Volume 3 of a definitive collection of early Ellington tracks recorded between 1928 and 1934. CD

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Titles include "Beijo De Longe", "Maria Elena", "Flor Di Nha Esperanca", "Sorte", "Carnaval De Sao Vincente", "Paraiso Di Atlantico", and "Roma Criola". CD

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32 songs. CD

Performed and improvised by percussionist Evelyn Glennie. CD

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Features Tom Harrell on trumpet and flugelhorn, Don Braden and Joe Lovano on tenor saxophone Gary Smulyan on bass clarinet, Rob Botti on oboe, Steve Turre on trombone, Kenny Werner on piano, Larry Grenadier on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. CD

A real oddity from George Harrison – a record of abstract electronics, cut right around the same time as his bigger mainstream solo hits! The record is a highly experimental one – a session that has Harrison working with Bernie Krause, and exploring territory that's much more in the late 60s Limelight Records mode than it is that of Apple – which is quite possibly why the label is listed as "Zapple", not "Apple"! Each tune takes up a full side of the album – and builds slowly out of soundshapes and textures, very much in the manner of some of the best work from the academic electronic music centers in the US at the time. And while the album may be a bit loose and unfocused overall, it's actually got a really appealing quality that we love a lot – a sense of free and naive exploration that's pretty great. Titles include "Under The Mersey Wall" and "No Time Or Space". LP, Vinyl record album

With 19 tracks including "Fine Dinner", "She's Funny That Way", "Say It Isn't So", "Sheik Of Araby", "Angel Face", "Body & Soul", "Bouncing With Bean", and "Bean Stalks Again". CD

Performed by Renee Fleming, Sylvia McNair, Jennifer Larmore, Frederica Non Stade, Nicolle Foland, Zheng Cao, Kristin Clayton, Carol Vaness, and Brian Asawa with Jake Heggie on piano and Emil Miland on cello. CD

Classic Hammond and alto from this legendary team – just about the only way you'll get their 60s work for RCA on CD! CD

A really great, but very unusual John Lee Hooker album – one that was recorded in London with backing from later blues rock heroes The Groundhogs – a group who do a really great job here of hanging back, and letting Hook really take the lead! All those raw, gritty charms of Hooker's music are firmly in place – tunes that build with spare but intense guitar, and which have that sort of open, spacious quality of production that makes the core essence of the man himself ring out with all its glory! Later versions of the record added in a few more elements, but this set is the core original recording – with titles that include "Mai Lee", "It's A Crazy Mixed Up World", "Seven Days & Seven Nights", "Bad Luck & Trouble", "Waterfront", and "It's Raining Here". LP, Vinyl record album

A Japanese-only session from Freddie Hubbard – recorded during the trumpeter's back-to-basics period during the early 80s – with excellent backing by a quintet that includes Ricky Ford on tenor, Kenny Barron on piano, Joe Chambers on drums, and Cecil McBee on bass. The sound is open and fluid – relatively traditional, but with a nicely deep sense of spirit – almost in the manner of some of the recordings older giants were making over at Columbia at the end of the 70s. Most of the set is mellow, and Freddie often plays with a muted horn – soling in a semi-Milesish way on the ballads, with kind of a sparkling floating quality to his tone. Titles include "My Romance", "The Rose Tattoo", "Time After Time", and "Embraceable You". CD

A true masterpiece of late 60s pop – music originally recorded for a TV special in 1969 – and one of the Kinks' greatest albums ever! The semi-concept album traces the woes, worries, and hopes of a British family, as one half is on the verge of emigration to Australia. The work comes out of the sort of songwriting that Ray Davies had been perfecting on albums like Village Green and Something Else – but the overall style is more sophisticated, yet not nearly as self-indulgent as some of the 70s concept clunkers. Instead, the songs are brilliantly tight, and stand on their own well past the concept of the original album. Titles include "Victoria", "Brainwashed", "Australia", "Shangri-La", "Mr Churchill Says", and "Yes Sir No Sir". CD

