The cover's a bit creepy, but the album's still plenty great – old school Cameo still strongly in a funk-based mode, before some of the stiffer grooves of their later years! Bass is the ruler of the set – and most tracks here vamp around in a very heavy P-Funk style of groove – lots of guitar dancing around the rhythms, and plenty of spoken/sung vocals from the whole ensemble – not to mention a heavy dose of keyboards that helps keep things clean and lean! A partyful album if there ever was one – with tracks that include "Soul Army", "Enjoy Your Life", "Flirt", "Secrets Of Time", "I Owe It All To You", and "For You". CD

Four killer albums from Cameo – all brought together in a single set! First up is Knights Of The Sound Table – massively funky work from Cameo – a set that's right in the middle of their classic early run – and still quite strong on the bass-heavy grooves the group helped inspire in countless legions of imitators! The tightness of the set is incredible – moving at a pace that's simply mindblowing, especially in a pre-sampling, pre-programming world – proof that spontaneous work by a group like this could still blow away any commercial crap! There's a few mellower moments too – always a side of the group that we love – and titles include "Use It Or Lose It", "Freaky Dancin", "I Like It", "Knights By Nights", "I'll Always Stay", "The Sound Table", and "Don't Be So Cool". Next is Alligator Woman – old school Cameo still strongly in a funk-based mode, before some of the stiffer grooves of their later years! Bass is the ruler of the set – and most tracks here vamp around in a very heavy P-Funk style of groove – lots of guitar dancing around the rhythms, and plenty of spoken/sung vocals from the whole ensemble – not to mention a heavy dose of keyboards that helps keep things clean and lean! A partyful album if there ever was one – with tracks that include "Soul Army", "Enjoy Your Life", "Flirt", "Secrets Of Time", "I Owe It All To You", and "For You". Next is Style – a key set in the trimming down of Cameo – one of those records when the group wisely made the move to change up their sound a bit from the fuller ensemble style of the 70s to the leaner groove that so many other groups were starting to use in the 80s! Yet in the process, the group lose nothing at all – and maybe in face come up with an even better focus on the vocals and songwriting skills of Larry Blackmon – supported with other vocals from Tomi Jenkins, and fantastic keyboard work throughout from the great Charlie Singleton – whose sound is also a key part of the change of the groove! Titles include "Slow Movin", "Style", "Can't Help Falling In Love", "Aphrodisiac", "This Life Is Not For Me", "You're A Winner", and "Let's Not Talk Slot". Last up is She's Strange – an indisputable classic from Cameo – one that has them changing up their sound from earlier albums! The heavier funk of some of their late 70s sides is long gone, and in its place is a more stripped-down style that relies more on electric percussion and keyboards to update their sound. The best cuts on the set have that mellow crossover feel that Kool & The Gang were using at the time – smoother, slinkier soul that played well with larger audiences, yet still had a nice degree of soul. Titles include "She's Strange", "Love You Anyway", "Groove With You", "Hangin Downtown", and "Le Ve Toi". CD

Excellent funky work from Lou Donaldson – and a groundbreaking record that was the first to feature him playing on Blue Note with drummer Idris Muhammad – who is listed on the session under his birth name, Leo Morris! Muhammad gives the album that crackling funky bottom sound that instantly defined Lou's later years at Blue Note – a hard and heavy approach to soul jazz that's had incredible repercussions in the world of hip hop, as well as soul and funk. The rest of the group features soul jazz burners Lonnie Smith on organ, Melvin Lastie on trumpet, and George Benson on guitar – and the album includes the highly successful "Alligator Boogaloo", plus hard groovers "The Thang", "Aw Shucks!", and "One Cylinder". CD

A strangely compelling record by Henry Gibson – an artist who's known for his work on so many fronts, from his classic appearances in 70s Robert Altman films, his 60s work on Laugh-In, and his more recent stint in Magnolia! This set's a pretty weird little batch of comedy routines – mostly done in a southern accent, with a slight edge to them – almost Lenny Bruce-ish, but a bit more straight. Titles include "Education Is Important", "A Little Bit About Myself", "Why I Like Soap", and "The Alligator". LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Hound Dog Taylor, James Cotton, Professor Longhair, Koko Taylor, Tinsley Ellis, Kenny Neal, Elvin Bishop, Roy Buchanan, Son Seals, Lonnie Brooks, Sonny Terry, and more. CD

Music from Lil Ed & the Blues Imperials, Katie Webster, Elvis Bishop, the Lonnie Brooks Blues Band, Koko Taylor & her Blues Machine & an All Star Jam. CD

Excellent funky work from Lou Donaldson – and a groundbreaking record that was the first to feature him playing on Blue Note with drummer Idris Muhammad – who is listed on the session under his birth name, Leo Morris! Muhammad gives the album that crackling funky bottom sound that instantly defined Lou's later years at Blue Note – a hard and heavy approach to soul jazz that's had incredible repercussions in the world of hip hop, as well as soul and funk. The rest of the group features soul jazz burners Lonnie Smith on organ, Melvin Lastie on trumpet, and George Benson on guitar – and the album includes the highly successful "Alligator Boogaloo", plus hard groovers "The Thang", "Aw Shucks!", and "One Cylinder". CD

Excellent funky work from Lou Donaldson – and a groundbreaking record that was the first to feature him playing on Blue Note with drummer Idris Muhammad – who is listed on the session under his birth name, Leo Morris! Muhammad gives the album that crackling funky bottom sound that instantly defined Lou's later years at Blue Note – a hard and heavy approach to soul jazz that's had incredible repercussions in the world of hip hop, as well as soul and funk. The rest of the group features soul jazz burners Lonnie Smith on organ, Melvin Lastie on trumpet, and George Benson on guitar – and the album includes the highly successful "Alligator Boogaloo", plus hard groovers "The Thang", "Aw Shucks!", and "One Cylinder". CD

