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Maybe not the first album from the legendary Band – but a record in which the group get everything completely right all the way through – and sparkle with that special sound that continues to influence generations of music makers, and music lovers! All the great elements the group were bringing to their work with Bob Dylan are in place here – but the focus is completely different, with this warm glow that really fits the vocals of Levon Helm, and a sense of unified vision that makes it really hard to even come up with a match for the energy of the group on this album. The great John Simon adds a few special touches to the overall sound – and titles include "Rockin Chair", "Across The Great Divide", "When You Awake", "Up On Cripple Creek", "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", "Look Out Cleveland", and "King Harvest". LP, Vinyl record album

The landmark first album from The Band – and along with the follow-up, it's among the greatest records of its time – which is all the more astounding given how independent of late 60s trends it is! Each member of The Band brings such inimitable textures – Garth Hudson's imposing organ grooves, Richard Manuel's aching tenor vocals, Rick Danko's voice and distinctive bass lines, Levon Helm's behind-the-beat drumming and the country wisdom of his voice, Robertson's guitar mastery – this really was THE Band. Includes "Tears Of Rage", "In A Station", "The Weight", "Long Black Veil", "Chest Fever", "Lonesome Suzie", "This Wheels On Fire", "I Shall Be Released" and more. CD

The Band's epic double live album from '72, when they were at their peak – arguably a more exciting listening experience than even their best studio albums, which they always (wisely) considered a different universe then the live stage. Ever ambitious, The Band commissioned Allen Toussaint, one of their heroes to compose some horn arrangements, which indeed sound great – and the band is in such great form here – they're an unbelievably tight unit, but it never sounds slick or manicured. Perfection! Includes "Don't Do It", "King Harvest", "Caledonia Mission", "Get Up Jake", "Stage Fright", "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", "This Wheel's On Fire", "The Weight", "Life Is A Carnival" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

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2 rare slices of exotica by Les Baxter – back to back on one CD! The first half of the set features material from the album Ports Of Pleasure – a dreamy exploration of south sea ideals that's got a more lightly drifting quality than some of Baxter's more percussive exotica albums, and which is awash in dreamy soundscapes penned by Les himself! The orchestrations are large and bold throughout – mixing strings and woodwinds almost in a soundtrack-y mode – but always with the light sense of interplay that makes Baxter's work so great. Titles include "Monkey Dance Of Bali", "Pearls Of Ceylon", "Tahiti A Summer Night At Sea", "Hong Kong Cable Car", "Tramp Steamer To Singapore", "Harem Silks From Bombay", and "Sidewalk Cafes Of Saigon". The Sacred Idol is a real standout set from the end of Les Baxter's run at Capitol Records – originally scored for a film that was never released, but a great set of tracks that more than stands strongly on its own! The theme here is a Mexican/Latin American one – explored by Baxter with his trademark blend of larger orchestrations and lighter exotica touches – often swirling around in an extremely evocative mode that makes us wish the film had been issued to the public, and at a few key moments even hinting at the funkier modes that would follow on some of Les' later work for other labels. Titles include "Aqueducts", "Gardens Of The Moon", "Pyramid Of The Sun", "Temple Of Gold", and "Procession Of The Princes". CD

Les Baxter conducts a set of string-laden ballads with a sweet dreamy feel. Titles include "Dawn On the City", "Rush Hour Romance", "Afternoon Affair", and "Hot Summer Night". And despite the fact that this stuff's not his exotic material, Les still wrote a lot of it, and it's still got his ususal high level of scoring. LP, Vinyl record album