Soaring, righteous sounds from Lady Blackbird – a set that's even more powerful overall than her previous record – and that's saying a heck of a lot! The set has some numbers that have a gospel-drenched inspiration – rising up and soaring to the heavens – and even the mellower moments bubble with an intensity that's very strong – this kind of undercurrent that creates a nice sort of soulful tension, and which really fits the spirit of Lady Blackbird's vocals! Producer Chris Seefried's also clearly a key part of the sound here – and titles include "Man On A Boat", "Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled", "Someday We'll Be Free", "Matter Of Time", "The City", and "When The Game Is Played On You". CD

Soaring, righteous sounds from Lady Blackbird – a set that's even more powerful overall than her previous record – and that's saying a heck of a lot! The set has some numbers that have a gospel-drenched inspiration – rising up and soaring to the heavens – and even the mellower moments bubble with an intensity that's very strong – this kind of undercurrent that creates a nice sort of soulful tension, and which really fits the spirit of Lady Blackbird's vocals! Producer Chris Seefried's also clearly a key part of the sound here – and titles include "Man On A Boat", "Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled", "Someday We'll Be Free", "Matter Of Time", "The City", and "When The Game Is Played On You". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Watch What Happens", "You Must Believe In Spring", "Friday Fugue", "Once Upon A Summertime", "J & B", "The Saddest Thing Of All", and "Splittons". CD

Brilliant stuff – and the place to start with Nilsson! Long before his style had become cliched, Nilsson cut these mad albums of wonderful little songs – sort of a cross between folksy singer-songwriter work, and more baroque-oriented styles, like those of Scott Walker. The key element here is whimsy – and Nilsson let arranger George Tipton take him all over the map, from the somber tone of his classic "Without Her", to the spacious joy of "River Deep Mountain High", to the silliness of "1941", and the sad beauty of "She's Leaving Home". The CD features all tracks from the albums Pandemonium Shadow Show and Aeriel Ballet – 25 tracks that include (along with the ones above) the titles "One", "The Wailing Of The Willow", "Bath", "Everybody's Talkin", "Little Cowboy", and "Freckles". Plus, the set also features the album Aerial Pandemonium Ballet, which features new versions, remixes, and alternate takes of tunes from the first two albums – offering up some great takes on tunes that already sound pretty darn wonderful! All that, and the set also features 4 bonus tracks – "Sister Marie", "Wasting My Time", "Miss Butter's Lament", and "As I Wander Lonely". CD

Brilliant work by Omar – his 3rd album, supposedly a real break-out effort, but a record that disappeared almost immediately, thanks to poor handling by the label! The record's an excellent batch of instant-classic soul tracks – done with a modern production twist, but still very much in Omar's trademark Stevie Wonder-influenced style – pure, simple, home-made, and with an integrity that's missing from most other male soul singers. Omar takes a lot of chances on the set, but it really pays off on the album's warm and personal tunes – the best of which include "Little Boy", "I'm Still Standing", "Saturdays", "Can't Get Nowhere", and "It's All About". CD

Omar's second album for BMG – and an instant classic set of soul tracks that sadly almost disappeared as soon as it was released! The album shows Omar growing even stronger than ever both as a singer and songwriter – moving from the indie feel of earlier work into a confident role as one of the few strong male soul talents of the end of the 20th century. Omar's voice is heavenly, as always – almost an electric-sounding pitch that works perfectly with the keyboards and instrumentation on the set – and his songs have a mature quality that is at once personal and professional. The album's filled with some great songs and wonderful surprises – like Omar's cover of The Stranglers' "Golden Brown", and tracks that include "Say Nothin" (2 versions), "This Is Not A Love Song", "Fallin", "Music For The Pipe", "Waiting Game", and "Spring Step". LP, Vinyl record album

