Early greatness from Lorez Alexandria – and proof that she was a singer who could handle a tune like nobody else! At one level, the set appears to be a simple batch of standards, given a slight jazz twist – but as usual for the great one, Lorez manages to inflect each and every note ... (Vocalists) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A classic album from one of our favorite jazz singers ever – a set that really set a whole new standard for a generation! Even at this early stage, Lorez Alexandria was an amazingly accomplished vocalist – as you'll hear on this excellent selection of tunes from the Lester Young ... (Vocalists) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Perhaps one of the straightest albums that Lorez ever cut – but still pretty darn great! She's got a unique voice that's capable of being fairly smooth and mainstream, yet still manages to hit these wonderful soulful passages that transform any kind of material and makes it her own. That's ... (Vocalists) read moreCD
Incredible early work from Lorez Alexandria – the kind of album that instantly set her apart from other singers of the 50s! Lorez is working here with sublime small combo backings from the group of pianist King Fleming – an unusual Chicago ensemble that includes Wilber Wynn on guitar, ... (Vocalists) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Black label pressing with deep groove. Vinyl plays with pops and crackle throughout. Cover has some ringwear, aging, split top seam, and split spine.)
Incredible early work from Lorez Alexandria – the kind of albums that instantly set her apart from other singers of the 50s, reissued here properly for the first time in years! On This Is Lorez, the singer is working with sublime small combo backings from the group of pianist King Fleming ... (Vocalists) read moreCD
Asian American Jazz Trio —
Moon Over The World ... CD Paddle Wheel/King (Japan), 1993. Used ...
Out Of Stock
Features Ted Lo on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Akira Tana on drums. Tracks include "Jewels Eyes", "Vacation Of Love", "Sofflee", "Condor Man", and "Three Views Of A Secret". (Jazz) CD
A set recorded in Tokyo, but one that has the great Chet Baker working with players from the Dutch and American scenes – all coming together in a quartet session that's maybe one of the strongest records from Chet's later years! The material was recorded live – and Chet's got a ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
2 rolling R&B cuts from Hank Ballard. Both "Annie" numbers are raw driving R&B number that fits Hank's shouting style nicely! (Funky 45's) 7-inch, Vinyl record
A pretty strong overview of Hank's fiercer R&B tunes for King Records – most of them cut at the end of the 50s, with that mean and lean style that actually could make Hank sound pretty darn scary! Titles include "It's Love Baby", "Sugaree", "Annie Had A Baby" ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Hank Ballard —
Jumpin' ... LP King, 1963. Near Mint- ...
Out Of Stock
Late work from Hank Ballard's first run at King Records – some rocking soul tracks from the early 60s, with the gritty edge that we've come to expect from Hank. Titles include "Get Ready", "I'm Learning", "What's Your Name", "Excuse Me (I Think I've Got A ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Sexy is right! Hank may have been a half-pint wonder, but he had a voice that was like no other – high and raspy, but with a fierce growl that made you instantly take notice. Plus, his thuggish aproach to vocals really put a bit into the vicious R&B tunes that he cut with The ... (Soul) read moreCD
Two of Hank's early hits, back to back on one single! Both cuts have a raw, raunchy R&B groove – with great twisted vocals from Hank, done in that edgey style that always sets him away from the pack! (Funky 45's) 7-inch, Vinyl record
A classic set of hard rockin R&B from Hank Ballard and the legendary Midnighters – as raw a batch of vocal group tracks you'd be hard pressed to find! The album features plenty of tunes from their "Annie" cycle of songs – including "Work With Me Annie", "Ann ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Blue label King pressing – nice and heavy! Cover has a cutout hole and some light wear – but this is a very nice copy overall.)
Two of Hank's early classics! "The Twist" is his first version of the tune – the one that Chubby Checker and others ripped off for bigger cash! "Teardrops On Your Letter" is done here in the first, original version. (Funky 45's) 7-inch, Vinyl record
Some of our favorite work ever from the legendary Hank Ballard – a key figure in early R&B, and a singer who cut some big hits with his group The Midnighters – but one who also continued to do some wonderful work for King Records long after his hits – most of which is included ... (Soul) read moreCD
One of the most stunning later sets from the great Art Blakey – a record that reminds us that although Blakey had a great talent for picking key younger players to work with during the 80s, he could also still be one hell of a drummer as well! The tracks here are incredibly long and open ... (Jazz) read moreCD
(Out of print, 2016 Japanese pressing – includes obi!)
