A standout classic from the legendary 70s soul years of Norman Connors – a tune that's maybe one of his most dancefloor-oriented numbers, but also a lot deeper than most of the disco generation too! The great Prince Phillip Mitchell sings lead vocals – soaring to the skies on waves of righteous soul that only further seal the deal for the track! 7-inch, Vinyl record

The Hammond of Wild Bill gets some great help here – including Jerome Richardson and Seldon Powell on tenor and flute, plus Mundell Lowe on guitar! LP, Vinyl record album

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A long-overdue look at the 45rpm legacy of Aretha Franklin at Atlantic Records – a set that brings together all the great singles she cut during her early years at the label – some of which you'll know as the cornerstones of her albums from the time, others that are maybe a bit more obscure! Jerry Wexler is at the production helm on all these numbers – as the man who really helped Aretha find her special style at the label – and the cuts also feature arrangements from Arif Mardin and Tom Dowd, both studio talents who'd really help Franklin open up with a new sense of power and majesty as the 60s moved on! All tracks are presented in their tight 45rpm single mixes – and titles include "Call Me", "Spirit In The Dark", "Don't Play That Song", "Border Song", "Share Your Love With Me", "My Song", "The Weight", "See Saw", "Ain't No Way", "Think", "The House That Jack Built", "I Say A Little Prayer", "Since You've Been Gone", "Baby I Love You", "Respect", "I Never Loved A Man", "Do Right Woman", "Chain Of Fools", "Don't Play That Song", "Eleanor Rigby", "Natural Woman", "You Send Me", "Tracks Of My Tears", and "I Can't See Myself Leaving You". 2CD set features 9 more tracks than the 2LP version – with titles that include "Let It Be", "You & Me", "The Thrill Is Gone", "Pledging My Love/The Clock", "Prove It", "Dr Feelgood", and "It Ain't Fair". CD

A wonderful document of a crucial year in the life of Aretha Franklin – 1967, the year in which she really found her wings, and took off in the company of Atlantic Records! Atlantic really helped Aretha find just the right sort of setting for her magnificent vocals – kind of a more sophisticated take on the southern soul styles of the time, served up here majestically on her five key singles for the year! The set is book-style, and features both the a- and b-sides of the singles – titles that include "I Never Loved A Man", "Do Right Woman", "Respect", "Dr Feelgood", "Baby I Love You", "Going Down Slow", "A Natural Woman", "Baby Baby Baby", "Chain Of Fools", and "Prove It". 7-inch, Vinyl record

A straight forward, personal and reflective late career gem from the legendary NY-reared, Nashville-based songwriter! Here Gantry delivers stripped down songcraft that would've sounded right at home in the late 60s-early 70s outlaw (by which we mean outsider) songwriting scene of which he helped lay the groundwork. If ever an underappreciated singer-songwriter earned a late career storytelling session of a record, Gantry is way up high on that list, and Nashlantis doesn't disappoint. His voice and guitar are all it takes on the best stuff here, but there's some subtly surprising bits of instrumentation here and here that work really well too, as well as unfussy guest appearances by devotees like Bill Callahan and others. Includes "Life Well Lived", "Wasted", "Where's The Woman?", "The Climb", "Closer Than The Air", "Say Sorry Later", "I Cry Quietly" and more. CD