Includes music from James Cotton, William Clarke, Maurice John Vaughn, Kenny Neal, Koko Taylor, Billy Boy Arnold, Sugar Blue, Dave Hole, and more. CD

Music by Rockin' Sidney, DL Menard & the Louisiana Aces, Johnnie Allan, Rocking Dopsie, Clifton Chenier, and Queen Ida & her Zydeco Band – 18 tracks total. CD

Music from Nathan Abshire, The Balfa Brothers, Queen Ida & Her Zydeco Band, Iry Le June, Jo El Sonnier, Rusty & Doug, Boozoo Chavis, Beausoleil, Buckwheat Zydeco, DL Menard, Rockin' Dopsie, Belton Richard, John Delafose, Clifton Chenier, and more. CD

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Excellent funky work from Lou Donaldson – and a groundbreaking record that was the first to feature him playing on Blue Note with drummer Idris Muhammad – who is listed on the session under his birth name, Leo Morris! Muhammad gives the album that crackling funky bottom sound that instantly defined Lou's later years at Blue Note – a hard and heavy approach to soul jazz that's had incredible repercussions in the world of hip hop, as well as soul and funk. The rest of the group features soul jazz burners Lonnie Smith on organ, Melvin Lastie on trumpet, and George Benson on guitar – and the album includes the highly successful "Alligator Boogaloo", plus hard groovers "The Thang", "Aw Shucks!", and "One Cylinder". LP, Vinyl record album

Johnny Winter joins Lonnie Brooks here on a few cuts – and the group also features second guitar from Osee Anderson and Larry Clyman! LP, Vinyl record album

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An Alligator Records classic, and a great showcase for Chicago guitarist Son Seals – who also serves up some great vocals too! Titles include "Cold Blood", "Friday Again", "Don't Pick Me For Your Fool", "Out Of My Way", "Person To Person", and "Just About To Lose Your Clown". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic early session from Alligator Records – with Hound Dog Taylor on guitar and vocals, plus Brewer Phillips on second guitar and Ted Harvey on drums – all working in a style that's a lot leaner than other work on the label! LP, Vinyl record album

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An indie classic from Koko Taylor – a set that features the legendary Chicago blues singer working with Mighty Joe Young on guitar! Titles include "Big Boss Man", "Be What You Want To Be", "Trying To Make A Living", "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean", "I Got What It Takes", and "Happy Home". LP, Vinyl record album

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A great overseas 60s session from Sonny Boy Williamson – blowing harmonica along with his vocals – in a tight quartet that features Memphis Slim on piano, Matt Guitar Murphy on guitar, and Billie Stepney on drums on one track. LP, Vinyl record album

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Features Mel Brown on rhythm guitar and Jimmy McGriff on keyboards – plus work by The Uptown Horns! Titles include "I Ain't Drunk", "Cash Talkin", "Bending Like A Willow Tree", "Lights Are On But Nobody's Home", and "Fake ID". LP, Vinyl record album

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Titles include "Two Headed Man", "One More Shot", "Trading Post", "In The Dark", and "Eyeballin". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Potato Head Blues", "Wild Man Blues", "SOL Blues", "Gully Low Blues", "Melancholy Blues", "Weary Blues", "Twelfth Street Rag", "Willie The Weeper", "That's When I'll Come Back To You", "Alligator Crawl", and "Chicago Breakdown". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer blend of southern soul and rockabilly grit from Lonnie Mack – his first album and a really incredible effort that fuses soul, country, and rock roots in a really brilliant way! Lonnie was later known as more of a country boy-electric bluesman, but the blues on this early LP feels like a blue-eyed Bobby Bland – but maybe with a lot more guitar in the lead! The horns burst, and the organ & bass really steep the overall vibe in the two Steps From The Blues style, but the fiery guitar and vocals keep more of a early rock vibe – twang next to soul, in a really unique mode. Tracks include "Wham!", "Down And Out", "Why", "Down In The Dumps", "Memphis", "I'll Keep You Happy", "Suzie Q", "Satisfied", and "Farther On Down The Road". LP, Vinyl record album

A really hard-burning live set, and one that's led by two giants of the Japanese jazz scene – drummer Takeo Moriyama and pianist Fumio Tabashi – both of whom work here with an edge that's maybe even bolder than some of their music from back in the day! Part of the album's boldness comes from the work of Tetsuro Kawashima on tenor and Shinpei Ruike on trumpet – both players we don't know at all, but who can really set a fire with their solos at all the right moments – opening up the extended tracks with a heck of a lot of righteous power. The group also has strong basswork from Shinichi Kato, another younger player – and titles include "Watarase", "Sunrise", "Goodbye", "Alligator Dance", and "Ganbane Tohoku No 2". CD

Includes the songs "Lonesome Blues", "Big Butter and Egg Man", "Sunset Cafe Stomp", "Willie The Weeper", "Potato Head Blues", and "Alligator Crawl" – 16 tracks total. CD

Includes the songs "Willie The Weeper", "Wild Man Blues", "Chicago Breakdown", "Alligator Crawl", "Potato Head Blues", "Melancholy Blues", "Weary Blues", "Twelfth Street Rag", "Keyhole Blues", "S.O.L. Blues", "Gully Low Blues", "That's When I'll Come Back To You", "Put 'Em Down Blues", "Ory's Creole Trombone", "The Last Time", "Struttin' With Some Barbecue", "Got No Blues", "Once In A While", "I'm Not Rough", "Hotter Than That", and "Savoy Blues". CD