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
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
(Out of print. Disc has a small promo stamp around the hub.)
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
That's Torys, as in Suntory's – the big Japanese distillery who's hosting this special performance of The Big Four – a crackling lineup that features soulful tenor from Hidehiko Matsumoto and drums from George Kawaguchi! The core group have an energy that's like the best American bop ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Hmmm . . The cover's got crowds of people flocking to (or from?) a giant alto sax – but we're still not convinced that the album contains tracks that Earl finally succumbed to recording after exceissive popular demand. Still, we love that tone – as always – and it's a pleasure to ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono black label pressing with deep groove. Cover has some ring & edge wear and a small split in the bottom seam.)
Titles include "Off & On", "Free For All", "South Of The Orient", "Later", "Soft", "Well Oh Well", "Heavy Juice", and "The Train Kept A Rollin". (Soul) LP, Vinyl record album
(Maroon label pressing with deep groove. NOTE – Vinyl is in Fair condition, with a slight warp and numerous marks, plays with some pops and surface noise. Cover has some surface wear, aging, and split top seam and spine.)
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
A killer from James Brown – and one of his best instrumental albums of the King years! The record has James working with the pre-JBs James Brown Band – a tight assemblage of players who really know how to craft an off-kilter groove. The guitar's popping on the beat here as much as the ... (Soul) read moreCD
Beautiful soul from The Godfather, recorded in the period immediately after he discovered the choppy choppy guitar riff on the downbeat! Both parts swing hard hard hard, and the band is as tight as a pair of trousers after Thanksgiving! (Funky 45's) 7-inch, Vinyl record
James Brown, proud and loud – a smoking 60s album that provides a great link between his earlier styles and his freer roots – with a brilliant blend of funk, soul, and a touch of raw R&B! Given the power of The Godfather at this point, there's no denying that even the older cuts ... (Soul) read moreCD
A definite mother from James Brown – the kind of all-funky album that few of his contemporaries could ever hope to match! If you've ever doubted the sheer raw power of James at the end of the 60s, the first few notes of this one will definitely make you a convert – and the stretched-out ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A definite mother from James Brown – the kind of all-funky album that few of his contemporaries could ever hope to match! If you've ever doubted the sheer raw power of James at the end of the 60s, the first few notes of this one will definitely make you a convert – and the stretched-out ... (Soul) read moreCD
Further genius from James Brown at the start of the 70s – a record that's starting to show some of the more open-ended grooves he'd explore with the JBs on their own albums – longer, stretched-out tracks that are way more than simple funk and soul! There's a sense of freewheeling ... (Soul) read moreCD
(Part of the Rare Groove Funk 1000 Best Collection!)
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
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
(Mono black label pressing. Cover has a split bottom seam and spine, surface wear, and aging.)
An undisputed groover! The track's a killer uptempo one from James' later years on King – and it's got this amazing beat that snaps along at a full deep stride. Very nice stuff, and the kind of tight grooving that would show up later in his work with the JBs – done here earlier, with ... (Funky 45's) read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Here's where things really started getting interesting for James Brown! The album was issued right around the same time as James' single "Out Of Sight" on Smash – and like that track, "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" was one of the first to use that "instruments on the ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Blue label pressing, with green top cover. Cover has a bit of seam splitting, and one slightly bumped corner.)
Here's where things really started getting interesting for James Brown! The album was issued right around the same time as James' single "Out Of Sight" on Smash – and like that track, "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" was one of the first to use that "instruments on the ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
An interesting single from James – featuring his super-huge hit of the mid 60s, but issued on a late 60s King label! The tune's a stone winner as always – and the flip is "mostly instrumental", with a vamp that virtually invented the funky vamp! (Funky 45's) 7-inch, Vinyl record
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 moreCD
"Prisoner Of Love" is a version of the 50s pop hit – done by James in a style that's still pretty raw, despite the string-heavy backings! "Choo Choo" is a honking instrumental, with a tight R&B groove! (Funky 45's) 7-inch, Vinyl record
(Label has a drillhole and a small speck of paint.)
James Brown —
Soul On Top ... LP King, 1970. Very Good Gatefold ...
$19.99
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
(Original pressing. Cover has a cutout hole, heavy wear and some stains at the spine, and lightly bent corners.)
James Brown —
Soul On Top ... CD King/Verve, 1970. Used ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
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! ... (Soul) read moreCD
(Limited edition LP style sleeve – with red CD that has a vinyl-style design!)