A straight forward, personal and reflective late career gem from the legendary NY-reared, Nashville-based songwriter! Here Gantry delivers stripped down songcraft that would've sounded right at home in the late 60s-early 70s outlaw (by which we mean outsider) songwriting scene of which he helped lay the groundwork. If ever an underappreciated singer-songwriter earned a late career storytelling session of a record, Gantry is way up high on that list, and Nashlantis doesn't disappoint. His voice and guitar are all it takes on the best stuff here, but there's some subtly surprising bits of instrumentation here and here that work really well too, as well as unfussy guest appearances by devotees like Bill Callahan and others. Includes "Life Well Lived", "Wasted", "Where's The Woman?", "The Climb", "Closer Than The Air", "Say Sorry Later", "I Cry Quietly" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most amazing albums ever cut by reedman Herb Geller – a really unique overseas session from the 70s, and quite different than his initial recordings of the 50s! Herb's working here in a cool mix of electric and acoustic modes, with a vibe that's very much in the best funky MPS style – and the set also features some excellent vocals from Mark Murphy, who sings in this spacey, stretched-out way that's some of his hippest work on record – very much at the best level of his early 70s recordings for Muse! Tracks are quite long, and very hip – with long instrumental passages which are then augmented wonderfully by the vocals. Herb himself plays tenor, alto, soprano sax, and a number of flutes – and other players include Rob Franken on Fender Rhodes and Arp, Philip Catherine on guitar, Wolfgang Schluter on vibes, Palle Mikkelborg on trumpet, and Gottfried Bottger on moog and organ! Titles include the wonderfully spacey "Space A La Mode", a nice slow electric builder – and the classic "Power Of A Smile" – plus "Sudden Senility" and "Rhyme & Reason Time" – the last of which features vocals by Earl Jordan, not Murphy. LP, Vinyl record album

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Beautiful rare work from the late 60s years of Grant Green – a time when the guitarist was giving us some of his funk classics on Blue Note, and when he really seemed to be opening up his groove! That's definitely the case here – as the tracks aren't just funky, but also spin out at nicely long lengths – first on a set of tracks recorded for radio in Paris in 1969, with Green on guitar, Larry Ridley on bass, and Don Lamond on drums – working in a trio mode with a very different vibe than Grant's earlier work. Barney Kessel joins on second guitar on the tune "I Wish You Love", and other tracks include "I don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing", "Oleo", and "Untitled Blues". The second two thirds of the record are even more unbridled – and feature long live performances from the 1970 Antibes Festival – with a cool quartet that features Claude Bartee on tenor and Clarence Parker on Hammond. All tracks are well past the 10 minute mark, most pushing 20 – and titles include two versions of "Upshot", plus "Hi Heel Sneakers" and "Hurt So Bad". CD

Gryphon look like real Renaissance men on the cover – and they often sound that way, too – given that some of their instrumentation includes older woodwind instruments like the bassoon and crumhorn! Yet as the group grew, they also quickly picked up more electric elements too – yet still found a way to use these in modes that evoked a much more ancient face of England – in a style that was quite different from the straighter folk of the generation that included Pentangle or Fairport Convention, with a flavor that's maybe a bit like that of the great Jethro Tull album Songs From The Wood – although some of the later work also brings in some surprisingly strong progressive elements. This 2CD set covers the best period of the group's career – early 70s records for Transatlantic, including work from the albums Raindance, Red Queen To Gryphon Three, Gryphon, and Midnight Mushrumps – 30 track that include "Lament", "Second Spasm", "The Astrologer", "Tea Wrecks", "Juniper Suite", "Kemp's Jig", "Touch & Go", "Pastime With Good Company", "The Devil & The Farmer's Wife", "Don't Say Go", "Wallbanger", and "Down The Dog". CD

Killer work from Freddie Hubbard – some key transitional sides for Atlantic Records, and easily some of his most soulful work ever! Freddie started out as a bopper on Blue Note, but then made a great shift at Atlantic – exploring space and sound in a really wonderful way, and opening up towards some of the killer modes you'd know from his classics on CTI. There's just a bit of electricity in the mix here, as most cuts are acoustic – but they already stretch out in some hip, spiritual styles that are really great. Titles include "For BP", "Lonely Soul", "High Blues Pressure", "Midnite Soul", "Black Soldier", Interlude I", "Echoes Of Blue", "Threnody For Sharon Tate Comment", "Spacetrack", "Leap Frog", "Up Jumped Spring", "Latina", and "On The Quee Tee". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic bit of London funky guitar from Ronny Jordan – the heir apparent to Grant Green and Ivan Boogaloo Joe Jones – and one of the best new players of his generation! The set takes the older funky guitar styles of the 60s soul jazz generation, and fuses it with a 90s nujazz approach – to come up with some tight groovers that have a surprisingly classic feel, yet which also sparkle with the fresher sounds of the time – some of the hip rhythms that were bubbling around in London during the Talking Loud and early Acid Jazz years. Titles include a great remake of "So What", the jazz/hip hop classic "Get To Grips", and the cuts "Cool & Funky", "Summer Smile", "Show Me", "Nite Spice", and "After Hours". CD

