A fantastic early soundtrack from the great Pat Williams – cut around the same 60s stretch that he was doing his wonderful albums for Verve – in the years before he'd break bigger with TV work for The Bob Newhart Show and other 70s programs! The tracks have loads of easy, bossa, and sixties grooves running throughout – more dynamic than the usual mainstream soundtrack of the time, almost as if Pat was composing this music on his own, away from the film! Williams titles include "Villa Sweet Villa", "How Sweet It Is", "A Pair Of Boobie Traps", and "Face Up To It Baby". However, despite the greatness of Pat Williams' music, the real highlight of the whole thing might be the incredible "Montage" sequence – which was put together by a young Jimmy Webb, and which features some very groovy vocal passages, with sort of a Harper's Bizarre-esque strangeness to it – a sublime harmony track with a really heartbreaking vibe. The tune was later covered by others, but sounds wonderful here in the original version – which also includes Webb's vocal version of the title. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic early soundtrack from the great Pat Williams – cut around the same 60s stretch that he was doing his wonderful albums for Verve – in the years before he'd break bigger with TV work for The Bob Newhart Show and other 70s programs! The tracks have loads of easy, bossa, and sixties grooves running throughout – more dynamic than the usual mainstream soundtrack of the time, almost as if Pat was composing this music on his own, away from the film! Williams titles include "Villa Sweet Villa", "How Sweet It Is", "A Pair Of Boobie Traps", and "Face Up To It Baby". However, despite the greatness of Pat Williams' music, the real highlight of the whole thing might be the incredible "Montage" sequence – which was put together by a young Jimmy Webb, and which features some very groovy vocal passages, with sort of a Harper's Bizarre-esque strangeness to it – a sublime harmony track with a really heartbreaking vibe. The tune was later covered by others, but sounds wonderful here in the original version – which also includes Webb's vocal version of the title. CD

The songwriting of Jimmy Webb meets the studio genius of producer/arranger George Martin – for this one-off Atlantic album from 1977, a strange little set that almost has Jimmy sounding far older than his young years at the time! Martin's working in a style that follows nicely from Webb's earlier Land's End album – using full backings to color in the tunes with just the right shades and sounds to flesh them past Jimmy's vocals. But the unusual thing is the raspy, almost faltering quality of Jimmy's vocals – sung in a style that moves into his own words tentatively, as if he's rediscovering the lyrics after many years, or making them up on the spot. The mix of Webb's roughness and Martin's warmth makes the album more compelling than it might be otherwise – and titles include a version of Jimmy's classic "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress", plus "The Highwayman", "Christiaan No", "Moment In A Shadow", "Sugarbird", "Where The Universes Are", and "Mixed-Up Guy". LP, Vinyl record album

An wonderful mid 70s outing from Jimmy Webb – his only album for the Asylum label, and done in a fuller mood than his other solo work – in a style that recalls modes used by Asylum labelmate Jackson Browne at the time! The songs are all beautifully penned – at a level that lives up to Jimmy's reputation – and in a way, the richer backdrops actually seem to work better with his vocals than the styles used before – giving them more focus and direction, and creating a comfortable warmth that is a better accompaniment to the dark corners of Webb's tunes than some of his starker arrangements. There's a depth here that easily makes the record one of Jimmy's finest on wax under his own name – and the set is very much worth rediscovery many decades later! Titles include "Ocean In His Eyes", "Alyce Blue Gown", "Lands End/Asleep On The Wind", "Just This One Time", "Crying In My Sleep", and "It's A Sin". LP, Vinyl record album

Although Jimmy Webb is best known to the world for the pop hits he gave LA when he was a wee wee lad ("MacArthur Park", "Up Up & Away", etc), he also has a lesser-known recording history, the better part of which is represented by his early recordings for Reprise. This album has a very different sound than you'd expect from Jimmy's hits – and features sort of a hip insider LA kind of semi-singer/songwriter sound, plus some C&W influences, set in wild baroque arrangements. The songwriting is far more complex, and far more far-reaching than Webb's pop writing for other artists – and although it sometimes doesn't always work, the album has an enigmatic pull that keeps us returning to it more than we'd expect. Titles include "P.F. Sloan", "Carless Weed", "Psalm One-Five-O", and "Music For An Unmade Movie", a suite in 3 parts that takes up a big chunk of the album. LP, Vinyl record album

