Music from Freddie Allen, Kingston Trio, Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, Roger Miller, Waylon Jennings, The Coasters, Bobby Hall And The Kings, Jody Miller, Dallas Frazier, The Love Affair, and more - 25 songs in all. CD

Classic productions from the legendary Augustus "Gussie" Clarke – all work recorded at Channel One and King Tubby's – and done in this laidback, soulful groove that's completely sublime! The music here never goes too far over the top – just sweet and subtle rhythms that have this gentle-stepping quality that works perfect with the vocals – which are delivered by some of the most soulful singers on the scene at the time. All horn arrangements are by Tommy McCook and Bobby Ellis, but also have this mellow vibe too – very different than some of the earlier material, often with snakey elements that really work great with the vocals. Album features 11 killers – including "The Right Track" by Tommy McCook", "Guiding Star" by Leroy Sibbles, "How Can I Love Someone" by Delroy Wilson, "Born To Dub You" by Augustus Pablo, "Their Own Way" by Dennis Brown, "Girl Don't Come" by Jacob Miller, and "Love You To Want Me" by Horace Andy. LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent later work from Frank Morgan – the legendary LA altoist who first burned brightly in the bop generation, then came back to make really rich recordings like this! The set's got Frank in some really great company – a hip sextet that features Joe Henderson on tenor, Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Mulgrew Miller on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Al Foster on drums – a sweet modern jazz lineup that ensures that the record's filled with sharp changes and deep colors – arguably a lot more so than some of Morgan's later revival sessions – with a vibe that's much more like some of Hutcherson or Henderson's best from the 80s. Titles include "Old Bowl New Grits", "Starting Over", "Reflections", "OK", and "Black Narcissus". CD features a bonus track – "Caravan". CD

A wonderful project from late 80s Blue Note – a group that features trumpet and arrangements from Don Sickler, plus some great help from Bobby Watson as well – all to craft a sound that's as rich, soaring, and joyous as any solo projects from either player! The group's an octet, but have the tightness of a Blue Note quintet from the 60s – working with sharp arrangements in a really classic sound – one that has the horns in tight formation, but also really opens up to solo space right away – allowing plenty of room for Sickler on trumpet, Watson on alto, Frank Lacy on trombone, Roy Hargrove on trumpet and flugelhorn, Bill Pierce on tenor, and Mulgrew Miller on piano. The bass of Bob Hurst and drums of Kenny Washington provide some smoking rhythms throughout – and titles include "Open Sesame", "Conservation", "M&M", "Time Off", and "Marvelous Marvin". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes tracks by Bobby Fuller Four, Sir Douglas Quintet, Steve Miller Band, Floyd Dakil Combo, The Loose Ends, Augie Meyers, Mouse, and The Thirteenth Floor Elevators – 18 tracks total. CD

A wonderful project from late 80s Blue Note – a group that features trumpet and arrangements from Don Sickler, plus some great help from Bobby Watson as well – all to craft a sound that's as rich, soaring, and joyous as any solo projects from either player! The group's an octet, but have the tightness of a Blue Note quintet from the 60s – working with sharp arrangements in a really classic sound – one that has the horns in tight formation, but also really opens up to solo space right away – allowing plenty of room for Sickler on trumpet, Watson on alto, Frank Lacy on trombone, Roy Hargrove on trumpet and flugelhorn, Bill Pierce on tenor, and Mulgrew Miller on piano. The bass of Bob Hurst and drums of Kenny Washington provide some smoking rhythms throughout – and titles include "Open Sesame", "Conservation", "M&M", "Time Off", and "Marvelous Marvin". CD

An intriguing little set from drummer Tony Williams – and a set that shows him still very much in command of his talents well into the 80s! Tony's playing here with all the bold, open energy of his classic recordings – and although he picks up a bit of electric percussion at points, he still plays it all "live" – and really seems to defer to the richer acoustic sounds of the group's great lineup – an all-star setting that includes Wallace Roney on trumpet, Donald Harrison on alto, Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Ron Carter on bass, and Mulgrew Miller on piano! The richness of the alto and trumpet are tremendous – and Hutcherson's vibes ring out beautifully, a perfect balance of tone and timing. Titles include "Foreign Intrigue", "My Michele", "Takin My Time", "Sister Cheryl", and "Arboretum". CD