The Jazz Messengers spirit is alive and well on this crackling session from the 80s – a great live date that's features lots of tremendous work on drums from the great Art Blakey, in a stunning sextet of younger players with Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Donald Harrison on alto, Jean ... (Jazz) read moreCD
The Jazz Messengers spirit is alive and well on this crackling session from the 80s – a great live date that's features lots of tremendous work on drums from the great Art Blakey, in a stunning sextet of younger players with Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Donald Harrison on alto, Jean ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Features Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Donald Harrison on alto, Jean Toussaint on tenor, Tim Williams on trombone, Lonnie Plaxico on bass, and Mulgrew Miller on piano! (Jazz) CD
Of all the R&B bandleaders of the 50s, Tiny Bradshaw was one of the wildest! He had a tight rolling groove that managed to infuse his whole band with a lively sense of rhythm that was often unmatched by some of the other sleepier groups of the time – and he also managed to hire some of ... (Soul) read moreCD
Of all the R&B bandleaders of the 50s, Tiny Bradshaw was one of the wildest! He had a tight rolling groove that managed to infuse his whole band with a lively sense of rhythm that was often unmatched by some of the other sleepier groups of the time – and he also managed to hire some of ... (Soul) read moreCD
James Brown —
Christmas Songs ... CD King/Universal (Japan), 1966. New Copy ...
Out Of Stock
One of the few rare Christmas albums that James Brown recorded in the 60s – all really wonderful, really memorable records that go way past the usual Holiday fare! Sure, there's a few sentimental tracks that have the familiar spirit of the holiday, but there's also some funky moments too ... read moreCD
A darn hard to find album by James – one with a tight soulful R&B groove that just about never lets up! Even on these early albums, James had a great raw sound, with a kind of funk that wasn't his trademark 70s sound, but which is still nice and tasty. Titles include "Shout & ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
James Brown —
Funky Christmas ... CD King/Universal, Late 60s. New Copy ...
Out Of Stock
Excellent funky Christmas – essential for any soulful holiday celebration! Not everyone knows it, but James Brown cut a fair number of Christmas albums during the 60s – thre albums, and a bunch of singles to be exact! They're all super-rare, but this great collection brings together ... read moreCD
Excellent funky Christmas – essential for any soulful holiday celebration! Not everyone knows it, but James Brown cut a fair number of Christmas albums during the 60s – thre albums, and a bunch of singles to be exact! They're all super-rare, but this great collection brings together ... read moreCD
The last, and most obscure of James Brown's Christmas albums of the King years – and quite possibly the hippest too! Given that James is shouting "Hey America" in the title, he's clearly going for a righteous and semi-political tone on the set – singing Holiday tunes, but ... read moreCD
Not socking soul, but laidback jazz – an under-acknowledged side of James Brown's career, presented fully in this excellent collection of work from the 60s! The package shows a growing sophistication in James' music as the 60s moved on – not just in his vocals, which were surprisingly ... (Soul) read moreCD
Not as well-known as James Brown's live albums from the Apollo, but a really cooking set from the 60s that keeps up a plenty hard groove all the way through! As with most of James' live dates, the tracks here move at a clip that's often even faster than the studio work – played to perfection ... (Soul) read moreCD
Some of the most exciting years of James Brown's career so far – for a whole host of reasons! First off, James is really experimenting with different styles here – not just the roots of funk that would emerge more fully blown later in the 60s – but also bits of jazz as well, ... (Soul) read moreCD
James Brown lets it loose – exploding with a funkier, groovier sound here than in previous years, and really starting the extended groove that would blossom even more fully at the end of the 60s! The titles here are all pretty great – and given the strength of James at the time, the ... (Soul) read moreCD
An explosion of funk from the mighty James Brown – some of the hardest-hitting singles James cut during his 60s run at King Records – served up here in a massive 2CD set! This essential fifth volume in the Singles series covers the key years of 1967 to 1969 – a pre-Polydor point ... (Soul) read moreCD
Pure dynamite – an explosion of soul from the mighty James Brown – one that features the complete singles from two of his funkiest years on record! The set stacks 1969 and 1970 together beautifully – offering up 39 killers that capture James at a pivotal moment – hitting ... (Soul) read moreCD
Raw soul, indeed – a term that could have been coined for James Brown's vocal approach, and which probably makes one of its first appearances here on a record! The album's kind of a grab bag of earlier sides that James recorded for King, but it's a perfect showcase for his amazing sound in ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a small cutout hole and some light wear – vinyl is great.)
