Junko Ohashi is a Japanese singer from the city pop generation – but she gets a really soulful setting here, thanks to a strong backdrop of players from American jazz and soul! The set was recorded in New York, with production from Teruo Nakamura – who seems to take Junko into vocal territory that's similar to his own great fusion work of the time – using arrangements from Ken Suto, Mark Gray, and Bob Mintzer – and a set of players that includes John Tropea on guitar, David Sanborn on alto, and the great Harry Whitaker on piano. Lyrics are in both English and Japanese, and Junko's got a voice that's surprisingly soulful – much more so than some of her contemporaries – on titles that include "Firefly", "Caught In A Shower", "Sensual Night", "Perfect Melody", "Sugao No Mamade", "Dancin", and "In Your Lovin". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

The music of Bob Dylan, taken in completely new directions – served up here by a host of 60s British singers who offer up versions of the tunes that are quite different than American covers of the time! There's definitely a fair bit of folk in the mix here, but there's also some freer, trippier styles too – and many of these numbers have very different vocal phrasing than the originals – which keeps the material from being slavish copycat tunes, and instead really shows the way that the influence of Dylan was subtly developed as the 60s moved on, to a point where groups might have drawn a big inspiration from the man's songs, but also then opened the door to lots of new territory. But if you're a fan of Dylan's originals, don't worry – there's also plenty here to love – as the craft of the man himself really shines through, and shows that in the right creative hands, his style was not watered down, but augmented in great ways. As usual with Ace, the package is superb – 22 tracks, complete with detailed notes – on titles that include "Love Minus Zero" by Noel Harrison, "Don't Think Twice It's All Right" by The Fairies, "One Too Many Mornings" by Julie Felix, "Down Along The Cover" by Cliff Aungier, "Tears Of Rage" by Country Fever, "Lay Lady Lay" by Sandie Shaw, "To Ramona" by The Alan Price Set, "Visions Of Johanna" by The Picadilly Line, "Tom Thumb's Blues" by Alex Campbell, "Oxford Town" by Three City Four, "If You Gotta Go Go Now" by Manfred Mann, "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" by The Cops N Robbers, "Absolutely Sweet Marie" by The Factotums, and "I'm A Lonesome Hobo" by Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger & The Trinity. CD