... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

The great first album from Rhinoceros – a group that's every bit as heavy as their name, and who really deserved much bigger fame than they received at the time! The sound is a great late 60s fusion of psych, blues rock, and other modes – given a nice Elektra Records spin and sense of freedom that really allows the group to be something strong on their own – sometimes adding in more sensitive vocals or harmonies that really show a lot of depth – balanced by strongly jamming guitar and lots of heavy drums! Titles include "When You Say You're Sorry", "I Need Love", "Belbuekus", "I Will Serenade You", "Along Comes Tomorrow", "Apricot Brandy", and "That Time Of Year". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little package – three overlooked gems from Rhinoceros – all packaged together in a single box set! First up is their self-titled debut – the great first album from Rhinoceros – a group that's every bit as heavy as their name, and who really deserved much bigger fame than they received at the time! The sound is a great late 60s fusion of psych, blues rock, and other modes – given a nice Elektra Records spin and sense of freedom that really allows the group to be something strong on their own – sometimes adding in more sensitive vocals or harmonies that really show a lot of depth – balanced by strongly jamming guitar and lots of heavy drums! Titles include "When You Say You're Sorry", "I Need Love", "Belbuekus", "I Will Serenade You", "Along Comes Tomorrow", "Apricot Brandy", and "That Time Of Year". Next up is Satin Chickens – only the second album from Rhinoceros, and the group are already stretching out their wings – as you might guess from the offbeat cover of "Satin Doll" that beings the proceedings! As before, Rhinoceros are a wonderfully fine-tuned ensemble – working here with the sharpness of the best of the Bay Area or Detroit groups of the generation – which helps them move through familiar styles into very different territory that's all their own – yet supported by the kind of well-crafted guitar work, heavy rhythms, and thoughtful vocals that really earn them a place in the pantheon of Elektra Records during the golden years. Titles include "Monkee Man", "Don't Come Crying", "Back Door", "Funk Butt", "In A Little Room", "Chicken", and "Top Of The Ladder". CD

Includes remixes of "You're The One" by SWV, "Sittin In My Room" by Brandy, "Heathen Reign" by Capleton, "Shine Eye Girl" by Shabba Ranks, and "Lyrics For Ya Money" by Rajah More. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Tremendous horn interplay from the team of Al Cohn and Zoot Sims – and a record that may well be one of the best illustrations of their famous magic together in the 50s! The record's got a way of focusing energy, yet letting each player state themselves clearly and cleanly – almost a perfect small group variation of the larger jazz modes of a generation before – carried out here by Cohn and Sims with a great balance of tone and timing, modernism and swing! There's an excellent rhythm group on the date – Mose Allison on piano, Teddy Kotick on bass, and Nick Stabulus on drums – who almost bring in a slightly soulful undercurrent, which works especially well on Sims' solo moments. Tracks include "Two Funky People", "Just You Just Me", "The Wailing Boat", "You're A Lucky Guy", "Brandy & Beer", and "Chasing The Blues". CD

One of Hank's few non-trio sets as a leader – and a great set of hardbop tunes that features work by Donald Byrd, Jerome Richardson, Herbie Mann, and Kenny Clarke. The horns add in a lot more than you get on the usual Jones album – taking Hank's piano into firey territory that shows he can groove with the best of them! Titles include "Bluebird", "Hank's Pranks", "Alpha", "Wine & Brandy". LP, Vinyl record album

A much cooler folk group than usual for the time – thanks to great work from a young Jerry Yester and Chip Douglas – both of whom create all the right hip currents to live up to the "modern" in their name! The group definitely have that folk harmony style of the time – but there's a lot more complexity to their music than some of the pop groups – really amazing criss-crossing of vocals that hints at some of the broader directions post-folk groups would take their lyrics in the late 60s! Production is wonderful – clean, clear, and robust without overstating itself – and the group turn in a beautiful reading of "It Was A Very Good Year", plus "Pennies", "To Catch A Shad", "Lee Lo", "Yes I See", "Home Is Where The Heart Is", "Brandy", and "Ox Driver" CD

A masterpiece of modern soul that shows The O'Jays working in a style that would become their dominant mode for the next decade – not as upbeat and club-oriented as in the mid 70s years, with a sweet, sophisticated modern soul approach that really let the group grow stylistically. Mellow cuts like "Brandy" and "Cry Together" have a warm, supple, and sexy sound that never would have shown up on earlier records – and they're offset by some more upbeat numbers, like the seminal groover "Use Ta Be My Girl" – a tune that virtually became the theme for the second half of the group's career at Philly International! Other tracks include "This Time Baby", "Take Me To The Stars", and "Strokety Stroke". LP, Vinyl record album