Later reissue of this landmark album that forever changed the face of live recordings! As has been told and retold often, King records not only had the genius idea of bringing recording equipment into the Apollo Theater to catch James in a smoking live setting – but they also went out of ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A landmark album that forever changed the face of live recordings – and soul music too! As has been told and retold often, King records not only had the genius idea of bringing recording equipment into the Apollo Theater to catch James in a smoking live setting – the sort of show that ... (Soul) read moreCD
James Brown's great second album recorded live at the Apollo Theater in Harlem – a set we like even better than the first famous volume – because it's much more stretched-out, harder-hitting, and full of fire! You'd be hard pressed to find a better example of Brown's showmanship on ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Blue label King pressing. Vinyl has press flaw bumps that click a bit on Side 2. Cover has some ringwear, edge wear, and a split bottom seam.)
James Brown —
Popcorn ... LP King, 1969. Near Mint- ...
Out Of Stock
A tremendous turning point in the career of James Brown – and an album that points the way strongly to the even deeper funk of the 70s! The album's a hard-wailing batch of instrumental tracks played by the legendary James Brown Band of the late 60s – the pre-JBs ensemble that's gone ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Orignal 60s pressing – a great copy! Cover has a tiny bit of wear in a bottom corner, but is great overall.)
James Brown —
Sex Machine ... LP King, 1970. Very Good 2LP Gatefold ...
Out Of Stock
James Brown cooking it live – recorded (as the cover says) "at home in Augusta, Georgia with his bad self"! The groove here is a nice extension of earlier Apollo modes – one that shows the increasing funkiness of the James Brown Band, captured with a raw power that few other ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Orange and black label Starday-King pressing. Cover has ringwear, heavy edge wear, some splitting in the spine, and track durations in pen inside the gatefold. Label on Side 2 has a small peeled spot.)
James Brown cooking it live – recorded (as the cover says) "at home in Augusta, Georgia with his bad self"! The groove here is a nice extension of earlier Apollo modes – one that shows the increasing funkiness of the James Brown Band, captured with a raw power that few other ... (Soul) read moreCD
A legendary bit of fuzzy funk from James Brown – an important collaboration with the mighty Dave Matthews, who brings a more tripped-out feel to the record than some of James' other King sessions of the time! Matthews adds in lots of psych-influenced guitar – used very different than ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Black label king pressing. Cover has split seams, spots of sticker residue, a cutout hole, and staining on the bottom seam.)
A different James Brown album – but a nice one! James doesn't sing soul, so much as jazz – in front of large backings by Louis Bellson, with arrangements by Oliver Nelson that are in his best 60s soul mode – and which give the album a very very groovy feel overall! The record's ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A different James Brown album – but a nice one! James doesn't sing soul, so much as jazz – in front of large backings by Louis Bellson, with arrangements by Oliver Nelson that are in his best 60s soul mode – and which give the album a very very groovy feel overall! The record's ... (Soul) read moreCD
James Brown recorded a few different Christmas records back in the 60s – but this stunner may well be the best of the bunch – a killer record that not only fills the need for James Brown Holiday tunes, but which also more than lives up to his non-Christmas gems for King Records too! ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
James Brown recorded a few different Christmas records back in the 60s – but this stunner may well be the best of the bunch – a killer record that not only fills the need for James Brown Holiday tunes, but which also more than lives up to his non-Christmas gems for King Records too! ... read moreCD
One of those excellent King albums from James that features a wide range of tracks, done in a wide range of styles – including some wonderful obscure numbers that go way past the "hits" promised in the title. The groove runs from sad ballad soul to heavy instrumentals – and ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
James Brown with the Dee Felice Trio —
Gettin' Down To It ... CD King/Verve, 1969. Used ...
Out Of Stock
A great little album by James Brown – and very different than his other work! He cut this one with the groovy Dee Felice Trio – a jazz-based combo that he recorded on their own for King, on another very rare, very excellent record. The band's in similar form here, although not ... (Soul) read moreCD
Great work from Ann Burton – an excellent jazz singer who made some great records in the 60s and 70s, although mostly overseas – so she's a lot less known on our shores than elsewhere! This is a really spare session, one that lets Ann's vocals come through wonderfully – as she's ... (Vocalists) read moreCD
Ron Carter gets sweet and funky on this 70s classic for Kudu Records – a set that's a fair bit different than some of Carter's acoustic trio sides of the decade, or some of his more high-concept work in recent years! The approach here is free and flowing – larger arrangements penned by ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Funky funky Hammond – a rare late 60s album from organist Bill Doggett, done with some help from James Brown – and a set that's unlike anything Doggett ever recorded before – or since! There's a blasting groove to the record right from the start – thanks to help from The ... (Jazz) read moreCD
An excellent set that was recorded in 1971, but not issued until ten years later – by the small Artists House label, home to groundbreaking work by Ornette Coleman and James Blood Ulmer! Gil Evans works here with one of his hippest groups – a soaring lineup that features key work from ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Features George Adams on tenor, Chris Hunter on alto, Tom Malone on trombone, Hiram Bullock on guitar, Pete Levin on synthesizer, Mark Egan on bass, Adam Nussbaum on drums, Mino Cinelu on percussion – and trumpet players Lew Soloff, Hannibal Marvin Peterson, Shunzo Ohno, and Miles Evans. (Jazz) CD
(Out of print, includes obi which has a sticker over the barcode.)