Twenty tracks from one of the greatest duos in country music! CD

A fantastic double length set from Pentangle – a record that's certainly noteworthy for the twin guitars of Bert Jansch and John Renbourn, and for the heavenly vocals of Jacqui McShee – but one that also has this amazing rhythm pulse, with subtle jazz currents – thanks to work from Danny Thompson on bass and Terry Cox on drums! CD

Strictly Bud Powell, in the best sense of the word – as the album's a sharp batch of trio tracks recorded for RCA in the 50s, and a great showcase for Bud's firey talents on the piano! The rhythm combo features bold work on drums from Art Taylor, alongside the bass of George Duvivier – but Powell's definitely the leading light here, as the album features some of his tremendously deft work on the keys throughout. There's a nice tension to the material – played with a strength that matches most of Bud's other work from the time – but a bit different than some of his other recordings for Verve and Blue Note. The set features 11 tracks in all – and titles include "Time Was", "Jump City", "Elegy", "Coscrane", and "Topsy Turvy". CD

A classic French session from one of the greatest American jazz guitarists of the 50s – the legendary Jimmy Raney, a player who mixed his hard-edge tone with a magically fluid groove! Jimmy's playing here on some great single-note lines – alongside a set of players that include Bobby White on drums, Red Mitchell on bass, and Sonny Clark on piano – coming together in a relaxed, intimate format – one that lets Jimmy's guitar get ample space to stretch out on the set. Titles include "Once In A While", "Body & Soul", "Stella By Starlight", and "You Go To My Head", along with alternate takes. CD

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Sam Rivers on soprano sax, tenor sax, and flute – with Greg Osby, Steve Coleman, Chico Freeman, and Hamiet Bluiett on reeds – plus Joseph Bowie on trombone, Baikida Carroll and Ralph Alessi on trumpet, and others. CD

A startling meeting of two generations of tenor sax – recorded during one of Sonny Rollins' best periods on record, but featuring some even more amazing work from Coleman Hawkins! The album's proof that in his later years, Hawkins was a modernist who could match wits with the best players of the 60s – and blowing here with Rollins, there's an equal amount of freshness and intensity shared by both players, old and young. The backing group is equally modern too – with Paul Bley on piano, Henry Grimes on bass, and Roy McCurdy on drums – who together spur both Hawk and Sonny into solos that never fail to amaze! Tracks include "At McKies", "All The Things You Are", "Summertime", and "Yesterdays". CD

Vibes, strings, keyboards, and vocals – the heavenly sound of the Salsoul Orchestra, one of the greatest disco outfits of the 70s! At the time, the group were ubiquitous on the dancefloor scene – but the amazing thing to our ears is how great these tunes still sound after all these years – still tight, right, and funky at the best places – gliding along with a sound that's classy yet soulful at the same time. The group were the brainchild of Philly soul maestro Vince Montana – who'd cut his teeth in the Sigma scene for years, and stepped out in the mid 70s with this fully-formed vision of a larger disco orchestra – one that countless others tried to copy, but could never catch the groove as well as Montana. Titles include "Getaway","Street Sense", "212 N 12th", "Seconds", "Ohh I Love It", "Runaway", "It Don't Have To Be Funky", "How High", "Magic Bird Of Fire", and "Take Some Time Out". LP, Vinyl record album

Pretty darn amazing – and one of the campier vocal jazz albums on RCA from the late 50s! Lizabeth sings in a "guy crazy" mode that these days would really only be the province of drag acts – and it's compelling to hear a record like this, in which songs like "Men", "He is A Man", "Legalize My Name", and "It's So Nice To Have A Man Around The House" are taken at a relatively serious tone. Henri Rene handled the arrangements, and the record has a great version of "Can't Get Out Of This Mood" that begins with a cool monologue. Lizabeth is a real looker, too – and the photo on the front is practically worth the price of the record! CD

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Includes Horace Tapscott's Giant Is Awakened in it's entirety and four of the five tracks from Carter & Bradford's Flight For Four. CD