A masterpiece of exotica! Ritual Of The Savage is one of those must-have albums from the 50s – a super-huge record upon its initial release, and an album that pushed the genre of exotica far further than most others at the time! Before this record, most attempts at exotica were simple instrumental pop, colored with slight worldly instrumentation – or too-dreamy recordings, putting over a sleepy version of life on the islands. Enter Les Baxter, who had an amazing ear for sounds, rhythms, and arrangements – one that was the first to record this sort of music in a way that was sonically evocative, and could stand on its own without other referents. Instrumentation is often conventional, but used oddly here – and Baxter's original compositions are all pretty darn great – playful without being goofy, and nicely mixing Latin and Pacific rhythms at the bottom. Titles include "Busy Port", "The Ritual", "Coronation", "Jungle Jalopy", and Les' original version of "Quiet Village". Heck, even the cover is gorgeous – with a brilliant blue illustration of some guy putting the moves on a woman amidst spooky tribal relics! LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty great album from Les – quite different than his exotica albums from the time, but in a nice way! The record features lots of guitars – as you'd guess from the title – including a lot of Spanish-type acoustic work that's set up in some pretty tasty acoustic grooves. The record has a strongly percussive approach that makes it sparkle nicely – and there's a bit of electricity in the guitars, creating nice hi-fi effects. Titles include "Sabre Dance", "Ritual Fire Dance", "Mandolino", "Tico Tico", "Brazilian Slave Song", "Desilusao", "Cabayo", and "Tell Me Margarita". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

The first live album from The Beach Boys – and a bit more straight than later live dates, but still pretty nice overall! Like their Party album from the 60s, this set shows a slightly different side of the group than their Brian Wilson-polished studio sessions – a bit more freewheeling but still incredibly harmonic, almost a glimpse at what it might have been like when they were just jamming around in the early days. Titles include "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena", "In My Room", "Monster Mash", "Let's Go Trippin", "Fun Fun Fun", "Long Tall Texan", "Papa Oom Mow Mow", "The Wanderer", and "I Get Around". LP, Vinyl record album

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A harmony heaven way to enjoy the Holiday! The group's version of Christmas has to be one of the best-ever recorded in rock and roll – and given the undercurrent of sadness that was coming forth in their non-Holiday hits of the period, the style here is perfect to fit the melancholy mood of the Christmas tunes – even some of the more upbeat numbers! Production is great too – beautiful enough to hold up strongly after all these years – and titles include "Blue Christmas", "Merry Christmas Baby", "Little Saint Nick", "Santa's Beard", "We Three Kings", "Frosty The Snowman", and "I'll Be Home For Christmas". CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A masterful later album by the Beastie Boys – who always preferred to put out a great record every five or six years, than a sub par album every 2 or 3! All these years after Paul's Boutique, when the world of difficult, expensive sample clearance could've kill the layers of pop pastiche sound bites that made P's B such a brilliant statement, the soul and funk samples are still piled on in abundance on this one (albeit with a more electro studio built backdrop), as are the block rockin' party rhymes – even if the tone is serious and strident in spots. There are no attempts at live funky jazz or punk rock this time – this may be the Beasties' most classifiable hip hop album in decades. Tracks include the great throwback single "Ch-Check It Out", "Right Right Now Now", "3 The Hard Way", "It Takes Time To Build", "Rhyme The Rhyme Well", "Hey F**k You", "Triple Trouble", "Oh Word?", "That's It That's All", "All Lifestyles", "Shazam!", "An Open Letter To NYC" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A great pre-Rubber Soul moment – with tracks that include "Honey Don't", "I Feel Fine", "Baby's In Black", "Mr Moonlight", "I'll Follow The Sun", and "No Reply". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Eight Days A Week", "Words Of Love", "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party", "Every Little Thing", and "Yes It Is". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "This Boy", "Don't Bother Me", "Little Child", "Not A Second Time", "I Wanna Be Your Man", and "I Want To Hold Your Hand". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark leaping-off point for The Beatles – and a record that really paved the way for countless new ideas to come! The mix of catchy pop and freer ideas here is really wonderful – tunes that introduce a whole new mature world in mainstream music – yet manage to have all the catchy complexity of the earlier years too. Production, songwriting, and delivery is superb – and this version features 14 songs that include "Drive My Car", "Norwegian Wood", "Nowhere Man", "Think For Yourself", "The Word", "What Goes On", "Girl", "I'm Looking Through You", and "Run For Your Life"". LP, Vinyl record album