With 41 tracks including "Help Me Somebody", "Thirty Second Lover", "I Like It Like That", "School Girl", "Right Around The Corner", "Miracle Of Love", "Messin' Up", and "I'd Better Make A Move". (Soul) CD
One of the handful of blue comedy records Foxx cut for King before making it big and getting into it with Lamont, Grady and Esther on TV. Recorded live at his own club in Hollywood, and as you can imagine, the humor is pretty raw, and we wouldn't have it any other way. (Comedy) LP, Vinyl record album
Sharp sounds from guitarist Jim Hall – a record that's filled with all the cool, complicated lines the musician could muster on his instrument – yet a record that also manages to swing a bit too! The sound here is a great evolution from the sound of Hall's music in the 50s – even ... (Jazz) read moreCD
A rare 70s set from guitarist Jim Hall – one that's got a cover that recalls Blue Note artwork used for Kenny Burrell, and recorded with a strong sound to match! The record's got maybe a bit more bite than some of Jim's airier sessions from the 70s – a strong power with Hall in the ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Beautiful material from Roland Hanna – a set of original tunes that are all wonderfully sensitive – recorded with just the bass of George Mraz for accompaniment! (Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album
(Heavy Japanese pressing, in textured cover, with insert!)
Wynonie Harris —
Good Rockin Blues ... LP King, Early 50s. Very Good ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
The earliest work of the team of Homer & Jethro – material recorded for King Records before their bigger 50s fame at RCA – and maybe with an even sharper feel overall! If you don't know the pair, you're in for a treat – as they were both fantastic musicians, Homer on guitar ... (Folk/Country) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Haruomi Hosono —
Hosono House ... LP King (Japan), 1973. New Copy (reissue)...
$44.9949.99About May 25, 2023
A completely wonderful album from Haruomi Hosono – a real watershed not just in his own career, but in the development of mainstream Japanese music too! The set's got the sophistication of the best of the singer/songwriter underground in the US – not just in the lyrical presentation, ... (Japanese) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Great early material cut by these two strong soul jazz players! Jennings is sounding nice and raw, caught here before he toned down his style a bit for Prestige – and Parker's in much more of a hard-blowing style than you'd guess from his smoother recordings for Blue Note. Both players open ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Elegant, but also incredibly powerful work from Fumio Karashima – exactly the kind of record that shows why he's one of our favorite Japanese jazz talents ever! Karashima's a near-lost talent on these shores, but at the time of this set he had an incredible command of the piano that we'd ... (Jazz) read moreCD
A more electric album than usual from pianist Fumio Karashima – but in a great way too! The album has Karashima playing Fender Rhodes, mini-moog, and other keys – in addition to his usual acoustic piano – in a driving quartet lineup with bass from Miroslav Vitous and saxes from ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Larry Coryell lends his guitar to this sweet trio set from Japanese pianist Fumio Karashima – bringing in a slight bit of electricity to a set that's otherwise acoustic! The format here is real back to basics for Karashima – a set of mostly jazz standards, played by a trio that ... (Jazz) read moreCD
(Part of the Nippon Jazz Spirits series!)
Masabumi Kikuchi/Gary Peacock/Paul Motian —
Tethered Moon ... CD King (Japan), 1991. Used ...
Out Of Stock
A great later date from Japanese pianist Masabumi Kikuchi – a player we love for his groundbreaking work in the 70s, and who still sounds equally great here in the company of bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Paul Motian! Kikuchi's got a sharp tone that really grabs our ears right away – ... (Jazz) read moreCD
A stunning follow-up to the first Tethered Moon album from the trio of Masabumu Kikuchi on piano, Gary Peacock on bass, and Paul Motian on drums – material recorded at the same time as the first record, but with a vibe that's sometimes slightly different! As before, the acoustic tones of ... (Jazz) read moreCD
The great Freddie King opens up vocally, alongside his searing guitar work – on titles that include "Lonesome Whistle Blues", "You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling", "Have You Ever Loved A Woman", "I Love The Woman", "I'm Tore Down", and ... (Blues) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Late work from this famous New Orleans clarinet player – recorded in Tokyo with Joshua Willis on trumpet, Louis Nelson on trombone, Joseph Robichaux on piano, and William Trout on a bit of vocals. (Jazz) CD
(1994 CD pressing – includes obi! Disc has a promo stamp, obi has a small Japanese promo sticker over barcode.)