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One of the catchiest early songs by The Virgin Prunes – a cut that captures the group at a time when they were still light enough in their approach – so that the track does a great job of mixing the vocals of Gavin Friday with some upbeat rhythms and plenty of spooky guitar lines and keyboards! The "vibeakimbo" remix is longer, with a nice breakdown in the middle – and the single also features the slower, spookier "Dave-Id Is Dead". 12-inch, Vinyl record

Rare work from Muddy Waters – a set of tracks all recorded overseas, at the famous Montreux Jazz Festival – but during that strong 70s moment when Muddy had really focused his sound, and was reaching out to cross global boundaries and touch a whole new generation with his sound! The Montreux vibe is always one that's very faithful to the artist – audiences at that festival aren't the sort to be given watered-down, commercial pap – and that's definitely the vibe here, as the material resonates with any of Waters' best 70s live material for other labels, with a really great sound, even from the stage. The set features performances from Muddy Waters appearances in 1972, 1974, and 1977 – and titles include "Same Thing", "Howlin Wolf", "Still A Fool", "Trouble No More", "Rock Me Baby", "Long Distance Call", "Mannish Boy", "Nobody Knows Chicago Like I Do", "County Jail", "I'm Ready", "Electric Man", and "Can't Get No Grindin". LP, Vinyl record album

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A really great collection of work from De-Lite Records – one that goes way way past the bigger hits on the label from Kool & The Gang and the Kay-Gees! Instead, this one really digs deep – and comes up with rare 45s for a host of artists that we didn't even know recorded for De-Lite – obscure but great material that shows just how tied to the east coast scene the label was before it starting hitting the charts and the clubs! There's lots here you'll be hard-pressed to track down otherwise – and titles include "The Story Of Our Love" and "It Really Hurts Me Girl" by The Carstairs, "Super Soul Music" and "I Got To Get Close To You" by Yvonne Daniels, "Darling Baby" and "I Wish It Would Rain" by Beverly Hammonds, "I Need You" and "I'll Always Love You" by Felton Burks, "I Smell Trouble" by Johnny De'Vigne, "Love Making" and "When A Woman Loves A Man" by Jean Battle, and "I Saw You There" and "Keep Away" by The Appointments. LP, Vinyl record album

Great grooves galore – a sweet selection of tracks from the late 60s onwards, none of which were made available to the public at the time! The French Tele Music company was one of those secret sound library labels – recording top shelf tracks during the 70s, but then only passing them along to TV, radio, and film producers – for possible use in later projects! This meant that there was a rich array of wonderful sounds that never made it to records that the public could buy in stores – and the result is a collection like this, which is overflowing with killer grooves that you're not likely to have in your record collection at all. Styles range from funky jazz to clubby grooves, with plenty of soundtrack-styled funk numbers in the mix – and titles include "Gang Train" by Bernard Estardy, "West Coast Drive" by Pierre Alain Dahan & Mat Camison, "Mitsuko" by Jean Jacques Debout, "Percussionissimo" by Hervey Roy, "Suspense Time" by Michel Gonet, "Meteor One" by Sauveur Mallia, "Pop Percussions" by Janko Nilovic, "Rocket 2" by Bernard Lubat, and "Les Copans De La Basse" by Guy Pedersen. 26 tracks in all – selected by Lord Funk & DJ LC! LP, Vinyl record album

Harry Allen on tenor saxophone with Guilherme Monteiro and Jay Berliner on guitar, Sumiko Fukatsu on flute, Ron Carter on bass, Grady Tate on drums and Joe Ascione on percussion. CD

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Steve Coleman featuring the groups Council of Balance & Five Elements – an incredible lineup including George Lewis on trombone, David Gilmore on guitar, Andy Milne on piano, and Ravi Coltrane on saxophone. CD

