A really groovy little record – originally issued in a very small run for the equally small Leonardi sound library label – but a set that's got more than enough funky instrumental moments to rival the giants on the scene at the time! The record's got plenty of keyboards, riffing guitars, and funky drums – used here on short tunes that pack plenty of punch, and which often have a romping funky style that's somewhere in the territory of the legendary Duke Of Burlington albums – but with more organ in the lead instead of piano! Very funky throughout – with cuts that include "The Hunter", "Waiting The Blow", "Handy Goes To Pub", "Clumsy Chap", The Newcomer", and "A Sort of Witchery". LP, Vinyl record album

A trio of early 80s albums from fusion giant Steve Khan – all lined up in a single collection! First up is Eyewitness – an early 80s effort from guitarist Steve Khan – a set recorded after some big records for Columbia, and one that follows very strongly in their legacy! Khan's super-deft here, but also able to create these washes of sound as much as some bold lines on his instrument – moving between the modes freely in the company of a tight quartet – with Anthony Jackson on bass, Steve Jordan on drums, and Manolo Badrena on percussion – all much more in the loose, open style of fusion from the mid 70s than you might guess from the date of the record. Titles include "Where's Mumphrey", "Dr Slump", "Guy Lafleur", and "Auxilary Police". Modern Times has Steve Khan stretching out even more htan before – working on a set of three long tracks that really expand his ideas strongly – almost pushing his guitar sense of tone and color into some of the territory Pat Metheny was exploring at the time! The group is Khan's great quartet with Anthony Jackson on bass, Steve Jordan on drums, and Manolo Badrena on percussoin – and titles include "Blades", "The Blue Shadow", "Modern Times", and "Penguin Village". Casa Loco is a record that's maybe a bit more electric on the rhythms than some of Steve Khan's previous sets – thanks to use of Simmons drums by drummer Steve Jordan – but a record that's still got Steve himself playing very strongly in the lead! Khan's as deft as ever here, working out these swirling chords that brew together in waves of sound – that special place a few fusion artists found themselves after the rock-jamming years of the 70s. The album features a bit of vocals from percussionist Manolo Badrena – which come across surprisingly well – and titles include "The Suitcase", "Uncle Roy", "Some Sharks", "Breakaway", and "Casa Loco". CD

A legendary compilation, and maybe one of the first that documented the big wave of older rock-inspired groups who emerged during the generation of punk rocks – new groups who were definitely influenced by the sharp, short, quality of the generation – but who also used the moment as a way to get back to basics too! The "psychobilly" name might be a bit slightly wrong-worded – as these guys aren't really psycho, or psychedelic either – and come to think of it, they're not always rockabilly too – but they do really get back to the raw roots of early sounds from the late 50s – offering up a different sort of intensity than their punk rock contemporaries. Titles include "Swamp Baby" by Sunglasses After Dark, "Cannibal Run" by The Guana Batz, "Graveyard Stomp" by The Meteors, "Murder In The Graveyard" by Screaming Lord Sutch Loony Party, "Red Headed Woman" by Panther Burns, "Wild Women (version)" by Alien Sex Fiend, "The Day The Sun Burned Down" by The Escalators, and "Dinosaurs" by The Stingrays. This hugely expanded edition offers up another 44 tracks, with work from The Cramps, Cannibals, Scientists, Pearl Harbour, The Sharks, Polecats, Blue Cat Trio, The Rattlers, Inca Babies, Vibrators, Brilliant Corners, Gun Club, Nomads, King Kurt, Voodoo Dolls, Primevals, Bananamen, Raymen, Erazerhead, Krewmen, X-Men, Prisoners, and many others! CD

A tasty batch of work from Goldmine – Northern, but with a deeper soul edge than usual! The set features loads of lost classics – including "Let's Talk It Over" by Spencer Wiggins, "I Don't Wanna Get Away From Your Love" by Yvonne Daniels, "My First Lonely Night" by Jewel Akins, "King For A Day" by Stewart Ames, "I Can't Wait To See My Baby's Face" by The Monticellos, "The Iceman" by Billy Watkins, "I'm Gonna Hurt You" by The Lost Soul, and "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You" by The Blue Sharks. CD

Maybe one of the most stunning collections we've ever seen from Mississippi Records – a companion to their Cairo label of soul reissue sets, but with a special focus on vocal group material! The package alone is incredible – a hefty 2LP set, with this amazing 42 page booklet of 12" x 12" notes in the middle – full of deep details on all the music, and overflowing with photos of giants like Sun Ra, Lee Perry, and many others! Yet the music is even better – tracks that go way beyond standard doo wop that you might hear from the oldies scene – and instead really groundbreaking vocal work that begins in the 50s, and moves into some soul and rocksteady modes in the 60s! Titles include "Oh Blues" by The Prehistorics, "So Blue" by The Vibrations, "The Storm" by The Vitones, "Sweet Breeze" by Vernon Green & The Phantoms, "Vibrations Of Man" by Sun Ra, "Chubby" by Bunny & Skitter, "I'm So Glad You Love Me" by Juanita Rodgers, "Never Reach Perfection" by Chris Kenner, "My Love" by Jessie Hill, "Wages Of Love" by The Wailers, "Magic" by The Ideals, "Strange Is Love" by The Marquis, "Feel Alright" by The Silvertones, "Dreaming" by The Cosmic Rays, and "You Made Me Warm" by The Sharks. LP, Vinyl record album