Cole was a top notch stylistic interpreter, rolling from a Bo Diddley beat, to pulpy drag strip rockers, feedbacky blasts, to r&b styled groovers – backed by players well suited to keep up! LP, Vinyl record album

Searing work from this legendary group – and a set that stands as a stunning tribute to the raw power of the Northwest scene at its best! Don & The Goodtimes cut some material later that was a bit more produced in the studio – but much of the music here is raw, raunchy, and very garagey – the sorts of cuts that would have the group playing non-stop parties on the coastal scene that would go way into the wee hours of the night – all with a hard-burning sense of energy that matches famous scenemates like The Sonics, Wailers, and Kingsmen – the last of whom had ties to the group. The group pick up a bit of Cali pop as the tunes move on, but still keep that dark edge that makes them so great – a vibe that hardly seems to be promising good times at all – as you'll hear on cuts that include "The Witch", "Jolly Green Giant", "You Were Just A Child", "Straight Scepter", "Blue Turns To Grey", "Hey There Mary Mae", "Little Sally Tease", "Tall Cool One", "Long Green", "Make It", and "You Did It Before". CD

Searing work from this legendary group – and a set that stands as a stunning tribute to the raw power of the Northwest scene at its best! Don & The Goodtimes cut some material later that was a bit more produced in the studio – but much of the music here is raw, raunchy, and very garagey – the sorts of cuts that would have the group playing non-stop parties on the coastal scene that would go way into the wee hours of the night – all with a hard-burning sense of energy that matches famous scenemates like The Sonics, Wailers, and Kingsmen – the last of whom had ties to the group. The group pick up a bit of Cali pop as the tunes move on, but still keep that dark edge that makes them so great – a vibe that hardly seems to be promising good times at all – as you'll hear on cuts that include "The Witch", "Jolly Green Giant", "You Were Just A Child", "Straight Scepter", "Blue Turns To Grey", "Hey There Mary Mae", "Little Sally Tease", "Tall Cool One", "Long Green", "Make It", and "You Did It Before". LP, Vinyl record album

The Emperors are out to prove that blondes have more fun – sporting their peroxide mop tops on the cover, and serving up a searing blend of garagey sounds within! Those haircuts are somewhere in the territory of The Beatles, but the group play in a mode that really shows off their Southern Cali roots – definitely some surf-styled qualities in the guitars, mixed with an easy-stepping groove that's almost Brit-inspired, but more down to earth – as is the way they harmonize on the vocals on the sweeter moments in the set, but come across with a wilder quality at others. As with other Beat Rocket albums, the whole thing is a great discovery of work by a group who barely cracked the scene before breaking up – and titles include "Love Pill", "Blue Day", "I Want My Woman", "You Make Me Feel So Good", "Laughin Linda", "Searchin Around The World", and "A Fool For You I've Been". CD

Garagey grooves from the scene way up north – so far so, we hope that they had some heat in those garages! The work here is from deep in the archives of the legendary Kay Bank studios – a spot where some of the coolest work in the Twin Cities scene was recorded in the 60s – including some big national hits, and a lot more lesser-known gems! Kay Bank material has every bit as much grit as garage rock from the Pacific Northwest in the 60s – and as you'll hear here, there seems to be no end to the amount of youthful energy present when these up-and-coming groups were given a chance to record! The set's another great one from the Sundazed/Beat Rocket team – who are more archival now than ever – and features tracks that include "Gorilla" by The Shandells, "It's Alright With Me" by The High Spirits, "Wine Wine Wine" by The Nightcaps, "That Feelin" by The Kinetics, "Don't You Love Me Baby" by The ICC, "It Must Be Love" by Little Caesar & The Conspirators, and "Baby I Need Your Love" by The Swingin Canadians. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

The Emperors are out to prove that blondes have more fun – sporting their peroxide mop tops on the cover, and serving up a searing blend of garagey sounds within! Those haircuts are somewhere in the territory of The Beatles, but the group play in a mode that really shows off their Southern Cali roots – definitely some surf-styled qualities in the guitars, mixed with an easy-stepping groove that's almost Brit-inspired, but more down to earth – as is the way they harmonize on the vocals on the sweeter moments in the set, but come across with a wilder quality at others. As with other Beat Rocket albums, the whole thing is a great discovery of work by a group who barely cracked the scene before breaking up – and titles include "Love Pill", "Blue Day", "I Want My Woman", "You Make Me Feel So Good", "Laughin Linda", "Searchin Around The World", and "A Fool For You I've Been". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most hard-wailing surf bands of the 60s – and one who, oddly, hail from way up north in the Twin cities! But that Minneapolis placement hardly keeps the Trashmen away from the mix of twang and raunch that other guitar-heavy groups of their generation were using – and maybe, if anything, their distance from the beaches on the coast maybe created more striving, more urgency in their music – both in their guitar lines, and the way they put over a vocal! There's a nicely intense quality to the whole record – heard most famously on their standout title hit "Surfin Bird" – and on other killers that include "Tube City", "Henrietta", "My Woodie", "Bird Bath", "Kuk", "Sleeper", and "Church Key". LP, Vinyl record album