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... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

A totally great cut from the glory days of Blondie – originally issued in 1981 only as a flexidisc, but every bit the same sort of hip hop groove as their classic "Rapture"! In fact, this cut might be even more of a hip hop cut – as it features Debbie Harry rapping alongside Fab 5 Freddie, who co-wrote the cut with the group. There's definitely some echoes of "Rapture" in the mix, particularly on the chorus – and the cut is almost as if they reworked the spirit of the tune for a holiday song! 12-inch, Vinyl record

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... LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A beautiful little record from Brinsley Schwarz – an album that maybe didn't shake the world at the time, but which really stands with some of the best thoughtful work of the group's bigger contemporaries! There's a roots rock approach at the core, but the style is instantly in territory that's a lot more sophisticated – thanks to the songwriting skills of Nick Lowe, which keeps the British band from ever aping American modes too closely, even when they harmonize beautifully on vocals – ala CSN&Y, with a similar moody vibe! Titles include "Country Girl", "The Slow One", "Star Ship", "Love Song", "Piece Of Home", and "Old Jarrow". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet solo set from Peabo Bryson – part of his excellent run of records for Capitol, and an album that features great production from the legendary Johnny Pate! Peabo's got this great way of being mellow and masculine, but without ever sounding too cliched – at a level that makes a record like this a lot more compelling than some of his crossover duets of the time. And Pate's thrown in a few more upbeat moments amidst the laidback, slow-stepping tracks that were always Bryson's best stock in trade – although we still love the mellow moments the best! Titles include "Split Decision", "Impossible", "You", "Get Ready To Cry", "Love Is On The Rise", "Let The Feeling Flow", "There's No Guarantee", and "Move Your Body". LP, Vinyl record album

Peabo Bryson's early efforts for Capitol – Reaching For The Sky and Crosswinds in a 2CD set! Reaching For The Sky is a sublime blend of modern soul that's light years ahead of any of his later work. Part of the credit goes to Richard Evans – who's worked out these wonderfully smooth stepping arrangements that are a perfect accompaniment for Peabo's deep voice, but which also avoid any of the syrupy indulgence of later records. And sure, Peabo's still got that expressive tone – but he's keeping it mean and lean to let the music keep on going strongly. Titles include "Reaching For The Sky", "Hold On To The World", "Love From Your Heart", "Love Walked Out On Me", "You Haven't Learned About Love", and "Feel The Fire". Crosswinds is sweet, smooth, and soulful work from Peabo – a perfect little record that captures him at a point when he was definitely tightening up his act, but not falling into the soppier traps of later years! Production here is shared by Peabo with the great Johnny Pate – who seems to have a great ear for Bryson's maturing style – managing to couch the vocals in some of the more sophisticated modes formulated on the Chicago scene in previous years, but also with a bit of the west coast modern twist that Capitol was really bringing to the table in the soul business at the time! All tunes are originals by Peabo, and titles include "Crosswinds", "Smile", "She's A Woman", "Love Is Watching You", and "Don't Touch Me". The set includes 3 bonus tracks: "Reaching For The Sky (Edit)", "I'm So Into You" and "Crosswinds (Single Version)". CD

Titles include "Funky Fever", "Be Mine", "Stop", "The Way It Should Be", "Gotta Get It On", "City Boy", "The Man", and "I'm Lookin Up". LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

An insanely wonderful early album from Glenn Campbell – the kind of music that's not really rock, pop, or country – but instead a unique summation of all, at a level that only Campbell could do this well The album kicks off with the sublime pop hit "Gentle On My Mind" – one of those jangly tunes that we could listen to forever – and then soars into a beautiful blend of tunes from different sources, including covers of Nilsson's "Without Her", Rod McKuen's "The World I Used to Know", Jimmie Rodgers' "It's Over", and Donovan's "Catch The Wind" – as well as the huge hit "Mary In The Morning". Glenn's got a hell of a voice – and it sounds great on all the tracks! LP, Vinyl record album