Glen Campbell cut plenty of fantastic songs for Capitol Records – but year after year, some of the best were written by the young Jimmy Webb – an important 60s songwriter who brought magic to a number of different singers, but maybe clicked most strongly with Glen! You'll know the key tracks here, as they represent some of Campbells biggest early hits – but his association with Webb goes way past those few tracks, through a legacy of great 70s recordings that are presented here – in a package that features every single Glen Campbell recording of a Jimmy Webb tune through the start of the 80s – including live material, and even a more obscure track done for Atlantic Records too. The sensitivity of Webb's material is really on full display here – and the whole thing is a great contrast to some of the thinner greatest hits packages of Campbell's material – presented with very detailed notes, lots of great vintage images, and a set list of 23 tracks that include "You Might As Well Smile", "Just This One Time", "I Keep It Hid", "The Moon's A Harsh Mistress", "Galveston", "Didn't We (live)", "In Cars", "Highwayman", "Early Morning Song", "Christian No", "It's A Sin When You Love Somebody", "Adoration", "Wichita Lineman", "Where's The Playground Susie", "I Was Too Busy Loving You", "Just Another Piece Of Paper", and "Ocean In His Eyes". CD

Glen returns to work with Jimmy Webb – the brilliant songwriter who gave Glen big hits with "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and "Witchita Lineman" back in the 60s. By the time of this 1974 recording, Jimmy had been through a lot of life – and was actually writing songs that were even more honest and gripping than in earlier years. He'd also become a heck of an arranger – and even though that work was often lost on Jimmy's own albums, mostly because Jimmy wasn't much of a singer, it sounds great here, as Glen's vocals really open up Jimmy's songs like few other singers could manage at the time! Titles include "Just This One Time", "Ocean In His Eyes", "The Moon's A Harsh Mistress", "Adoration", "It's A Sin", "I Keep It Hid", and "You Might As Well Smile". A brilliant record – the kind of underground major label gem that makes you realize that the 70s wasn't such a bad time! LP, Vinyl record album

The great Jimmy Webb is one of our favorite songwriters of the 60s – a young man at the start, but one who could come across with a maturity that few of his contemporaries could match – arguably setting the scene for a key step into adult pop that would really explode in the 70s! Yet by that, we don't mean that Webb is any sort of "adult contemporary" figure from the softer side of the spectrum – as his tunes are open, honest, and filled with an understanding of the heart and its ability to break, delivered in ways that are still as powerful today as they were back when first written. The package features some of Jimmy's greatest songs, some in their famous recordings, but many more in lesser-known takes that only stand as further testament to Webb's words on the page – which really work some magic, no matter what the setting! In the best Ace tradition, the whole thing comes with a superb set of notes and details on the material – mostly late 60s tracks from Jimmy's key years, but a few gems from later too. Titles include "If This Was The Last Song" by Dee Dee Warwick, "I Keep It Hid" by The Supremes, "Carpet Man" by The Nocturnes, "I Need You" by Shane Martin, "Midnight Mail" by Joey Scarbury, "MacArthur Park" by Waylon Jennings, "Do What You Gotta Do" by Nina Simone, "The Worst That Could Happen" by BJ Thomas, "Requiem 820 Latham" by Mel Torme, "Magic Garden" by Dusty Springfield, "Rosecrans Blvd" by 5th Dimension, "Honey Come Back" by Chuck Jackson, "Wichita Lineman" by Tony Joe White, "Didn't We" by James Darren, "Which Way To Nowhere" by Brooklyn Bridge, and "Clowns Exit Laughing" by The Fortunes. CD

A great leap forward for the 5th Dimension – a record that seems to have better vocals than any of their previous efforts – a strongly soulful quality that moves past just pop, and which hits even deeper territory than before! Jimmy Webb's not in the lineup this time around, but Bones Howe is still fully in charge of the sound – producing and doing part of the arrangements, alongside help from Ray Pohlman, Bob Alcivar, and Bill Holman. Instrumentation's got a dreamy, late 60s LA mode – studio, but plenty darn groovy – thanks to performances from Hal Blaine, Larry Bunker, Tommy Tedesco, and Jimmy Rowles. Titles include the group's hit version of "Stoned Soul Picnic" – plus "California Soul", "Bobbie's Blues", "It's A Great Life", "Sweet Blindness", "Broken Wing Bird", "Good News", and "The Eleventh Song (What A Groovy Day)". LP, Vinyl record album