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A warmly crafted set that Jon Lucien recorded on his own after bigger fame at Columbia and RCA – and a nice little record that shows that the Lucien magic was still very much in place! The set's got a gentler groove than some of his earlier records – less ambitiously jazzy, and almost more of a personal statement from Jon – recorded in a mode that mixes his own vocals and keyboards with some larger backings conducted by Richard Evans, Michel Colombier, and Billy Byers. All tracks arranged, composed, and produced by Jon – and titles include "Together As One", "Sempre Maria", "Tell Me You Love Me", "How About Tonight", "I Like It", and "Too Damn Hot". CD

A warmly crafted set that Jon Lucien recorded on his own after bigger fame at Columbia and RCA – and a nice little record that shows that the Lucien magic was still very much in place! The set's got a gentler groove than some of his earlier records – less ambitiously jazzy, and almost more of a personal statement from Jon – recorded in a mode that mixes his own vocals and keyboards with some larger backings conducted by Richard Evans, Michel Colombier, and Billy Byers. All tracks arranged, composed, and produced by Jon – and titles include "Together As One", "Sempre Maria", "Tell Me You Love Me", "How About Tonight", "I Like It", and "Too Damn Hot". LP, Vinyl record album

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2 nice tracks by this oft-overlooked east coast harmony group. "Don't Send" has a large production feel, with arrangements by Bert DeCoteaux, and a sound that almost hits the Spinners groove from the same time. "Don't Let Me Be" has great harmonies, and a solid soul sound that totally transforms the song. 7-inch, Vinyl record

A blend of jazz funk and rawer informed grooves from Harold Alexander – and actually a step into more polished vibes thanks to some Arif Mardin arrangements and a new home at Atlantic Records! Although some of the earlier records cut by reed player Harold Alexander may have been more accurately described with the title Raw Root, this one stands up a lot better today than we remembered it! It has a pretty tight electric sound, and good Atlantic soul grooves running through it – with Alexander on flutes & saxes, Joe Boner in on keyboards, Ricard Davis on bass and Brian Beaks on drums on the bulk of it, with altered personnel on "De Black Musician" and "Lady Euphoria" (which also include vocals by Tequila). Soulful backing vocals credited to Something Different and some guitar by Junior Hanson and some spacey synth by Billy Allessi. Other tracks include "Country Soul", "Raw Root", "New York Sister", and "Street Life". LP, Vinyl record album

Groovy 20 track "best of" CD compiling tracks from his Atlantic recordings of the late 60's and early 70's, with loads of his usual cool hipster jazz vocals and New Orleans piano playing. Cuts include "Seventh Son", "Swingin' Machine", "Your Mind Is On Vacation", "Your Molecular Structure", "Night Club", "That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch", "If You're Goin' To The City", and lots lots more! CD