Glen Campbell takes on the music of Hank Williams – but in a way that often has the sort of dreamy haze that goes with the "I Remember" in the title! The songs are all Hank's, but the presentation isn't gritty honky tonk – and instead uses fuller backings with Glen's lead vocals, almost as if the whole thing were done in the mid 60s by Chet Atkins at RCA! Jimmy Bowen's at the helm, but there's backup singers and fuller strings than before – which really changes up the Campbell takes on tunes that include "Cold Cold Heart", "Half As Much", "Your Cheatin Heart", "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", and "You Win Again". LP, Vinyl record album

Glen returns to work with Jimmy Webb – the brilliant songwriter who gave Glen big hits with "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and "Witchita Lineman" back in the 60s. By the time of this 1974 recording, Jimmy had been through a lot of life – and was actually writing songs that were even more honest and gripping than in earlier years. He'd also become a heck of an arranger – and even though that work was often lost on Jimmy's own albums, mostly because Jimmy wasn't much of a singer, it sounds great here, as Glen's vocals really open up Jimmy's songs like few other singers could manage at the time! Titles include "Just This One Time", "Ocean In His Eyes", "The Moon's A Harsh Mistress", "Adoration", "It's A Sin", "I Keep It Hid", and "You Might As Well Smile". A brilliant record – the kind of underground major label gem that makes you realize that the 70s wasn't such a bad time! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A very different album than usual for June Christy – one of her last for Capitol, and a very swinging, upbeat affair! As the title implies, June's singing a set of tunes made famous during the glory days of the big bands – tracks associated with Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, and others – all given a nice reworking here by June, in a style that's got a hipper, swinging California kind of groove! Arrangers on the set are Bill Holman, Bob Cooper, and Shorty Rogers – and they all keep things light and above board – shaking away the bluer tones and quieter moods of some of June's other records, taking her vocals back to the highly swinging style that first brought her fame in the 40s. Titles include "Frenesi", "Time Was", "Good Bye", "Night In Tunisia", "Stompin At the Savoy", "Prelude To A Kiss", and "Skyliner". CD

Includes non-album singles and previously unissued material – 16 tracks total. CD

A late treasure from June's years at Capitol – an album that easily earns its "intimate" tag, by featuring June with almost no musical backings at all! Instrumentation on the set is provided only by Don Bagley on bass, Al Viola on guitar, and some occasional flute work by Bud Legge – all gently working behind June's wonderfully dark and moody vocals – somehow even sadder and more heartbreaking than on other of her classic Capitol sets. Titles include "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "Spring Is Here", "It Never Entered My Mind", "You're Nearer", and "Suddenly It's Spring". CD also features 2 bonus tracks from a Capitol single – "Sometimes I'm Happy" and "Tommy Tommy". CD

June's got rhythm, sure, but the real thing that makes her great is her dark and moody sense of melody! This album's one of June's late 50s efforts done with husband/arranger Bob Cooper – not as arch modern as some of her work with Pete Rugolo, but still in a style that's definitely inspired by that classic work. Backing is by a small group of LA jazzers – including Shelly Manne, Russ Freeman, Laurindo Almeida, Frank Rosolino, and Cooper – and titles include "My One & Only Love", "Blue Moon", "I Can Make You Love Me", "When Lights Are Low", and "Gypsy In My Soul". LP, Vinyl record album

One of June's all-time classics – and perhaps her most famous album, next to the sublime Something Cool. The set, like that one, was arranged and conducted by Pete Rugolo – whose icy and modern touches are the perfect foil for June's sad and dark voice. Familiar tunes are completely transformed by the pair's masterful handling – and titles include "The Wind", "There's No You", "For All We Know", "This Year's Kisses", "That's All", and "Maybe You'll Be There". LP, Vinyl record album