An overstuffed double-length set from Donna Summer – one that features some of the live material promised in the title, plus some even better studio work as well! The first 3 sides of the album feature Donna recorded live – putting over tunes with a bit more personality and almost a sense of spontaneity that we wouldn't expect – on titles that include "Fairy Tale High", "Only One Man", "I Remember Yesterday", "I Love You", "Spring Affair", "Mimi's Song", "I Feel Love", and "Last Dance". But even better is the 4th side of the record – which features the extended "MacArthur Park Suite" – Donna's masterful reworking of the Jimmy Webb classic, stretched out to even greater length than the original! LP, Vinyl record album

The complete early recordings of Al Wilson – a set that features one full album, plus 11 more bonus tracks! At the core of the set is Searching For The Dolphins – a wonderful early album from soul singer Al – a well-crafted mix of modes that really stands out in late 60s pop – and which showed that Wilson was quite different than most of his contemporaries! The album's got some very hip production by Johnny Rivers – who was really stretching out his own sound at the time – and arrangements are by Gene Page and Marty Paich, who create a sublime blend of jazz, soul, and strings – plus a slight undercurrent of more righteous modes from the late 60s post-folk underground! In addition to straighter soul, Wilson sings a mix of hip contemporary compositions by Fred Neil, Jimmy Webb, and others – showing a depth of sound that's really wonderful. Instrumentation's by a small combo that includes Hal Blain on drums, Larry Knechtel on keyboards, and some especially great flute from Jim Horn – whose sound here really brings some dark moments to the record. Titles include a classic version of Oscar Brown Jr's "The Snake" – which has gone onto become something of a dancefloor stormer over the years – plus the cuts "Shake Me Wake Me", "I Stand Accused", "Who Could Be Lovin You", "Brother Where Are You", "Summer Rain", "Do What You Gotta Do", and a groovy cover of Fred Neil's "The Dolphins". Added to the core album are 11 more bonus tracks – most of which have an even more soul-based sound overall – some of which were issued on the Bell and Carousel labels. Titles include "When You Love", "Now I Know What Love Is", "Mississippi Woman", "Sugar Cane Girl", "You Do The Right Things", "Bachelor Man", and "Falling In Love With You". CD

One of the true pop masterpieces of the 90s! This albums' a beautiful mix of Brian Wilson-y production, Capitol countrified pop, soaring LA 60s instrumentation, and about a million other influences! Genius Sean O'Hagan's put the whole thing together, and the record is the kind of lost pop treasure you've always hoped to find searching through the old LP racks – but never thought you'd get on a CD in the 90s. Includes the amazing "Checking In, Checking Out" – which outdoes Jimmy Webb in its Webb-ness; the moody "Giddy & Gay"; and lots of other nice moments like "The Goat Strings", "Track Goes By", and "Up In the Hills". CD

The set has a cover proclaiming that the set is "a new musical path" – and producer Jimmy Bowen works with bigger backings from Larry Muhuberac to use soaring strings next to the acoustic core, in ways that push Glen into some of the more soulful expressions he had to offer. The approach is a bit hard to describe, but it's different both from country roots, and from Jimmy Webb territory – that majestic Glen Campbell sound rising up nicely – on tunes that include "One Last Time", "I Will Never Pass This Way Again", "Sweet Fantasy", "Running Scared", "Just For What I Am", and "The Last Thing On My Mind". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked gem from Pharoah Sanders' years on Impulse – one that has him breaking the pattern a bit, but in a really great way! The session mixes up more shorter songs than before – still all quite spiritual, but also a bit more focused – in a way that packs an incredible punch, even at more contemplative moments. Players include Sanders regulars – like Norman Connors on drums and Cecil McBee on bass – but also some key newcomers, like Art Webb on flute, Joe Bonner on piano, and Jimmy Hopps on drums – making one of his excellent Impulse appearances for the record. But perhaps even more striking are the vocals on the set – done often by Sedatrius Brown, who sings partially in a Leon Thomas spiritual mode – but also hits notes that are a bit earthier, and which are picked up in added vocalizations by members of the group. Sanders himself plays soprano and tenor sax – and titles include the expanded "Village Of The Pharoahs" suite, plus "Went Like It Came", "Memories Of Lee Morgan", "Myth", and "Mansion Worlds". LP, Vinyl record album