A masterpiece of modern soul that shows The O'Jays working in a style that would become their dominant mode for the next decade – not as upbeat and club-oriented as in the mid 70s years, with a sweet, sophisticated modern soul approach that really let the group grow stylistically. Mellow cuts like "Brandy" and "Cry Together" have a warm, supple, and sexy sound that never would have shown up on earlier records – and they're offset by some more upbeat numbers, like the seminal groover "Use Ta Be My Girl" – a tune that virtually became the theme for the second half of the group's career at Philly International! Other tracks include "This Time Baby", "Take Me To The Stars", and "Strokety Stroke". CD

Time will tell whether the sophomore LP Late Registration will prove to be as revolutionary of a commercial force as College Dropout turned out to be – but it's a better album! We loved the debut as much as the rest of the world did, but this one's an easier listen from beginning to end. The production is tight, the guests earn their spots, and the whole thing's furiously soulful. Much is being made of LA hipster/orch pop troubadour Jon Brion's co-production, but this is Kanye's show. On one level Kanye can rock a subject as cliched as "Gold Digger", and still come out with a fresh perspective that runs deeper than it sounds on the surface, then deliver a serious track about the evils of the diamond trade that still rocks the ice. And those are just the first singles. Another great one! Tracks include "Wake Up Mr West", "Heard 'Em Say", "Touch The Sky" feat Lupe Fiasco, "Gold Digger" feat Jamie Foxx, "Drive Slow" feat Paul Wall & GLC, "My Way Home" feat Common, "Crack Music" feat Game, "Roses", "Bring Me Down" feat Brandy, "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" (rmx) feat Jay-Z, "We Major" feat Nas & Really Doe, "Gone" feat Consequence & Cam'Ron and more! LP, Vinyl record album

Warm and wonderful tunes from the mighty TK Records – the famous Miami label best known for its disco hits of the 70s, but a company that recorded a whole heck of a lot more great music at the time! Most of these tracks are turned down a few notches from disco or club – still relatively upbeat, but maybe more in a modern soul mode overall – with lots of warm touches that work perfectly with the vocals and instrumentals, and which seem perfectly tuned to set things up with just the right sort of catchy hook! The vibe here is almost more in the mode of some of the Japanese Free Soul collections than others with a Light Mellow tag – and titles include "Tell Me That You Love Me" by Steve Gibb, "All I Know Is That I Have You" by Milton Wright, "I Got Love" by Cheese, "Soul Searchin Lady" by Spats, "I've Got To See You Tonight" by Timmy Thomas, "Rhythm Of Love" by Brandye, "Jolie" by Latimore, "Brick Grits" by Betty Wright, "Elayne" by Freddy Henry, and "Shades Of September" by Obatala. CD

An all-star group – featuring John SCOfield, Joe LOvano, Dave HOlland, and Al FOster, hence the unusual name of the ensemble – all grooving in an angular mode that recalls the current Blue Note sound at its freshest. Lovano's edgey tenor and soprano work really make the session hold together nicely, as he's got a tone here that almost reminds us of George Braith back in the days when he was recording for Blue Note himself – especially on some of his organ-based sessions. Scofield's guitar is in that cleaner, leaner sound he's using these days – which is a good match for Foster's spare work on rhythm. Titles include "Oh", "Right About Now", "Brandyn", "Faces", "Oh I See", "In Your Arms", and "Shorter Form". CD

A great little session from drummer Al Foster – a musician who's name doesn't always show up on records as a leader, but which always gets our attention when it does! And this time around, Foster definitely lives up to that attention – as he delivers a set that's crackling with tight, unusual rhythms – very much the sort that made him a player to watch right from the start, and which makes his role as a leader so compelling – especially when matched here by top-shelf work from Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, Dayna Stephens on tenor, Adam Birnbaum on piano, and Doug Weiss on bass! Pelt and Stephens really bring out some unusual moments here – given great rhythmic inspiration by Al, who also contributed a number of wonderful tunes to the set too – sometimes short, sometimes long – really with a sense of variety that really matches his energy on the drums. Tracks include "Douglas", "Brandyn", "Our Son", "Song For Monique", "Jazzon", "Bonnie Rose", "Jean-Pierre", "Samba De Michelle", and "Simone's Dance". CD