Early work from one of the heaviest hard rock bands of the 60s – presented here on a set of demo tracks that were originally broadcast on San Francisco radio, and helped the group earn their recording contract with Philips Records! Blue Cheer were maybe the first group to think of turning their amps up to 11 – and there's a rawness to this work that may even top the fire of their classic debut, with really mindblowing guitar from Leigh Stephens all the way through! Titles include the 10 minute jammer "Doctor Please", a killer take of "Summertime Blues", and the mighty fierce "Second Time Around". LP, Vinyl record album

A garagey group from the North Carolina scene of the 60s, but one who've also got this really tuneful vibe as well – almost a sort of Brit Invasion inspiration mixed with the rougher edges in their music! The group harmonize in a way that's clearly got some Beatles inspiration, but the production of this unissued material is very different than any sort of George Martin session in the studio – with plenty of echo and even a bit of distortion from time to time, which really offsets the sweetness in the vocals! The set features their original Wal-Mor 45 – the only two tracks that were ever issued back in the day – plus eight more unissued titles – tunes that include "Try Not To Cry", "Ticky Tacky", "Don't Be Surprised", "Get Out Of That Rut", "I Walk The Line", "Blue Blue World", and "The Shortest Road To You". CD

A garagey group from the North Carolina scene of the 60s, but one who've also got this really tuneful vibe as well – almost a sort of Brit Invasion inspiration mixed with the rougher edges in their music! The group harmonize in a way that's clearly got some Beatles inspiration, but the production of this unissued material is very different than any sort of George Martin session in the studio – with plenty of echo and even a bit of distortion from time to time, which really offsets the sweetness in the vocals! The set features their original Wal-Mor 45 – the only two tracks that were ever issued back in the day – plus eight more unissued titles – tunes that include "Try Not To Cry", "Ticky Tacky", "Don't Be Surprised", "Get Out Of That Rut", "I Walk The Line", "Blue Blue World", and "The Shortest Road To You". LP, Vinyl record album

Great later work from Wendell Harrison – a set that has the Tribe Records giant of the 70s taking the sound of the Detroit underground into a whole new vibe! The record takes the spiritual post-Coltrane jazz of Harrison's earlier days, and infuses it with some warmer, electric modes – a way of pushing spiritual jazz currents into other territory, a bit like Gary Bartz did with some of his work in the late 70s! Tracks are shorter and slightly less political than before – but the overall vibe is equally soulful in an 80s indie jazz style – and proof that Harrison was still keeping strong after the early days of the Tribe movement. There's some nice dark edges to the record that really keep things interesting – maybe imagine Larry Mizell producing some of the more off-beat albums on Strata East – and there's a bit of vocals on the set, which also features work from Phil Ranelin on trombone. Tracks include "Where Am I", "Sea Minor Blues", "Take Time Out", and "Dreams Of A Love Supreme". Includes a bonus 7" single with the tracks "Rocket Love" and "No Turnin" – plus the bonus track "Patrina's Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool little record from a very obscure girl group of the 60s – a trio who recorded this sweet little set in a Nashville studio, then unfortunately had it packaged in one of those cheap "stock" covers that labels would sometimes use – which may be the reason why it barely saw the light of day at the time! The approach is a mix of vocal and rock modes – no guitar at all, and instead plenty of Cordovox organ, which is used with a variety of instrumental effects – making for a cool sound that's nice and lean, but which provides a great accompaniment to the drums and the vocals of the girls! There's also some trumpet on the record too – and like the organ, the instrument gets some space to stretch out in some of the more instrumental titles. The set includes some very cool remakes of classics – including "Walkin The Dog", "Oye Como Va", "Son Of A Preacher Man", "Keep The Customer Satisfied", and "Mack The Knife" – plus the original tune "Bubble Gum World". LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing sounds from The Stark Reality – an obscure group from the early 70s, but one who've really risen to fame over the years – thanks to their groundbreaking ear for new music, and their freewheeling way with a funky groove! This package brings together all the incredible work recorded by the group in the late 60s and early 70s – a mindblowing assortment of funky and fuzzy jazz tracks – almost all of which are graced by the offbeat vibes work of Monty Stark! Stark often adds a bit of distortion into his instrument, which makes for a very tripped-out approach to vibes – one that blends perfectly with the heavy funk of some of the rhythms, and the freaky guitar lines added to most tracks by a young John Abercrombie. Yet at other times, things are very laidback and chilled-out – balanced beautifully from track to track, in a way that illustrates the larger picture the group were always going for in their music. This massive package brings together everything Stark Reality ever recorded – their famous Discovers Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop album, the Acting Thinking Feeling live performance, the Roller Coaster Ride/1969 album, and lots of rare singles too – more than enough music to please any fan of the group, and blow the minds of anyone who's just getting a first taste. Titles include "Roller Coaster Ride", "On Being Black", "New World Generation", "Theme To Say Brother", "Dreams", "Clouds", "All You Need To Make Music", "Rocket Ship", "Cooking", "The Old Prospector", and "Junkman's Song". Great package too – with two LP-styled CD sleeves inside a larger case, plus a big booklet of notes and photos! CD