James Brown —
Super Bad ... CD King/Universal (Japan), 1971. Used ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
Super Bad is right! This is hard-hitting funky James – from the badass cover right down to the extended tracks on the record, which point the way towards the hard live jamming of the classic Payback years! Everything wonderful is in place on the set – from the band's grooves at the ... (Soul) read moreCD
Killer funky stuff from JB, and just about everything you'd want from him: hard grooves, heavy politics, and lots of nice funky playing by the band! Also the inspiration for the great Talkin' Loud label! (Funky 45's) 7-inch, Vinyl record
James Brown with the Dee Felice Trio —
Gettin' Down To It ... CD King/Verve, 1969. Used ...
Temporarily 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
(Out of print, small cutout hole through case.)
Ron Carter —
Blues Farm ... CD CTI/King (Japan), 1973. Used ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
Sweet electric work from Ron Carter – subtle magic in the best CTI mode! Ron arranged the set himself, but he's working with a core group of CTI players that includes Bob James and Richard Tee on electric piano, Hubert Laws on flute, Ralph MacDonald on percussion, and Billy Cobham on drums ... (Jazz) read moreCD
(2017 pressing, part of the CTI 50th Anniversary Special Collection – includes obi.)
Sweet soulful jazz from reedman Hank Crawford – one of his killer Kudu sessions from the 70s – all of which really helped Hank redefine his sound! The setting here is large and full – put together beautifully by Bob James, with that sense of space for the soloist that makes his ... (Jazz) read moreCD
One of Hank Crawford's first big records of the 70s – a really great set that helps him shake off some of his stock modes of the 60s and find a very different groove! A big part of the album is arranger Don Sebesky, who gives Hank a backdrop that's sophisticated and smooth, yet still pretty ... (Jazz) read moreCD
A sweet bit of electric funk, and one of Hank Crawford's greatest records from the 70s – thanks in large part to the great Bob James – who arranged and produced the record with a mighty soulful vibe – leaving Hank lots of room to solo on his own over the top! The groove is really ... (Jazz) read moreCD
(Out of print, 2016 Blu-spec CD pressing – includes obi.)
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
Champion Jack Dupree —
Sings The Blues ... CD King/Gusto, Early 50s. New Copy ...
Just Sold Out!
Early King Records material by Champion Jack Dupree – a hell of a pianist, and a heck of a great singer too – working almost as a raconteur on some of the best songs on this collection! The music has deep roots in New Orleans, where Jack must have really honed his piano skills – ... (Blues) read moreCD
Nothing canned here – as the sound, style, and groove of the record is as fresh and freaky as the classic image on the cover! The riffing rhythms get going right from the start – some amazing lines from a rhythm combo that includes Joe Beck on guitar, Herb Bushler on bass, Jim Madison ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Killer CTI work from Joe Farrell – with grooves so sharp you could cut your trousers on them! Farrell's angular reed style is in perfect form here – grooving with a small group that includes Herbie Hancock on piano, Joe Beck on guitar, Steve Gadd on drums, and Don Alias on percussion ... (Jazz) read moreCD
(Out of print, 2013 Blu-spec CD pressing – includes obi.)
5 Royales —
Five Royales ... CD King, Late 50s. New Copy ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
A stone killer from the legendary 5 Royales – one of the greatest groups to ever record for King Records in the 50s, and a key force in helping move things forward from doo wop to soul! The balance between Lowman Pauling's lead and the harmonies is amazing – a big inspiration on the ... (Soul) read moreCD
(White label promo. Labels are aged. Vinyl plays pretty rough – with a skip on "House Rent Party".)
George Hines & The Gospel Winds —
Moving Up ... CD King/Gusto, Early 70s. New Copy ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
Great 70s gospel from George Hines & The Gospel Winds – but a set that's recorded with much more of an old school vibe overall! The interplay between lead and group vocals really takes us back to some of the best male groups of the postwar years – that time when gospel vocal ... (Gospel) read moreCD
(Black label pressing. Vinyl has some cosmetic sleeve impressions and some press flaw bumps that click just a bit. Cover has some splitting in the bottom seam.)
A great 60s collection of earlier work by Lonnie Johnson – some of the rootsiest blues that King recorded in the postwar years! (Blues) LP, Vinyl record album
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
Killer King Records material from Freddy King – the man who was instrumental in helping forge the early sound of funk guitar! Set features two full albums – both great! (Blues) CD
Killer early material from Freddy King – a blues album, but one that's also got a strong resonance with instrumental soul and early funk! The record is "Strictly Instrumental" – as the cover says – and a nice batch of short bluesy groovers that feature Freddy's great ... (Blues) read moreCD
Killer early material from Freddy King – a blues album, but one that's also got a strong resonance with instrumental soul and early funk! The record is "Strictly Instrumental" – as the cover says – and a nice batch of short bluesy groovers that feature Freddy's great ... (Blues) read moreCD
Tracks include "Giant Steps", "Danny Boy", "Take Five", "Killing Me Softly With His Song", "Harlem Nocturne", Chopin's "Etude Opus 10, No 3", and the originals "Song Of The Waves" and title track "Let Old Memories Be". (Jazz) CD
(Out of print, includes obi which has a small Japanese promo sticker over barcode, disc has a promo stamp.)