Little Esther (Esther Phillips) —
Bad Baad Girl ... LP King/Charly (UK), Early 50s. Near Mint- ...
Out Of Stock
A really wonderful collection of early work from the great Esther Phillips – different than her later material for Atlantic and Kudu Records – as it was done in a raw R&B style for the mighty King Records! 16 tracks in all – and detailed notes on the material, too! (Soul) LP, Vinyl record album
Amazing sounds from one of the all-time greats – the legendary Little Willie John – not only a key inspiration to James Brown, but one of the formative forces in soul music at the start of the 60s! The material here was cut by King Records at the height of its R&B years, but it ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Lew Soloff on trumpet, George Young on saxophone, David Matthews on piano, Eddie Gomez on bass, and Steve Gadd on drums. (Jazz) CD
(Out of print.)
Manhattan Jazz Quintet —
Live! ... CD Paddle Wheel/King, 1986. Used ...
Out Of Stock
The Manhattan Jazz Quintet play live at Tokyo's legendary Pit Inn – a great venue for the group, given their strong support from the Japanese market in the 80s! The group's right at home here – working in that wonderfully dynamic style that draws strongly from the bass of Eddie Gomez ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Manhattan Jazz Quintet —
Sidewinder ... CD King/Paddle Wheel (Japan), 1987. Used ...
Out Of Stock
The album's titled after a classic song by trumpeter Lee Morgan – a great choice, given that the trumpet of Lew Soloff is such a strong force in the group – blowing bold, bright, and maybe more full of energy than on another setting we think we've heard him in! And the tenor of George ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Pat Martino —
Maker ... CD King (Japan), 1994. Used ...
Out Of Stock
Right from the start, guitarist Pat Martino had a sound that was unlike anyone else – and that quality still holds strong on this overlooked later date – a Japanese session that shows that Martino was still working through a great range of new ideas in his instrument! The setting is ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Sleepy Matsumoto with Manhattan Friends —
Rio Manhattan ... LP King (Japan), 1981. Near Mint- ...
$11.9919.99
A great setting for this famous Japanese tenorist – a set of fusion-tinged tracks, recorded in New York – with "Manhattan Friends" who include Rob Mounsey on Fender Rhodes, Jeff Mironov on guitar, Will Lee on bass, and Chris Parker or Steve Jordan on drums! (Jazz) LP, Vinyl record album
Early work from this legend of soul music – back in his pre-Atlantic Records years, when he was a member of The Dominoes, recording for King! (Soul) CD
Early King Records material by Memphis slim – with tracks that include "Mistake In Life", "Pacemaker Boogie", "Grinder Man Blues", "Slim's Boogie", "Don't Ration My Love", and "Harlem Bound". (Blues) LP, Vinyl record album
One of our favorite Japanese jazz players of all time – still sounding wonderful on this date from the mid 80s! Akira Miyazawa's easily the most soulful tenorist to come out of the Japanese scene of the 60s – and here, he works with a free, open approach to his horn that almost reminds ... (Jazz) read moreCD
An excellent 2CD set that's filled with some of the grooviest Morricone tracks ever! This stuff's the real deal, with the kind of sparkling little cuts that make his Italian soundtracks stand as some of our favorite over the years. You may have a few of these tracks on other releases, but the ... (Soundtracks) read moreCD
Minoru Muraoka & New Dimension Group —
Bamboo ... LP King/Mr Bongo (UK), Late 60s. New Copy Gatefold (reissue)...
$27.9933.98
60s jazz meets Japanese bamboo flute – all in a session with a great mix of groovy and exotic touches! The record's a unique meeting of jazz and folkloric elements – done in a style that's a bit like some of the late 60s sessions of this nature on MPS, but a fair bit groovier overall ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
There's a vampire with a flute on the cover – and that image alone is more than enough to make us drop the needle on this rare Japanese gem from the 70s! And fortunately, the sound of the music is equally cool – funky fusion with some nicely spacey currents – almost a Mizell ... (Japanese) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A later issue of material recorded in the late 60s by Phineas for Contempoary – tunes from the sessions for the album Please Send Me Someone To Love, but which didn't make the cut at the time – and are here issued a decade after the original recordings. The group on the set features ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album