One of the most tripped-out albums of funk you'll ever buy – a rare treasure with a very unusual history! The Stark Reality were a cool little combo formed to work on public television in Boston in the late 60s – and the combo featured some heavy guitars, fuzzed-up vibes, and some monster percussion laid out in tight bass and drum rhythms that were years ahead of their time! The group recorded one rare album – ostensibly a children's record, but based around old compositions by Hoagy Carmichael, completely pulled apart, sliced up, overly harmonized, and spat out into wild funky tunes that bear no resemblance to their originals! The original album – Stark Reality Discovers Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop – has been a holy grail for collectors for years (we once sold a copy for hundreds of dollars!), and the music has only ever really been heard by a few dedicated beatheads that have tracked down rare copies. Now, though, the geniuses at Stones Throw have put out the whole LP, plus bonus material, in one fantastic package that is soon to make the Stark Reality legends amongst funky fans the world over! Mad vibes meet fuzzy guitars meet killer funky beats – and the whole thing's a masterpiece that will never be duplicated again! Tracks include "Too Much Tenderness", "Sunday's Song", "Roller Coaster Ride", "Say Brother", "Rocket Ship", "All You Need To Make Music", "Junkman's Song", and "Thirty Days Hath September". CD

Oh for the glory days of the 7" single – that magical late 50s/early 60s time when it seemed like there was an endless supply of weird and wonderful records all the time – and at prices that allowed them to circulate easily, even if they weren't big hits! (And why are 7" singles so expensive these days?) The package is a fantastic testament to that wonderful musical moment – when you might stumble across a backroom jukebox, stuffed with overlooked gems – just waiting for you to discover them, and get them blasting out of the bassy speaker with the drop of your dime. Few folks know this generation better than Lux and Ivy of The Cramps – a pair who were record collectors before they even made a single of their own – and the set features a stunning 50 rare nuggets – with titles that include "The Mash" by Bud Spudd & The Sprouts, "No Time" by The Titans, "Purr Kitty Purr" by Sid King & The Five Strings, "Time Machine" by The Gamblers, "Little Bitty Girl" by The Memories, "The Little Martian" by Jan Amber, "The Last Meal" by Hurricane Harry, "Hello Schoolteacher" by The 4 After 5s, "Peach Fuzz" by Bob Taylor, "Zindy Lou" by The Mariners, "My Memories Of You" by Yolanda & The Natural, "Wolf Call" by Mark Anthony, "Nameless" by Bob Strauss, "Heartbeat" by The Threeteens, "I Dreamed I Was Elvis" by Sonny Cole & The Rhythm Roamers, "Mental Cruelty" by Larry & Dixie Davis, and "Bodacious" by The US Rockets. CD

A pair of really unusual albums from Mike Cooper – presented here in a single package! The core set, Life & Death In Paradise, is one of the last in a run of classics that Cooper gave the world at the start of his career – and has really unusual collaborations with members of the London jazz scene – including bassist Harry Miller, saxophonist Mike Osborne, and drummer Louis Moholo! The jazz component of the record is small – this is definitely acoustic singer/songwriter material, not the work the musicians might have issued on the Ogun label – but the set does represent a really nice shift for Cooper, and a great setting for the kind of offbeat songs he does so well. Titles include "Critical Incidents", "OMM Coda", "Suicide De Luxe", "Black Night Crash", "Rocket Summer", and the long "Life & Death In Paradise" suite. The package also features material from many years later – a live acoustic set recorded in Milan in 2018, showing Cooper still as a hell of a talent, with an even more complex understanding of the acoustic guitar – matched by his own unique vocalizations on some of the best tracks. Titles include "Peach Trees", "In Moments Of Reverie", "Lord Franklin", "Sage & Thyme", and "Industrial Hazard". CD

Stunning work from Alison Crockett – a singer you may know from her earlier recordings with US3 and King Britt, emerging here as an incredibly talented artist who sounds even better on her own! Alison's got a rich sound that's based on years of singing on other folks' records, but hearing her here, it's like catching her act for the first time – a startling debut that's filled with incredibly well-crafted tunes, deeply soulful vocals, and a rich musical palette that goes far beyond just simple beats and keys. The whole thing's great – one of the best Neo Soul albums we've heard in a long time – and you can take it from us that this will be one album you'll buy today, and play for years! Titles include "What We Do Now", "Crossroads", "UR", "Save Me", "You Know What Happens", "Like Rain", and "Nappy". CD

Wonderful, atmospheric hip hop instrumentals from Esbe! While the sounds might be a little less explosively psychedelic the fungal rocket launch on the cover, trust is that's a good thing – this one has some blissfully hazy jams, nicely unpredictable changes in beats, and lots of cool little touches – from oddball samples, to melodic bits of strings and horns and lots more. Good stuff on Cold Busted! Includes "Float", "Fulfill The Dream", "Wanderlust", "Tribute To Music", "Autumn Bliss", "Blossom", "Thousands Of Rhythms", "Day By Day", "Forever", "Songs We Danced To", "Fragment", "Hello World", "Darling", "Serenade", "Folklore" and more. CD