Music by RL Burnside, James "Son" Thomas, Joe Willie Wilkins, Boogie Bill Webb, Clyde Maxwell, and Cornelius Bright with Jimmy Holmes. CD

All the genius you'd ever want by this sublime soul harmony group – packed up on one CD! Lots of great songs by Jimmy Webb and Laura Nyro – and titles include "One Less Bell To Answer", "Save The Country", "Wedding Bell Blues", "Last Night I Didn't Get To Sleep At All", "Stoned Soul Picnic", and "Up Up & Away". CD

A great leap forward for the 5th Dimension – a record that seems to have better vocals than any of their previous efforts – a strongly soulful quality that moves past just pop, and which hits even deeper territory than before! Jimmy Webb's not in the lineup this time around, but Bones Howe is still fully in charge of the sound – producing and doing part of the arrangements, alongside help from Ray Pohlman, Bob Alcivar, and Bill Holman. Instrumentation's got a dreamy, late 60s LA mode – studio, but plenty darn groovy – thanks to performances from Hal Blaine, Larry Bunker, Tommy Tedesco, and Jimmy Rowles. Titles include the group's hit version of "Stoned Soul Picnic" – plus "California Soul", "Bobbie's Blues", "It's A Great Life", "Sweet Blindness", "Broken Wing Bird", "Good News", and "The Eleventh Song (What A Groovy Day)". CD also includes a previously unissued version of "East Of Java"! CD

A wonderful early album from soul singer Al Wilson – a well-crafted mix of modes that really stands out in late 60s pop – and which showed that Al was quite different than most of his contemporaries! The album's got some very hip production by Johnny Rivers – who was really stretching out his own sound at the time – and arrangements are by Gene Page and Marty Paich, who create a sublime blend of jazz, soul, and strings – plus a slight undercurrent of more righteous modes from the late 60s post-folk underground! In addition to straighter soul, Wilson sings a mix of hip contemporary compositions by Fred Neil, Jimmy Webb, and others – showing a depth of sound that's really wonderful. Instrumentation's by a small combo that includes Hal Blaine on drums, Larry Knechtel on keyboards, and some especially great flute from Jim Horn – whose sound here really brings some dark moments to the record. Titles include a classic version of Oscar Brown Jr's "The Snake" – which has gone onto become something of a dancefloor stormer over the years – plus the cuts "Shake Me Wake Me", "I Stand Accused", "Who Could Be Lovin You", "Brother Where Are You", "Summer Rain", "Do What You Gotta Do", and a groovy cover of Fred Neil's "The Dolphins". LP, Vinyl record album

The complete early recordings of Al Wilson – a set that features one full album, plus 11 more bonus tracks! At the core of the set is Searching For The Dolphins – a wonderful early album from soul singer Al – a well-crafted mix of modes that really stands out in late 60s pop – and which showed that Wilson was quite different than most of his contemporaries! The album's got some very hip production by Johnny Rivers – who was really stretching out his own sound at the time – and arrangements are by Gene Page and Marty Paich, who create a sublime blend of jazz, soul, and strings – plus a slight undercurrent of more righteous modes from the late 60s post-folk underground! In addition to straighter soul, Wilson sings a mix of hip contemporary compositions by Fred Neil, Jimmy Webb, and others – showing a depth of sound that's really wonderful. Instrumentation's by a small combo that includes Hal Blain on drums, Larry Knechtel on keyboards, and some especially great flute from Jim Horn – whose sound here really brings some dark moments to the record. Titles include a classic version of Oscar Brown Jr's "The Snake" – which has gone onto become something of a dancefloor stormer over the years – plus the cuts "Shake Me Wake Me", "I Stand Accused", "Who Could Be Lovin You", "Brother Where Are You", "Summer Rain", "Do What You Gotta Do", and a groovy cover of Fred Neil's "The Dolphins". Added to the core album are 11 more bonus tracks – most of which have an even more soul-based sound overall – some of which were issued on the Bell and Carousel labels. Titles include "When You Love", "Now I Know What Love Is", "Mississippi Woman", "Sugar Cane Girl", "You Do The Right Things", "Bachelor Man", and "Falling In Love With You". CD