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One of Mose Allison's first albums for Atlantic – a great set of soulful jazz vocals, done in a rootsy style that has some slight New Orleans touches – and a nice sort of beat undercurrent! The sound of the set follows nicely from Mose's earlier work for Prestige and Columbia – with Mose on piano, plus Addison Farmer on bass and Osie Johnson on drums. The set features 10 tracks in all – including "I Don't Worry About A Thing", "It Didn't Turn Out That Way", "Your Mind Is On Vacation", "Stand By", "Meet Me At No Special Place" and "The Song Is Ended". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Mose's mid 60s albums for Atlantic – recorded live, with a bit more of a hip flair than some of his earlier work for Prestige and Columbia, but still with those great vocals that went onto influence a generation of beatnik jazz singers. Mose has more than a bit of New Orleans in his tone – but he's also got some northern distance from his material, bringing a nice bit of wit into the recordings. There's a total of 11 tracks including "Parchman Farm", "Smashed", "Seventh Son", "Fool's Paradise", "Baby Please Don't Go", and "The Chaser". LP, Vinyl record album

It's the early 70s, and Mose is still going strong – grooving with a unique blend of New Orleans soul and Northern jazz influences, his own particular brand of music, timeless from the day it was born! The setting here is a live one, and Mose is playing with a trio that includes Clyde Flowers on bass and Eddie Charlton on drums. The album features a number of strong originals – including "Look What You Made Me Do", "Powerhouse", "I Don't Worry About A Thing", and "Don't Forget To Smile" – plus versions of "The Seventh Son" and "Fool's Paradise". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing record by Mose Allison – with some good funky tracks! The real key here is the fact that Mose plays electric piano and is working in a hip trio with Billy Cobham playing some funky and soulful drums! We don't know what kind of piano Mose is using, but on the tracks where he's playing the electric, it's got a jagged and raw kind of sound, almost recalling the one used on the Atlantic albums by Eugene McDaniels. Includes the great funky track "If You Only Knew", which has a real McDaniels kind of feel – plus the cuts "Western Man", "Mountains", "Ask Me Nice", "Night Club", and "Meadows". LP, Vinyl record album

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A masterpiece of mid 70s jazz rock – from an obscure combo that features work by fusion legend Todd Cochrane Bayete! Bayete recorded two wonderful albums for Prestige before this set – and although the record has him moving into a much more rock-based style than on his fusion sessions, there's still a really cosmic groove at play here – infused with Bayete's soulful vocals and strong keyboard lines! Titles include "My Pearl", "Comin Through", "One N One", "Geni Geni", "There's A Way", "ITD", "Automatic Man", and "Atlantis Rising Theme". CD

Sure, it's not classic funky Average White Band, but the album's a great one that showcases the group's best second suit – their smooth compressed late 70s soul sound – a great evolution of their earlier groove, and one that showed them as a great mainstream soul act! The tunes are a bit mellower overall, but still have a lot of crackle and warmth – and Hamish Stuart's lost none of his vocal charm, and in fact may even sound better in a more laidback, less funky heavy setting! With the great break track "Stop The Rain" – and the cuts "When Will You Be Mine", "Please Don't Fall In Love", "Walk On By", "Feel No Fret", "Atlantic Avenue", "Ace Of Hearts", "Too Late To Cry" and "Fire Burning". CD