A killer collection of cuts, and one that looks at one of the coolest musical hybrids of the postwar years – work that's very strongly R&B at the core, but which also bears a surprising influence from Latin music in the rhythms – all of which makes for a very unusual groove! There's been other collections of this nature, but this one not only stacks the deck with a huge number of tracks – 62 in all – but also includes material that you might not normally associate with this mode, but which fits into the track list surprisingly well! Titles include "The Crawl" by Guitar Junior, "Got Love If You Want It" by Slim Harpo, "Mary Ann" by Texas Ray, "Girl That Radiates Charm" by Arthur Alexander, "Where's My Money" by Willie Jones, "Hurricane" by Dave Cortez, "Shoo Doo" by Andre Williams, "Night Train To Memphis" by Bobby Hebb, "Only Sixteen" by Tal Miller, "Voodoo Woman" by Curtis Knight, "Yours Truly" by Ford Eaglin, "Tell Me Pretty Baby" by Screamin Joe Neal, "Pig Tails & Ribbons" by Leonard Carbo, and "Wicked Old Fever" by Charles Sheffield. CD

Funky genius from the legendary Stax studios! During the 60s, Stax was well known for their work in the soul music field – turning out hit singles by the likes of Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and others – but after 1968, when the label finished their deal with Atlantic, they really started getting down and dirty, and hitting on all burners in the funk department. This tasty set features 21 tracks from those exiting years –many of them only ever issued on singles, and a few of them by some of the label's more famous LP artists – but all of them with a nice Memphis funky groove! Titles include "Turn Your Damper Down" by Rufus Thomas, "Broadway Freeze" by Harvey Scales, "Life Is Funky" by Round Robin Monopoly, "The Dryer" by Roy Lee Johnson, "She's My Old Lady Too" by Lee Sain, "Slipped & Tripped" by The Sweet Inspirations, "Brothers & Sisters" by Kim Weston, "Movin Dancer" by Bobby Holley, "Eli's Pork Chop" by Little Sonny, "A Man Never Knows" by Chris & Shack, "Grab A Handful" by Art Jerry Miller, "I'll Kill A Brick (About My Man)" by Hot Sauce, "Watch The Dog That Brings The Bone" by Inez Foxx, "Sock Soul" by The Bar Kays, and "Getting Funky Round Here" by Black Nasty! CD

Late Philly Soul from Cashmere – who get some great production help here from Bobby Eli, Bunny Sigler, and Ron Dean Miller – all in a snapping 80s groove, but with some really warm touches! There's a softer feel to the vocals than you might hear in other groups of this nature – kind of an echo of quiet storm male vocal leads (sung by Dwight Dukes), mapped onto more beat-heavy numbers that have a pretty catchy groove overall. Titles include "Can I", "Cutie Pie", "Don't Keep Me Waiting", "We Need Love", "Fascination", and "You're All I Need". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Pharoah Sanders on tenor and Bobby Hutcherson on vibes – plus Mulgrew Miller on piano, Robert Hurst III on bass, and Brian Blade on drums. CD

A real standout set from the 80s years of trumpeter Woody Shaw – a solidly burning live set that blows away most of his studio work from the time! The album's noteworthy first of all for the presence of Bobby Hutcherson on vibes – whose soulful spiritual approach of the period dovetails nicely with the strongly righteous tone of Shaw's horn – but the rest of the group is great too, and benefits from extremely strong bass work from Stafford James, tight drums from Tony Reedus, spiraling piano lines from Mulgrew Miller, and some bold lines on trombone from a young Steve Turre! Tracks are all quite long – really flowing with an open, soulful sort of energy that really puts Shaw at the top of his power, and almost urges Hutcherson onto new heights in the process. Titles include "To Kill A Brick", "Apex", "Orange Crescent", and "All The Things You Are". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most compelling albums ever recorded by guitarist Eugene Chadbourne – a set billed as "free improvised country and western bebop" – and which features Chadbourne serving up these wild variations on tunes by Carl Perkins, Roger Miller, David Allen Coe, Bobby Bare, Merle Haggard, and other country music legends! The album's much more Eugene than Nashville – although Chadbourne does sing lyrics on all of the tunes, but in a way that's very offbeat and hardly unlike the originals at all – as is his guitar work, which is acoustic and all twisted and turned up in all the offbeat phrasings you might expect! Much of the record is Chadbourne on vocals and electric dobro – but the set also features some drums by David Licht, saxes from John Zorn, and cello from Tom Cora. Titles include "The Last Word In Lonesome Is Me", "I'm The Only Hell My Mama Ever Raised", "Georgia In A Jug", "Motel Time Again", "Dang Me", "Window Shopping", "Jealous Loving Heart", "Mr Record Man", and "Swingin Doors". CD