A collection of sides recorded for the Plantation label, with selections by Webb Pierce, Jeannie C Riley, Linda Martell, Sleepy La Beef, James O'Gwynn, Rusty Adams, Jimmy Ellis, Ryan Russell, Rex Allen, Rod Bernard, and The Bluegrass Alliance. LP, Vinyl record album

Unreleased work from the BBC Archives of the 70s – a stunning large group session with a very groovy vibe! Dave Gold isn't as much of a giant as some of the other British leaders of the time – but he's got a wonderful way with the group here, and makes the music move with some of the funky currents that he brought to his work for the KPM Sound Library – where you might know Dave from some key albums! Gold was also working as the leader of the jazzy group on a production of Jesus Christ Superstar – and he has the lineup here take off on a soaring funky version of that show's "Heaven On Their Minds" – a great cut that's worth the price of admission alone, served up with a mix of tenor and flute from Brian Ashe, baritone from Ronnie Ross, electric piano from Cliff Hall, and guitar from John Girvan – amidst a larger group of trumpets, trombones, and alto saxes. Other cuts include the gold originals "O'Connell Street" and "Nostalgia" – both groovy tracks with an MPS big band vibe – plus a version of the Jimmy Webb tune "Pocketful Of Keys". LP, Vinyl record album

A detailed look at the lasting legacy of the song "Wichita Lineman" – one of our all-time favorites of the 60s, and still one of the greatest testaments to love and loneliness ever written! The song was written by Jimmy Webb, most famously recorded by Glen Campbell, and has a long history and power that goes way beyond a simple 60s radio hit – all covered here in great detail by the author, who looks at both the song's creation and its circulation over the years. This hardcover volume is 275 pages, with some black and white images. Book

Warm, laidback work from drummer Jimmy Cobb – an album that features the famous drummer working with a mellow group that includes Roy Hargrove on trumpet and Russell Malone on guitar! Bassist John Webber is also in the quartet – greatly understated, compared to other albums – and the main interplay here is between Hargrove's spaciously-blown lines, and Malone's slow-burning and chromatic sounds. The set list is mostly ballads – and titles include "Emily", "Stairway To The Stars", "I Had The Craziest Dream", "Remembering U", "If Ever I Would Leave Again", and "With You I'm Born Again". CD

Jimmy Cobb on drums, Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Tadataka Unno on piano, and John Webber on bass. Titles include "Autumn Leaves", "Stella By Starlight", "Dear Old Stockholm", "A Night In Tunisia", and "Remembering U". CD

Jimmy Cobb on drums – with Eric Alexander on tenor saxophone, Bernstein on guitar, Richard Wyands on piano, and John Webber on bass. CD

A rich laidback set from one of Chicago's resident legends – tenor Von Freeman! Freeman was in his early 80s by the time this set was recorded, and his warm tone sounds as good to our ears as it did on recordings from decades ago. Von really lets loose in spots, too, such as on the fiery "Never Fear Jazz Is Here". Supporting players Jimmy Cobb (drums), John Webber (bass), and especially pianist Richard Wyands are given plenty of room to shine. Tracks include "Be My Love", "Never Fear Jazz Is Here", "This Is Always", "Chant Time", "Blue Pres", "Disorder At The Border", "Hard Hittin'", "Violets For Your Furs" and more. CD

Wonderful work from a player we've loved for years – recorded here in just the sort of laidback setting that recreates all his charms in a live setting! Von Freeman's tenor has been a key part of the Chicago scene for half a century or more – and although his music never played as widely on the coasts, his horn has been a lasting local legacy of the tenor tradition that also includes Gene Ammons, Johnny Griffin, John Gilmore, and Clifford Jordan! Von's every bit as creative and soulful as any of those cats –but a lot more subtle too, as you'll hear on this album's long-spun tracks. Players include Richard Wyands on piano, John Webber on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums – and titles include "I'll Never Be Free", "Didn't We", "Why Try To Change Me Now", "An Affair To Remember", and "A Night In Paris". CD