... LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few studio albums recorded by sultry singer Dolores Gray – a great late 50s set for Capitol Records, recorded with a moody, mellow tone! The backings here are by Sid Feller, who sets things up in keeping with the seductive look on the cover – a gentle approach to the music that's often touched with a bit of guitar, played with the same sensitivity that Julie London received on her classic albums for Liberty. And if there was a comparison to make here, it might be to those great records – because Gray's more theatrical tendencies are nicely held in check by Feller's presentation – giving the record a nice jazz-based appeal. Titles include "Shangri La", "You're My Thrill", "Isn't It Romantic", "Speak Low", "Don't Blame Me", and "How Long Has This Been Going On". LP, Vinyl record album

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

Anderson.Paak heads to Ventura for this one – and something about that sunny coastal city brings out his soul influences after the primarily hip hop-leaning Oxnard! Paak leads on his raspy sung style for this one, an easygoing hip hop soul sound that's built to last, and again bringing in a heavy hitting of roster guests – including Andre 3000, Nate Dogg, Lalah Hathaway, Brandy and even Smokey Robinson – on tracks including "Come Home", "Make It Better" with Smokey Robinson, "Reachin' 2 Much", "King James", "Goodheels" with Jazmine Sullivan, "Yada Yada", "Jet Black" with Brandy, "Twilight" and "Chosen One" with Sonyae Elise and more. CD

Anderson.Paak heads to Ventura for this one – and something about that sunny coastal city brings out his soul influences after the primarily hip hop-leaning Oxnard! Paak leads on his raspy sung style for this one, an easygoing hip hop soul sound that's built to last, and again bringing in a heavy hitting of roster guests – including Andre 3000, Nate Dogg, Lalah Hathaway, Brandy and even Smokey Robinson – on tracks including "Come Home", "Make It Better" with Smokey Robinson, "Reachin' 2 Much", "King James", "Goodheels" with Jazmine Sullivan, "Yada Yada", "Jet Black" with Brandy, "Twilight" and "Chosen One" with Sonyae Elise and more. 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". LP, Vinyl record album

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

... LP, Vinyl record album

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