One of June's all-time classics – and perhaps her most famous album, next to the sublime Something Cool. The set, like that one, was arranged and conducted by Pete Rugolo – whose icy and modern touches are the perfect foil for June's sad and dark voice. Familiar tunes are completely transformed by the pair's masterful handling – and titles include "The Wind", "There's No You", "For All We Know", "This Year's Kisses", "That's All", and "Maybe You'll Be There". CD features some bonus tracks too! CD

From its booze-soaked title cut, to its haunting selection of lonely ballads like "Midnight Sun" and "Stranger Called The Blues", this is one of the most fantastic vocal jazz albums of all time – and a record that we'd recommend instantly to anyone! June Christy has an incredibly icy tone on the record, filled with sorrow, regret, and loneliness – all of which are amplified even more deeply by Pete Rugolo's eerie, off-kilter arrangements. Titles include "Something Cool", "It Could Happen To You", "Lonely House", "I'm Thrilled", and "The Night We Called It A Day". Fantastic stuff! Original Mono recording – from 1953. LP, Vinyl record album

Rare gems from the early years of Nat King Cole at Capitol Records – pulled from the vault by the label, and issued on the occasion of Nat's 10th Anniversary at Capitol! The work often represents the best early sound of the King Cole Trio – that sweet blend of jazz and slightly bluesy modes that made the group a huge standout on the LA scene of the mid 40s – echoes of styles used by other classy R&B singers, but put together with the undeniable class and poise that Nat had right from the start. Other recordings are from the late 40s and early 50s – and have Capitol adding in a bit more in the way of backings – yet still without any of the overly-commercial styles that would hold Cole back a bit in later years. Titles include "Dream Of Me", "Too Soon", "Lovelight", "The Story Of My Wife", "Peaches", "But All I've Got Is Me", and "I'm An Errand Boy For Rhythm". LP, Vinyl record album

An important album by Nat King Cole – one that presented him in a live format, working in front of a very relaxed crowd at the Sands, expressing himself in a way that's quite different than some of his studio albums. The staid sound of Cole is opened up a bit here in the live set – a bit more relaxed, not necessarily improvised, but with a familiarity that shows Nat as more of an entertainer than you might expect. Titles include "Thou Swell", "Ballerina", "Funny (Not Much)", "I Wish You Love", "You Leave Me Breathless", and "Where Or When". LP, Vinyl record album

Mel Torme may have written "The Christmas Song", but Nat King Cole owned it – thanks to a classic recording for Capitol that became one of the best-remembered Christmas chestnuts of the time! Nat's original 1961 recording is followed up here with an array of classic Holiday tunes – done in a similarly easy-going style that was every bit the best side of Nat's later years. Titles include "I Saw Three Ships", "O Holy Night", "The First Noel", "Away In A Manger", and "Silent Night". Cassette

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Titles include "When Your Lover Has Gone", "These Foolish Things", "Just For The Fun Of It", "The Party's Over", and "The Song Is Ended". Billy May arrangements! LP, Vinyl record album

A classic from Nat King Cole – one of his greatest albums of the 50s, and a mature batch of ballads that show he had really developed into a heck of a singer! Arrangements are by Gordon Jenkins, and the set features a rich array of moody material – including "When I Fall In Love", "Stardust", "Stay As Sweet As You Are", "Love Letters", and "Where Can I Go Without You". LP, Vinyl record album

With 36 tracks including "Straighten Up and Fly Right", "Sweet Lorraine", "It's Only a Paper Moon", "Nature Boy", "Lush Life", "Blue Gardenia", "Stardust", "The Sand and the Sea", and more. CD