The long hinted at full duo effort from Danger Mouse & Black Thought – which despite the title arrives with no shortcuts taken by either party – they got to the highest level after decades of grinding and stellar play! Danger Mouse hasn't produced a straight-up, classic-schooled gritty hip hop album in quite a while and he couldn't have a finer foil than Black Thought – and guest spots include an archival verse from Danger Mouse's late partner MF Doom, appearances by Raekwon, Run The Jewels, Kid Sister and others. Titles includes "Cheat Codes", "Sometimes", "Darkest Part" with Raekwon & Kid Sister, "No Gold Teeth", "Belize" with the late great MF Doom, "Aquamarine" with Michael Kiwanuka, "Identical Death", "Strangers" with A$ap Rocky & Run The Jewels, "Violas And Lupitas" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Gil plays Jimi? Sounds like a gimmick, but it comes off pretty darn great – and it helps you forgive him for trying to convince the kids that he's not as old as his grey hair might make you think! As always with Evans, the key to the album is a beautiful balance between the strength of the players and vision of the arrangements – a hip mix of musicians who include Billy Harper on tenor and flute, Marvin Hannibal Peterson on trumpet, and both Ryo Kawasaki and John Abercrombie on guitars! Arrangements are great too – handled by Tom Malone, Warren Smith, and Howard Johnson – all of whom make the album way more than just an instrumental reading of Jimi Hendrix tunes – and instead a great platform for improvisation that uses tunes that include "Up From The Skies", "Foxy Lady", "Gypsy Eyes", "Voodoo Chile", "Angel", "Crosstown Traffic", and "Castles Made of Sand". CD

Jimmy Greene on tenor and soprano saxophone and flute, Darren Barrett on trumpet and flugelhorn, Steve Davis on trombone, Aaron Goldberg on piano and Rhodes, Dwayne Burno in bass, Eric McPherson on drums, and Kahlil Kwame Bell on percussion. CD

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One of 3 albums that vocalist Lurlean Hunter cut for RCA during the 50s – all of them very nice, in a sophisticated jazz club style that's not as well remembered these days. This album has her singing with Phil Moore's orchestra – a perfect backdrop for her dusky style. Titles include "Kiss Me Again", "If I Could Be With You", "Nobody's Heart", "Some Other Time", and "Under A Blanket Of Blue". CD

Amazing work from the great Jon Lucien – and probably his best-ever record! The album has Jon hitting a totally unified vision of spacey soul – bringing in elements of Brazilian music and touches of his Carribean roots, fusing them together with a sweet jazzy style and one of the most compelling voices we've ever heard in soul music. It takes courage to be this gentle and sincere, and although the record was never a hit when it was released, it's been a perpetual favorite of groovers for many many years – thanks to the depth of Lucien's lyrics, and the unique range of rhythms in the set! Includes the funky "Would You Believe in Me", the space "Lady Love", and the tracks "Kuenda", "Satan", "Love Everlasting", and soooo many more. Essential soul from one of the 70's most righteous artists – and probably the best place to start sampling his rich career! CD

Terrace Martin is an artist who just keeps on getting deeper and deeper over the years – an already-great jazz musician, but one who's widened his scope to touch on broader currents of soul and hip hop – all of which really open up with the jazz-based energy at the core! At some level, this record might be to Martin's career what the Black Radio project was to Robert Glasper – as Terrace opens the door to all-star guests who include Kim Burrell, Leon Bridges, Ty Dolla $ign, Kendrick Lamar, Kamasi Washington, and even Glasper himself – while also finding space to serve up a few key tracks on his own, without any guests – tracks that may well be some of our favorite on the album. Titles include "Turning Poison Into Medicine", "Drones", "Leave Us Be", "Don't Let Go", "Listen", "Sick Of Cryin", "Leimert Park", "Tapped", and "Griots Of The Crenshaw District". LP, Vinyl record album

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Really beautiful work from Pat Metheny, but a set that showcases his work more as a composer than a performer – two longer tracks that both have a different sound than his regular material! "Four Paths Of Light" is a suite in four parts, performed by acoustic guitarist Jason Vieux with this really wonderful sound – almost a criss-crossing of some of Metheny's musical ideas with an older history of stringed instrumentation. "Road To The Sun" is another four part work, handled by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet – a group who take a surprisingly gentle approach to the material, with interwoven strings that match some of the complexity of Pat Metheny's own performance! CD features a bonus track – a version of the Arvo Part tune "Fur Alina" – performed by Pat Metheny on a 42 string guitar! CD