Little Royal —
Jealous ... LP Trius/King, 1972. Sealed ...
$19.99
An obscure little album – but one that's had surprising life in recent years, thanks to a great batch of funky tracks on the set! Little Royal is one of those soul singers who doesn't mind borrowing bits from bigger stars as long as they work well in his act – stepping out like Garland ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing. Cover has a cutout hole.)
Little Willie John —
Talk To Me ... CD King, Late 50s. Used ...
Out Of Stock
Beautiful work from one of the greatest R&B vocalists ever! Willie sounds wonderful on tracks that include "Talk To Me Talk To Me", "Uh Uh Baby", "Drive Me Home", "Tell It Like It Is", "Person To Person", "Until You Do", and "I'll ... (Soul) read moreCD
Little Willie John —
Talk To Me ... LP King, Late 50s. Very Good+ ...
Out Of Stock
Beautiful work from one of the greatest R&B vocalists ever! Willie sounds wonderful on tracks that include "Talk To Me Talk To Me", "Uh Uh Baby", "Drive Me Home", "Tell It Like It Is", "Person To Person", "Until You Do", and "I'll ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Manhattan Jazz Quintet —
Live! ... CD Paddle Wheel/King, 1986. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
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
(Out of print, ProJazz pressing. Booklet has a small, light crease – very minor.)
Yoshiyaki Masuo —
Good Morning ... CD Electric Bird/King (Japan), 1979. Used ...
$11.99
A nice little wake up call from Yoshiyaki Masuo – a set that has his guitar working in close collaboration with extra guitar from Motoaki Masuo – for a two-stringed approach that's a bit different than some of Yoshiyaki's other records! The music is laidback, but never sleepy – ... (Jazz) read moreCD
(Out of print, includes obi. Sample stamp on CD.)
David Matthews —
Dune ... CD CTI/King (Japan), 1977. Used ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
One of the coolest, grooviest albums we've ever heard from arranger David Matthews – a set that draws inspiration from Frank Herbert's Dune, and sends Dave out into space with a whole bunch of sci fi-tinged funky numbers! Matthews has already had plenty of CTI arranging experience by the ... (Jazz) read moreCD
A surprising jazz funk stunner from drummer Idris Muhammad – part of his great second chapter of work for CTI in the 70s! Idris is working here in a style that's very different than his heavy-footed funky work on Prestige and Blue Note – and while it's easy to criticize him for not ... (Jazz) read moreCD
(Blu-Spec CD pressing, includes obi.)
Takeru Muraoka —
Soft Landing ... LP King (Japan), 1978. New Copy (reissue)...
$49.99
Electric funk, with some mighty nice horns – a mix of saxes from Takeru Muraoka – plus trumpet and flugelhorn from Susumo Kazuhara too! We're not sure, but it almost feels as if Takeru's a bit overdubbed – using alto, tenor, and soprano together at various points to give the ... (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 ... (Jazz) read moreCD
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 ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Mika Ohashi & Ray Bryant Trio —
When Mika Met Ray ... CD Paddle Wheel/King (Japan), 1997. Used ...
$11.99
Mika Ohashi meets the Ray Bryant Trio – with Ray Drummond and Winard Harper – for a set of standards that includes "My Funny Valentine", "Change Partners", "I Got Rhythm", "Days Of Wine & Roses", and "It Had To Be You". (Vocalists) CD
(Out of print. Obi has a small Japanese promo sticker over barcode, disc is stamped 'sample' around the hub.)
Damn, we love these guys! And this time around, Osaka Monaurail sound harder and heavier than ever – very much back in their best 70s JBs mode – after a recent foray into 60s soul! The rhythms are incredibly tight – razor-sharp, with a forcefulness that few other funky combos ... (Deep Funk) read moreCD
Wayne Raney —
Songs Of The Hills ... CD King, Late 40s/Early 50s. New Copy ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
Not the usual sounds you might expect from postwar country music – as Wayne Raney's an unusual star from the King Records roster – one who could play harmonica as well as sing, and who definitely brought a strong boogie current to his hillbilly material! The album's a heavyweight ... (Folk/Country) read moreCD
Lula Reed —
Blue & Moody ... CD King, 1958. New Copy ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
An incredible late 50s set for King by singer Lula Reed – and a pretty unique blend of R&B and bluer and moodier material – but a lot more upbeat than you'd expect from the title! Lula's voice is a genuine vessel for the bluesy material, but it's also light and lovely, and works ... (Soul) read moreCD
A really beautiful soundtrack for a Japanese film that didn't get that much circulation on our shores at the time – a score that mixes keyboard passages with light orchestrations, all with a nice sense of spareness and beauty! The music is maybe vaguely in the territory of Joe Hisaishi, but ... (Soundtracks) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
An early "poll winners" sort of date from Japanese drummer Hideo Shiraki – put together by Swing Journal Magazine, and featuring some great hardbop groovers! The feel here is just like a classic Prestige session from the same time – with searing horn solos on the top, and ... (Jazz) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Great reissue pressing – part of the Wave Jazz Classics series, from 1994 – in a flipback cover, like the original.)