Rare work from Weldon Irvine – a selection of tracks recorded as private studio outings, reissued briefly by Luv N Haight in the early 90s, and then only on vinyl! The style here is much more jazz-based than some of Irvine's soul recordings – a mode that's often all instrumental, and which features Weldon playing more acoustic piano than on his 70s fusion classics – but usually mixed in with sweet electric elements, too – which creates this wonderfully righteous balance in the music! The whole thing's very soulful, with plenty of undercurrents of the RCA years – and guest players include Steve Grossman on tenor, Marcus Miller on bass, Tom Browne on trumpet, and Bobby Broom on guitar – the latter 3 of which all worked with Weldon at GRP, making us guess that some of these 80s sides were intended for release on that label. Titles include "Kundabuffer", "Music Is The Key", "Mr PC", "We Can Try Again", and "Blues For Spike". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare work from Weldon Irvine – a selection of tracks recorded as private studio outings, reissued briefly by Luv N Haight in the early 90s, and then only on vinyl! The style here is much more jazz-based than some of Irvine's soul recordings – a mode that's often all instrumental, and which features Weldon playing more acoustic piano than on his 70s fusion classics – but usually mixed in with sweet electric elements, too – which creates this wonderfully righteous balance in the music! The whole thing's very soulful, with plenty of undercurrents of the RCA years – and guest players include Steve Grossman on tenor, Marcus Miller on bass, Tom Browne on trumpet, and Bobby Broom on guitar – the latter 3 of which all worked with Weldon at GRP, making us guess that some of these 80s sides were intended for release on that label. Titles include "Kundabuffer", "Music Is The Key", "Mr PC", "We Can Try Again", and "Blues For Spike". CD

Rare work from Weldon Irvine – a selection of tracks recorded as private studio outings, reissued briefly by Luv N Haight in the early 90s, and then only on vinyl! The style here is much more jazz-based than some of Irvine's soul recordings – a mode that's often all instrumental, and which features Weldon playing more acoustic piano than on his 70s fusion classics – but usually mixed in with sweet electric elements, too – which creates this wonderfully righteous balance in the music! The whole thing's very soulful, with plenty of undercurrents of the RCA years – and guest players include Steve Grossman on tenor, Marcus Miller on bass, Tom Browne on trumpet, and Bobby Broom on guitar – the latter 3 of which all worked with Weldon at GRP, making us guess that some of these 80s sides were intended for release on that label. Titles include "Kundabuffer", "Music Is The Key", "Mr PC", "We Can Try Again", and "Blues For Spike". CD

We're always happy to take a trip to Crampsville – as the journey means that we not only get to live within the world of Lux Interior and Poison Ivy, we also get to discover a huge amount of obscure singles from the glory days of the indie 45! The Cramps built their music on building blocks like these – weird, obscure tunes from the late 50s and early 60s – often leaping across genres in a single tune – mixing rock and R&B, slinky lounge with gritty sleaze, and always exploding with the kind of energy that never could have lasted past the few minutes of music that fit on a 7" record. The set's very much in the great mode of other Righteous Cramps-inspired titles – and features 52 tracks that include "Love Slave" by Bart Mattson, "She'll Never Let Him Go" by Gin Gillette, "Little Joe" by Jack Day, "I'm Blue" by The Ikettes, "Chicken Rock" by Scott Wood & His Band, "Big Foot" by Googie Rene, "The Tingle" by Jackie Weaver, "She's Mine" by Johnny Strickland, "I Got School" by Scott Miller, "Stop At The Hop" by Don Eee, "Rock & Roll Fever" by Gene Ray, "The Gorilla Walk" by Sascha Burland, "The Cat" by Rod Willis, "Watch Your Step" by Bobby Parker, and "I'm Buggin Out Little Baby" by Donny Lee Moore. CD