One Tito Puente's finest albums for RCA, with a tight hard bunch of cuts that have a Cuban big band sound, and a lot more drive to them than some of Tito's other work for the label. Ray Bryant wrote the great track "Cuban Fantasy", and Tito contributed most of the other tunes on the set – a really unique batch of material that includes "Yambeque", "Elegua Chango", "Que Sera", and "Cha Cha Cha De Los Pollos". The percussion is nice and hard, and the band grooves in tight ensemble playing throughout! CD

Features arrangements from Neal Hefti! CD

Obscure vocal session cut by New Orleans singer LaVergne Smith, and recorded in the Crescent City along with a local group that included Red Tyler, Wallace Davenport, and Earl Palmer. The material is bluesy and standard, and LaVergne's soulful voice wraps a bit of New Orleans in every track. Titles include "Blue Prelude", "Out of Nowhere", and "I Almost Lost My Mind". CD

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The second album from Too Short, and like the first, a set that firmly established both the Cali scene and the Bay Area as a hotbed of harder-hitting hip hop! And sure, there were countless later gangsta acts that slide into the sorts of cliches that often marred the genre – but back at the start, folks like Too Short, Ice T, and NWA were really exploding with a sense of message that was quite a surprise to anyone whose ears were pointed to the east – really opening the door for countless other scenes to add their two cents – including the big wave that would soon rise from the south. The whole thing still sounds surprisingly fresh all these many years later – and titles include "Life Is Too Short", "I Ain't Trippin", "Nobody Does It Better", "Cuss Words", "City Of Dope", "Don't Fight The Feelin", "Rhymes", and "Pimp The Ho". CD

Harry Allen on tenor saxophone, Michael Moore on bass, Jake Hanna on drums, and Dave McKenna on piano. CD

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Nice soundtrack to the now-legendary film by Bruce Weber that tracked Chet Baker during some of the last days of his life. The set's got a nice mix of vocal and instrumental tracks, with Chet in fine enough form at the time of the recording. Titles include "You're My Thrill", "Moon & Sand", "Zingaro", "My One & Only Love", and "Almost Blue". CD

The session was recorded in Rome in 1962, at a time when Chet's star had fallen quite a bit on the American scene, and it features him working with some of the hippest European players at the time – like Rene Thomas on guitar, Bobby Jaspar on tenor and flute, Amadeo Tomassi on piano, and Daniel Humair on drums. Titles include "Blues In The Closet", "Barbados", "Star Eyes", "Pent Up House", and "Ballata In Forma Di Blues". CD

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Titles include "When You Wish Upon A Star", "Spring Is Here", "Speak Low", "All The Things You Are", and "You Don't Know What Love Is". CD

A swing-hearted set from trumpeter Dick Collins – one that has the musician working with three other hornmen in a tight trumpet frontline! The record's got some relatively full arrangement, but swings nicely with tracks that stretch out a bit more than usual for RCA – and tenors get their play too, thanks to a "brothers" styled group that features Al Cohn, Bill Perkins, and Richie Kamuca. Some of the better cuts stretch past the 6 minute mark – supported by rhythms from Nat Pierce on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar, Red Kelly on bass, and Chuck Flores on drums – and titles include "The Winter of My Discontent", "Donna Mia", "Northern Comfort", and "Hold Me Hold Me Hold Me". CD