Four massive albums from Average White Band – served up in one 2CD package! Feel No Fret is a great set that showcases the group's best second suit – their smooth compressed late 70s soul sound – a great evolution of their earlier groove, and one that showed them as a great mainstream soul act! The tunes are a bit mellower overall, but still have a lot of crackle and warmth – and Hamish Stuart's lost none of his vocal charm, and in fact may even sound better in a more laidback, less funky heavy setting! With the great break track "Stop The Rain" – and the cuts "When Will You Be Mine", "Please Don't Fall In Love", "Walk On By", "Feel No Fret", "Atlantic Avenue", "Ace Of Hearts", "Too Late To Cry" and "Fire Burning". Volume VIII is something of a greatest hits record by the group – one that bore the original tag "This album gives the listener a rare opportunity to taste the past and present of the Average White Band." What does that mean? Well, it means that the band only came up with 4 new songs for the record – including "Kiss Me", "Love Won't Get In The Way", "Love Gives Love Takes Away", and "Growing Pains" – all good numbers, though, and expanded here with the bonus track "Miss Sun". Shine features great later grooves from Average White Band – a real gem from the point when the group was settling nicely into a mellow soul vein! By this point, the combo wisely realized that they couldn't keep things going forever as a funky group – so they laid back and fell into their second strongest suit – the kind of mellow stepping rhythms that sparkled nicely between the bigger cuts on earlier records, produced to perfection here with a shimmeringly soulful feel! The album's got a mature feel, and the lyrics are often understated and well-balanced – no easy crossover soul or adult contemporary cliches – just the kind of warmth the band was always known best for. Titles include "Into The Night", "Our Time Has Come", "Catch Me", "For You For Love", "Help is On The Way", "If Love Only Lasts For One Night", and "Shine". Also features bonus tracks "Wasn't I Your Friend" and "Let's Go Round Again (12" version)". Cupid's In Fashion is from the early 80s, but still totally great – a record that has the Average White Band stepping along in smooth jazzy style – still with all their best 70s roots intact! The group are tight, yet still far from commercial – beautifully suited to the warmly soulful sounds they'd reached by this point – less of the hard funk of before, but in its place a mature groove that's totally great. Titles include "You Wanna Belong", "Cupid's In Fashion", "You're My Number One", "Love's A Heartache", "I Believe", and "Easier Said Than Done". CD

Their classic double live set from the mid 70s, and as tight a batch of grooves as you'll find on their studio albums! In fact, this one might even be tighter, as it's got a good set of classic tracks performed live, with a sound that's a little bit more uptight and open than the studio versions– and which is especially freewheeling on the instrumental solos. Many tracks go for a lot longer than on the original versions – and there's a version of "Pick Up The Pieces" that runs for 18 minutes, a version of "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" that grooves for 8 minutes, a version of "School Boy Crush" that jams for 7 minutes, plus nice takes on the cuts "Cut The Cake", "Love Your Life", and "Cloudy". CD

One of the biggest crossover funk groups of all time – and when the smoke finally cleared, they were actually pretty darn good musicians! AWB's right up there with Kool & The Gang and Earth Wind & Fire for sheer pop 70s funkiness – and despite what you might think about a bunch of white guys noodling around like they're soul stars, you can't argue with classics like "Pick Up The Pieces", "Person To Person", "Cut The Cake", "Schoolboy Crush", "If I Ever Lose This Heaven", "Cloudy", "A Love Of Your Own", and "Work To Do" – all of which are on this set! There's a total of 18 cuts in all, and other titles include "You Got It", "Queen Of My Soul", "Got The Love", "Soul Searching", and "Your Love Is A Miracle". CD

Sublime mid 70s work from The Average White Band – and a record that really has the group deepening their groove a bit – moving past the heavier funk of their roots, into some mellower grooves that are totally great! There's a great undercurrent of jazz in some of the playing here – a real consciousness for clever changes, hip instrumental flourishes, and some other fusion-inspired moments – although all delivered with an understated quality that's mighty nice. The feel's a bit like The Headhunters on their second album, or some of the great Wayne Henderson groups on Fantasy – a great mix of jazz funk and soul that makes the record one of our favorites by the group. Titles include "Sunny Days", "Digging Deeper", "Love Your Life", "Queen Of My Soul", and the stellar mellow "A Love Of Your Own". CD