Wonderful stuff by Nat – truly one of his greatest Capitol vocal albums, and set to great arrangements by Nelson Riddle, very much in a classic mode. Tracks include heartbreakers like "Dinner For One, James", "There Will Never Be Another You", and "There Goes My Heart" – plus more lively standards like "Almost Like Being In Love", "This Can't Be Love", and "Let's Fall In Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful stuff by Nat – truly one of his greatest Capitol vocal albums, and set to great arrangements by Nelson Riddle, very much in a classic mode. Tracks include heartbreakers like "Dinner For One, James", "There Will Never Be Another You", and "There Goes My Heart" – plus more lively standards like "Almost Like Being In Love", "This Can't Be Love", and "Let's Fall In Love". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "To The Ends Of The Earth", "Forgive My Heart", "Annabelle", "Love Me As Though There Were No Tomorrow", and "Dreams Can Tell A Lie". LP, Vinyl record album

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... LP, Vinyl record album

A nice 12" LP issue from the 50s of sides originally released as 10" LPs – early work that Cole recorded for Capitol, during the years 1943 to 1949, when he was an up and coming talent from the Hollywood scene, blending together jazz, swing, and a touch of blues – to craft one of the most unique sounds in pop! 12 numbers in all including "Sweet Lorraine", "It's Only A Paper Moon", "Makin Whoopee", "Too Marvelous For Words", and "If I Had You". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice moody one from Nat's later years – with arrangements by Gordon Jenkins, and unusual titles that include "No I Don't Want Her", "Where Did Everybody Go", "If Love Ain't There", "Someone To Tell It To", and "I Keep Goin Back To Joe's". LP, Vinyl record album

It's been nearly 20 years since Natalie Cole first sang duets with her father through the magic of technology – so the time's long overdue to throw a host of other talents into the mix! The style here is a bit like the Verve Remixed albums – in that the record takes older classics by Nat from the 40s and 50s, and updates them strongly with contributions from a host of contemporary mixers and producers. However, there's also a key difference here in that the album also features a fair bit of extra vocals too – from Bebel Gilberto, Natalie Cole, Nas, The Roots, and Izza Kizza – all of whom help to make the album a bit more than the simple remix effort you might expect. Nat's own vocals are a bit buried in the mix at times, but that's no problem if you're eager to hear more from the younger generation – or re:generation, as the case may be! Titles include "Day In Day Out" with Cut Chemist, "Straighten Up & Fly Right" with Will I Am & Natalie Cole, "Lush Life" with Cee-Lo Green, "Walkin My Baby Back Home" with The Roots, "The Game Of Love" with Salaam Remi & Nas, "El Choclo" with Brazilian Girls, "Pick Up" with Just Blaze, "Nature Boy" with TV On The Radio, and "Anytime Anyday Anywhere" with Amp Fiddler. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

A record that really has Natalie Cole finding her groove – not needing any help from her famous familial legacy, thank you – and instead stepping out with a tight, proud mode that really helped refine the sound of female soul in the 70s! The album's got plenty of influences from the Chicago soul scene – including songwriting and production from the team of Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy – and work from key session players like Richard Evans and Gene Barge, who worked in the Curtom Studios to craft the grooves on the set! Titles include "Keep Smiling", "Mr. Melody", "Heaven Is With You", "Can We Get Together", "Touch Me", "Hard To Get Along", and "Good Morning Heartache" LP, Vinyl record album

Great early work from Natalie Cole – part of a tremendous early creative and commercial winning streak for the young singer – of the sort that really set her apart from the famous legacy of her father! The album's got her wonderfully sweet vocal style set up with superb production from Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy of the Independents – who open up the more sophisticated currents of her music, and even bring in a slightly jazzy vibe too! Richard Evans and Gene Barge arranged, which probably had something to do with that, too – but Natalie truly deserves most of the credit of the strength of this set – on titles that include the standout groovers "La Costa" and "Annie Mae" – plus "Lovers", "Our Love", "Be Thankful", "Just Can't Stay Away", and "Keeping A Light". LP, Vinyl record album