One of Lonnie Smith's rarest albums – and one of the most obscure records on the landmark Kudu label! The set is one of Smith's most far-reaching from the 70s – a bit in the mode of his earlier records for Blue Note, but with a slightly sweeter quality that shows the shift to Kudu ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Our favorite years of the Stanley Brothers – material recorded after they'd left the bigger labels, and really started to hit their stride for the smaller indies King and Starday Records! Both companies were completely faithful to the growing sound of bluegrass, and really let the brothers ... (Folk/Country) read moreCD
Our favorite years of the Stanley Brothers – material recorded after they'd left the bigger labels, and really started to hit their stride for the smaller indies King and Starday Records! Both companies were completely faithful to the growing sound of bluegrass, and really let the brothers ... (Folk/Country) read moreCD
A great introduction to the King Records material of The Stanley Brothers – a nicely-priced 4CD set that's overflowing with classics from one of the best duos in bluegrass! Ralph and Carter Stanley work together perfectly during these years – harmonizing in an incredible way, right up ... (Folk/Country) read moreCD
Heavenly sounds from this legendary duo – a great collection of spiritual sides the bluegrass brothers recorded for King and Starday Records – all material that was maybe even more important to their catalog than their secular singles! Ralph and Carter Stanley have a fantastic harmony ... (Folk/Country) read moreCD
Very early work from Joe Tex – recorded way before his boogie records of the 70s, and even his country soul classics of the 60s! Yet despite the age of these sides, the Joe Tex vocal approach is very firmly in place – that raspy mode that's undeniably human, and which might be rooted ... (Soul) read moreCD
Groovy vocals from 70s Japan – a very hip male quintet, and one with the same harmony sound as The Four Freshmen or The Hi-Los! Given the date of the record, the tunes are a bit more contemporary – but still swung by the group with a very jazzy style, one that often has sweet small ... (Vocalists) read moreCD
Stanley Turrentine —
Sugar Man ... CD CTI/King (Japan), Early 70s. Used ...
$9.99
A classic set from Stanley "Sugar Man" Turrentine – a nickname the reedman had at the time, given the success of his famous CTI Records version of "Sugar"! This set follows in that same great mode – jazzy, but a bit funky too – although couched with this ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Wonderful early work from Eddie Cleanhead Vinson and Jimmy Witherspoon – both singers who had a strong connection to jazz over the years, but who work here in a nicely raw mode that befits the album's King Records placement! Vinson's a genius – a really overlooked singer who can ... (Blues) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original mono crownless black label pressing with deep groove. Cover has split seams, some ringwear, spotty brown aging around the edges, and a small stain on front.)
It's a battle of the blues, and everyone's winning – as the set's overflowing with killer cuts from the legendary R&B years of King Records! The tracks are from a time when the label did it better than just about anyone else – melding blues, jazz, and all the raw new styles of the ... (Blues) read moreCD
A wonderfully expanded version of this classic of funky funky female soul! Marva Whitney was one of the greatest singers in the James Brown stable of stars during the late 60s – and she sang with a hard raw style worth of The Godfather himself! Brother James produced and wrote a good part ... (Soul) read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A long-awaited follow-up to one of our favorite compilations of King Records soul music – a set that does a perfect job of showing the label's strong roots in R&B, and it's important force in 60s soul! The package offers up tracks with a really great sound – definitely the grittier ... (Soul) read moreCD
Raw, raunchy sounds – all pulled together from a time before soul and rock even existed! Most of the work here is from the classic catalog of King Records – a killer imprint in the postwar R&B market, and a company who wasn't afraid to do what it took to make a knockout record! In ... (Soul) read moreCD
Raw, raunchy sounds – all pulled together from a time before soul and rock even existed! Most of the work here is from the classic catalog of King Records – a killer imprint in the postwar R&B market, and a company who wasn't afraid to do what it took to make a knockout record! In ... (Soul) read moreCD
Raw, raunchy sounds – all pulled together from a time before soul and rock even existed! Most of the work here is from the classic catalog of King Records – a killer imprint in the postwar R&B market, and a company who wasn't afraid to do what it took to make a knockout record! In ... (Soul) read moreCD