount of sound effects mixed with music! (Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album
(Mono Verve Inc pressing with deep groove. Vinyl has light sleeve marks. Cover has a small top seam split with a spot of clear tape.)
Steve Jones —
Mercy ... LP MCA, 1987. Sealed ...
$9.9914.99
Really beautiful work from Joyce – a set that's as lovely as its name, and which contains a wonderful array of work from the less-collected years of her career! Most other Joyce collections focus on her older sides for EMI Brasil, but this set seems to offer more recent recordings – ... (Brazil) read moreCD
An overlooked gem from Finnish hard rock powerhouse Kalavala – renamed here as an Orchestra, but still working with the lean, sharp sound of their previous two albums! There's a nice evolution here from the earlier sound of the Scandia scene – maybe a bit of northern inspiration thrown ... (Rock) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Pure genius from tenor saxophonist Richie Kamuca – a magical exercise in tone and balance, played by Richie with that warm and raspy style that we love so much in his work! Kamuca's probably best known for his bigger group work of the 50s, but on a session like this he steps out as a ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Heavy Japanese pressing, with insert – 35211-28.)
Nice, nice, nice New York hip hop from Keith Murray – his one and only full length on Def Jam! The album features production by Clark Kent, Rockwilder, Pete Rock and others and it's just the kind of no nonsense street hop we love around here. Keith rocks it like Nas in a way – he's ... (Hip Hop) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Ok, so you might be sick of hearing "Stand By Me" over and over on oldies stations, but Ben's one of the greatest soul singers of the 60s, and checking out this greatest hits set, you'll be surprised at how many great songs he sung that you might not know! Nice ones include "That's ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Yellow label stereo pressing with Warner rim logo.)
(Stereo pressing, still sealed, with a cutout hole and lightly bumped corners. Cover has a scrape across the top under the shrink. Shrinkwrap has a light square sticker spot.)
One of those classic late 90s hip hop albums that initially got lost in the shuffle of record label politics and other issues – finally out for the rest of the world in the following century! The record's from a time when King Tee was allied strongly with Dr Dre – who produces part of ... (Hip Hop) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
The second act of The Kinks' entry into the rock opera mode of the early 70s – and in some ways, a much more confident effort than the first! The second act of Preservation is much bleaker than the first in a number of ways – quite possibly the strongest because it seems that Ray ... (Rock) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(2023 pressing – on nice and heavy vinyl and replicating the original artwork!)
One of the oddest of the 70s concept albums by The Kinks – a set of tracks that takes Ray Davies and the band back to the school days of their youth – where they revisit frustrations, anger, and the disgrace in the title! The best moments here are the ones that unlock a bit of the ... (Rock) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(2023 pressing – on nice and heavy vinyl and replicating the original artwork!)
Kinks —
Soap Opera ... LP RCA/BMG, 1975. New Copy Gatefold (reissue)...
$13.9924.99
One of the highest-concept of all 70s Kinks album – a dark exploration of fame and the price of success, done as a mini-rock opera starring Norman & The Starmaker! As with some of these sets, the best tunes here are those that are the most subtle and less dramatic – and which ... (Rock) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(2023 pressing – on nice and heavy vinyl and replicating the original artwork!)
A very cool 12" replica of an early EP from The Kinks – one that features a whole host of tracks from that moment when Ray Davies was really taking off with his songwriting, and giving the group some of the most evocative work of their career! The leadoff cut is "Waterloo ... (Rock) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A record that's sometimes overlooked in the career of the legendary Eartha Kitt – a set that came out on MGM in the early 60s, after Kitt's initial rise to fame on RCA, and before taking off for a long stretch overseas! The set hints at the sound of that era a bit – and arrangements by ... (Vocalists) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Amazing early work from Gladys Knight & The Pips – proof that they already had a great thing going long before their later fame on Motown and Buddah! The tracks here were recorded in the early 60s for the Fury record label – and they show the group coming on strong with a very ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(60th Anniversary Edition – on clear vinyl!)
Kool & The Gang/Eddie Floyd/Moments/Jimmy Briscoe —
Rap N Rhythm With Al Gee ... LP Army Reserve/Narwood, 1974. Very Good+ 2LP Gatefold ...
$9.9924.99
Totally cool! This one's a 2LP set produced by the US Army Reserve – featuring 4 separate radio shows hosted by DJ Al Gee, and featuring interviews with and music by the 4 artists named above. The music on the set is lifted from records from the time by the artists, and is interspersed with ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Fantastic live stuff from the classic early period of Kool & the Gang! The set swings mightily with a sound that's hardly matched on some of their studio albums, and the band proves that their tightness isn't just a batch of studio tricks as they blow away the crowd at the Sex Machine night ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing. Cover has light wear and a bit of seam splitting, but this is a nice copy overall.)
A great and groovy early album from Volker Kriegel – the German guitarist who'd cut some very trippy work for the MPS label in the 70s – but a player who steps out here in a sweet soul jazz mode at the end of the 60s! Volker's still got the same wickedly sharp style on guitar you'd ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Gene Krupa and Gerry Mulligan – hardly a pairing that we would have thought of – but one that works surprisingly well here, and which showcases Mulligan's increasing fascination for larger group settings! The album features Gene on drums with a set of players that include Kai Winding, ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Gene Krupa and Gerry Mulligan – hardly a pairing that we would have thought of – but one that works surprisingly well here, and which showcases Mulligan's increasing fascination for larger group settings! The album features Gene on drums with a set of players that include Kai Winding, ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A tasty early 50s session for Verve – one that has Gene reprising some tunes and a style he used in the Benny Goodman years, but in a way that's more open and laidback – in keeping with Verve's swing-based small group sessions of the time! Even more important, though, is the fact that ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Black label Clef pressing with trumpeter logo and deep groove. Cover looks nice!)