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Gil plays Jimi? Sounds like a gimmick, but it comes off pretty darn great – and it helps you forgive him for trying to convince the kids that he's not as old as his grey hair might make you think! As always with Evans, the key to the album is a beautiful balance between the strength of the players and vision of the arrangements – a hip mix of musicians who include Billy Harper on tenor and flute, Marvin Hannibal Peterson on trumpet, and both Ryo Kawasaki and John Abercrombie on guitars! Arrangements are great too – handled by Tom Malone, Warren Smith, and Howard Johnson – all of whom make the album way more than just an instrumental reading of Jimi Hendrix tunes – and instead a great platform for improvisation that uses tunes that include "Up From The Skies", "Foxy Lady", "Gypsy Eyes", "Voodoo Chile", "Angel", "Crosstown Traffic", and "Castles Made of Sand". CD

Lovely stuff! The work of singer Cesara Evoria is remixed by a host of modern club talents – no surprise, as her best tracks of the past few years have been getting plenty of action on the 12" front – taking her from the world music scene into the clubs, with very surprising results! The record is really pretty darn wonderful overall – appealing to fans of a modern groove, but touched with all the depth, soul, and history of Cesara's fantastic voice. Titles include "Angola" remixed by Pepe Braddock, "Miss Perfumado" remixed by 4 Hero, "Nutridinha" remixed by Kerri Chandler, "Besame Mucho" remixed by Senor Coconut, "Angola" remixed by Carl Craig, "Negue" remixed by Chris Prolific, "Sangue De Beironia" remixed by Francois K, and "Bondade E Maldade" remixed by Osunlade. CD

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A great spinoff session from the Duke Ellington group – cool small combo material with Clark Terry on trumpet, Paul Gonsalves on tenor, and Jimmy Woode on bass – almost similar to the players' work for Chess/Argo at the same time! CD

Not just disco nights, but some great mellow moments too – a wonderfully well-rounded classic from this great quartet – as tight and groovy as it is cool and classy! By the time of this debut, the group had already had plenty of 70s soul experience as The Rhythm Makers – a previous name for the lineup, and a combo with a great reputation for dancefloor grooves that were tight, but never too uptight – kind of the best funky soul styles of the time! This album definitely continues that tradition, with a sound that's leaner than most mainstream disco of the time – and really well put-together, in a way that also has them slowing down to hit some great ballads and mellower steppers too. The album features the massive disco title cut – "Disco Nights" – and a beautiful reworking of Billy Stewart's classic "I Do Love You" – with a sound that's faithful to the original, but a sweet stepping groove that's made it a favorite for years! Other cuts include "Boogie Oogie Oogie", "Spirit", "Make My Dreams A Reality", "It's Your Love", "I Do Love You", and "Wonderful". CD

Includes the songs "7-11", "Little Dab-A-Doo", "Someone Else Is Steppin' In (Slippin' Out, Slippin' In)", "Trouble Blues", "Don't Tell Me About The Blues", "Cities Need Help", "Damn Right I've Got The Blues", "Five Long Years", "Rememberin' Stevie", and "Man Of Many Words". CD

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The Hues Corporation may forever be remembered for their one hit "Rock The Boat", but the trio were actually a pretty great little pop soul outfit – very much in the best mode of the RCA approach to the genre at the time! This set brings together some of the group's best work for RCA – material arranged by Tom Sellers, HB Barnum, and Gene Page – all with a glistening quality that was aimed straight for AM, but which still sounds pretty great to our ears today. Titles include "Rock The Boat", "Rockin Soul", "Bound On A Reason", "You Showed Me What Love Is", "One Good Night Together", "Love Corporation", and "Freedom For The Stallion". CD

One of those Waylon Jennings records from a time when he could do no wrong – fighting the stronger powers at RCA to really find his voice – recording at the studio of Tompall Glaser, with great production help from Willie Nelson – who was enjoying his own transformation at the time too! As with the previous two gems from this period, the choice of material and presentation is great – songs by Willie, JJ Cale, and Billy Joe Shavers – in a set of titles that include "Heaven Or Hell", "It's Not Supposed To Be That Way", "This Time", "Pick Up The Tempo", "If You Could Touch Her At All", "Walkin", "Slow Rollin Low", "Louisiana Woman", and "Slow Movin Outlaw". CD