In case you don't get the joke, the title's a play on the fact that Atlantic Records had just been acquired by Warner Communications – now fully a major label at the end of the 70s! That fact doesn't stop the album from being a good one, though – and AWB work here with Arif Mardin on a set of tunes that still have a fair bit of the funky touches of earlier records, but which also go for a few mellower tunes too – of the sort that were becoming the group's strongest suit at the time. "She's A Dream" is a great example of this style – a nicely gliding number that still has a nice groove at the bottom – and while the set doesn't include any standout hits, it's still a great example of why AWB could pull off this sort of record a lot better than most of their contemporaries! Titles include "She's A Dream", "Warmer Communications", "Price Of The Dream", "Sweet & Sour", "One Look Over My Shoulder", "Your Love Is A Miracle", and "Same Feeling Different Song". On Benny & Us, Ben E King joins the Average White Band for this sweet 70s set – a killer record that not only stands as one of King's best efforts of the decade, but one that also gives the group a great new frontman! Ben's not the only singer on the record, but his presence here can definitely be felt – deepening up the grooves nicely, and giving the already-great AWB sound an even more badass feel! Titles include the classic "Star In The Ghetto", a funky remake of "What Is Soul", an earlier hit for King – plus "Keepin It To Myself", "Imagine", "Someday We'll All Be Free", "Get It Up For Love", and "The Message". CD

An incredible little record – and the set where it really all comes together for this legendary funky jazz group! Azymuth were already great on their debut, although maybe a little experimental at times – but here, they really find the soulful groove that later got them big fame on the US scene – effortlessly blending their tight jazz skills with a dose of samba soul, and turning out some wonderfully groovy music in the process! There's clearly an influence here from the best years of Earth Wind & Fire – but also more of the edge that you'd expect from the young trio – as the amazing Jose Roberto Bertrami blows us away with his wickedly sharp keyboard solos, as Alexandre Malheiros and Mamao create these beautiful rhythms that go way past anything you might have expected from a trio. The whole thing's wonderful – one of the most soulful Brazilian records of the 70s – and titles include the great cuts "Tarde", "Tamborim Cuica Ganza Berimbau", "Falcon Love Call", and "Aguia Nao Come Mosca". CD

An incredible little record – and the set where it really all comes together for this legendary funky jazz group! Azymuth were already great on their debut, although maybe a little experimental at times – but here, they really find the soulful groove that later got them big fame on the US scene – effortlessly blending their tight jazz skills with a dose of samba soul, and turning out some wonderfully groovy music in the process! There's clearly an influence here from the best years of Earth Wind & Fire – but also more of the edge that you'd expect from the young trio – as the amazing Jose Roberto Bertrami blows us away with his wickedly sharp keyboard solos, as Alexandre Malheiros and Mamao create these beautiful rhythms that go way past anything you might have expected from a trio. The whole thing's wonderful – one of the most soulful Brazilian records of the 70s – and titles include the great cuts "Tarde", "Tamborim Cuica Ganza Berimbau", "Falcon Love Call", and "Aguia Nao Come Mosca". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Azymuth's best-remembered albums from their American years on Milestone – a really killer classic that beautifully blends Brazilian and American styles of fusion! There's a simple, elegant feel to these tunes that takes off nicely from the group's previous album for Atlantic in Brazil – a pushing forward of the soulful sides of their style, but with just the right blend of quirkier elements as well – one that still keeps the edge of the early years, yet helps the group reach out with a wonderfully warm sound! Most tracks are quite spare, and without any too-smooth polishing in production – and titles include the classic "Jazz Carnival", a funky fusion classic if there ever was one – plus "Light As A Feather", "Avenida Das Manguerias", "This Exists", "Partido Alto", "Dona Olimpia", "Amazonia", and "Young Embrace". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic work by maestro Burt Bacharach – subtle genius, and an album that offers more to us every time we listen to it! Burt's work has been recorded by many – but few ever gave it the kind of treatment that he did – as you'll hear in this brilliant array of sweeping strings, sly syncopation, and well-placed instrumental solos! The sound is breathtaking throughout – a new level of maturity and majesty for 60s instrumental pop – and the record's an enduring classic that deserves a place in every sensitive record collection. Includes the amazing cut "Pacific Coast Highway", plus great versions of other classics, like "Wanting Things", "She's Gone Away", "Knowing When To Leave", and "This Guy's In Love With You". CD