One of the first albums ever by this legendary jazz vocal group! LHR do the incredible – and create a set of vocal renditions of standards by the Basie band, putting jazzy lyrics in to replace the instrumental solos, but keeping the same vibe as the original tracks. The sound and approach ... (Vocalists) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo rainbow label pressing. Cover has stereo stickers.)
Lambert, Hendricks & Ross —
Swingers! ... LP World Pacific, 1958. Near Mint- ...
$11.9919.99
One of the rarest albums ever recorded by the hiply swinging vocal trio of Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert, and Annie Ross – a live session from 1958, with backing by a group that includes Zoot Sims, Russ Freeman, and Jim Hall. The feel here is really wonderful – a lot less hokey than on ... (Vocalists) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(80s Japanese pressing including obi and insert – K18P 9266.)
Espen Larsen —
Hope ... CD
2003. Used ...
$0.994.99
Live performance from the 2002 Stiftelsen Arendal Jazz og Bluesfestival – includes the 28-minute title track and much shorter "Goodbye Song". (Jazz) CD
Neil Larsen —
Jungle Fever ... LP Horizon/A&M, 1978. Near Mint- ...
$6.999.99
A standout set from keyboardist Neil Larsen – a record that crossed over big back in the 70s, and which still sounds pretty darn great in the 21st Century! Larsen's keys here are kind of a more mainstream take on territory Bob James was exploring a few years before – arguably hipper at ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Blue label Horizon pressing. Cover a promo sticker and minimal wear.)
Yusef Lateef —
Lost In Sound ... LP Charlie Parker, 1961. Very Good+ ...
$14.9919.99
Yusef Lateef's one and only album for the Charlie Parker label – cut during a period when he's been making real waves in the jazz scene with work on Prestige and Savoy! The set's a bit more straight ahead than some of Lateef's more exotic sides of the time – focusing on his work on ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Yellow label stereo pressing. Cover has blue tape on the spine.)
A dark title, but some light music overall – a sweetly dreamy score from Angelo Lavagnino, and one that's filled with sweet strings and some weirdly watery sounds! The album starts out with a lovely little melody, but then soon moves into territory that's even more gentle – sometimes ... (Soundtracks) read moreCD
(Out of print.)
Mike Lawrence —
Nightwind ... LP Optimism, 1987. Near Mint- ...
$2.994.99
Features Herbie Hancock and Bob James. (Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album
Peter Leitch on guitar, Neil Swainson on bass, Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums, and special guest John Swana on trumpet and flugelhorn. (Jazz) CD
(Disc has a promo stamp, booklet has a very slight cut corner.)
Deke Leonard —
Kamikaze ... LP United Artists, 1975. Sealed Gatefold ...
$6.999.99
Deke Leonard's really finding himself as a solo artist here – so much so, he begins the album with an instrumental, then continues to push his strengths on that instrument every bit as much as his edgey vocals! As with his previous record, there's some great help here from old bandmates in ... (Rock) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Sealed copy. Cover has a cut corner. Shrink has remnant of a vintage store sticker.)
(Early 80s Japanese pressing – K22P-133 – with obi and insert. Cover has some spotty aging.)
Abbey Lincoln —
Who Used To Dance ... LP Gitanes/Verve (France), 1996. New Copy 2LP ...
$21.9949.99
One of those fantastic later albums that really had Abbey Lincoln finding a whole new sound and spirit – a style that offers up a mature take on all that righteous energy of her younger days – nicely focused, and set up here with some superb arrangements put together by Abbey herself! ... (Vocalists) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Limited edtion with bonus EP. Cover has a hype sticker, light wear, and is bent a bit at the sides.)
Edu Lobo —
Personalidade ... LP Polygram (Brazil), Late 60s/1970s. Near Mint- ...
$11.9914.99
Beautiful work by one of the true geniuses of Brazilian music – an artist whose career started in the bossa nova generation, then stretched out with an amazing sense of scope and sound! All of Edu's early gems are here – in a set list that includes the classic "Upa Neguinho", ... (Brazil) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Early 90s Philips remaster. Cover has light wear, lightly bent corners, and a Polygram sticker in front.)
Manny Lopez —
Cha Cha Pops ... LP RCA/Victor, Late 50s. Near Mint- ...
$4.9914.99
(Mono pressing with deep groove. Cover has light wear.)
Jacques Loussier —
Pulsion ... LP CBS (UK), 1979. Very Good+ ...
$9.9914.99
Really cool later work from Jacques Loussier – not his famous jazz-meets-classical material, but a set that has more freewheeling originals, with just Jacques on piano and Luc Heller on percussion! (Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album
Love —
Da Capo ... LP Elektra, 1967. Near Mint- ...
$29.9934.99
A stunning second album from Love – a set that's still without the fuller orchestrations and baroque touches of Forever Changes – but which already shows the group moving in that direction! The rough, gritty edge of the group is very firmly intact – but they've already got a ... (Rock) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Recent red vinyl limited reissue with bonus colored 7" single.)