The kind of overlooked, understated gem that should have put Badfinger at the top of the charts in the mid 70s – a record of impeccable songwriting, really great production, and a refinement of an earlier musical ideal that really points the way forward – all while avoiding most of the pitfalls of some of the group's UK contemporaries! There's a quality here that almost reminds us of the more straightforward elements of Wings, but with a rootsy vibe too – almost a bit like Little Feat, but definitely British in terms of the way the vocals come across. The album's overflowing with hooks, and the kinds of songs that should have been huge – and maybe that's what makes it such a treat all these many years later. Titles include "Just A Chance", "Got To Get Out Of Here", "Dennis", "No One Knows", "In The Meantime/Some Other Time", "King Of The Load", "Love Time", and "Meanwhile Back At The Ranch/Should I Smoke". LP, Vinyl record album

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Stunning sides by one of the greatest female singers in R&B during the 50s – maybe second only to Ruth Brown, and presented in similar Atlantic Records glory! Titles include "Bop Ting A Ling", "Tra La La", "CC Rider", "Saved", "Jim Dandy", "Tweedlee Dee", "Tomorrow Night", Soul On Fire", "I Cried A Tear", and "Shake A Hand". LP, Vinyl record album

Bessie Smith by LaVern Baker – a great blend of modes that really comes off great! Instead of sounding like a throwback blues album, the set comes across with a nice degree of contemporary class – thanks in part to a jazzy presentation that's a bit different than some of Baker's other music of the time – and which sports reeds from Sahib Shihab, tenor from Paul Quinichette, trumpet from Buck Clayton, and trombone from Jimmy Cleveland! Baker's voice is in fine form in this comfortable setting – and really works magic with tracks that include "After You've Gone", "Preaching The Blues", "Empty Bed Blues", "Back Water Blues", and "Gimme A Pigfoot". LP, Vinyl record album

Atlantic's great early soul singer delivers some fairly traditional tunes in her own gutsy R&B style. Precious Memories features LaVern singing 12 gospel tunes like "Didn't It Rain", "Too Close", "Without A God", "Touch Me, Lord Jesus", and "Journey To The Sky". LaVern's fine, but the real treat is the backing by Alex Bradford and his singers, one of the most soulful gospel groups of the late 50s! LP, Vinyl record album

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Excellent sounds from Ojo Balingo – a Nigerian juju artist from the same stretch as King Sunny Ade – but one whose music is much more obscure to audiences on this side of the Atlantic! Balingo's group here has the loose, spontaneous vibe that characterizes juju at its best – this real sense of jamming, especially in the criss-crossing of the percussion, which is tremendous throughout – a real driving force of the music, and exploding with all these melodic elements as much as rhythmic ones – so much so, that the talking between the drums speaks volumes, even before the vocals come into the mix. The whole thing's a masterpiece of creative percussion, mixed with other elements that creep in a bit more strongly on side two – and titles include "Oba Mimo Olorun Ayo", "Ayo Igbala Ni Mofe, "Igbe Eiye Oloburo", "Jide Babaloa & Bayo Babalola", and "Ile Aiye Ile Ese Ile Aiye Ogun". CD

Excellent sounds from Ojo Balingo – a Nigerian juju artist from the same stretch as King Sunny Ade – but one whose music is much more obscure to audiences on this side of the Atlantic! Balingo's group here has the loose, spontaneous vibe that characterizes juju at its best – this real sense of jamming, especially in the criss-crossing of the percussion, which is tremendous throughout – a real driving force of the music, and exploding with all these melodic elements as much as rhythmic ones – so much so, that the talking between the drums speaks volumes, even before the vocals come into the mix. The whole thing's a masterpiece of creative percussion, mixed with other elements that creep in a bit more strongly on side two – and titles include "Oba Mimo Olorun Ayo", "Ayo Igbala Ni Mofe, "Igbe Eiye Oloburo", "Jide Babaloa & Bayo Babalola", and "Ile Aiye Ile Ese Ile Aiye Ogun". LP, Vinyl record album