Fantastic work from Carl Mann – one of the under-sung heroes of the Sun Records rockabilly years – and a mighty raw talent overall! Includes his classic take on "Mona Lisa", the monstrous "Ubangi Stomp", and other titles that include "Rockin Love", "South Of The Border", "Pretend", "Too Young", and "Crazy Fool". Includes a few unissued titles, too. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Not just rock hits by Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and Carl Perkins – but also more obscure work by Carl Mann, Sonny Burgess, The Five Tinos, Junior Parker, and The Prisonaires! CD

Not just rock hits by Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and Carl Perkins – but also more obscure work by Carl Mann, Sonny Burgess, The Five Tinos, Junior Parker, and The Prisonaires! LP, Vinyl record album

A 70s set from Sarah Vaughan, but one that's recorded in a classic small combo mode – acoustic overall, and a bit of a change from her other sessions for Mainstream Records! The date's a live one, and the tracks are taken at a looser level than some of Vaughan's studio work – a bit more open, and with a bit of conversation too – which is a nice surprise. The group's a trio – with Carl Schroeder on piano, John Gianelli on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums – and titles include "I Could Write A Book", "Love Story", "The Nearness Of You", "Wave", "Misty", "There Will Never Be Another You", "A Foggy Day", and "Round Midnight". CD

Features: Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, The Louvin Brothers, Carl Story and The Ramblin' Brothers and others! CD

A 70s set from Sarah Vaughan, but one that's recorded in a classic small combo mode – acoustic overall, and a bit of a change from her other sessions for Mainstream Records! The date's a live one, and the tracks are taken at a looser level than some of Vaughan's studio work – a bit more open, and with a bit of conversation too – which is a nice surprise, and which has the singer really hitting this personal vibe that's great – even though we also love her when she's polished too! The group's a trio – with Carl Schroeder on piano, John Gianelli on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums – and titles include "I Could Write A Book", "Love Story", "The Nearness Of You", "Bye Bye Blackbird", "Wave", "Misty", "There Will Never Be Another You", "A Foggy Day", and "Round Midnight". CD

A 70s set from Sarah Vaughan, but one that's recorded in a classic small combo mode – acoustic overall, and a bit of a change from her other sessions for Mainstream Records! The date's a live one, and the tracks are taken at a looser level than some of Vaughan's studio work – a bit more open, and with a bit of conversation too – which is a nice surprise. The group's a trio – with Carl Schroeder on piano, John Gianelli on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums – and titles include "I Could Write A Book", "Love Story", "The Nearness Of You", "Bye Bye Blackbird", "Wave", "Misty", "There Will Never Be Another You", "A Foggy Day", and "Round Midnight". CD

We're not normally ones to stock urban fire books here at Dusty Groove – but as you probably know, our hometown is Chicago, a city with a pretty incredible history – part of which is a fantastic fire that burned the whole place to the ground back in the 19th century! This huge book dives into great detail about the fire – its origins, its too-long burnout, initial failed efforts to stop it, and the surprisingly quick rise from the ashes that Chicago experienced as a result – as the city turned the tragedy into a way of rethinking and modernizing itself, which made it very well-poised to become a global powerhouse in years to come! Carl Smith tells the tale with a nicely narrative voice, while also showcasing the long research that went into the project – and this hardcover edition is 374 pages, with some black and white images. Book

If you've never had the pleasure of visiting Wisconsin, you're really missing something – and one of the state's greatest treasures is its long legacy of local watering holes – including some of the taverns pictured in this book! The volume is everything promised in the title – loving portraits of local bars in Wisconsin – shot around the state, in full color – and in a variety of formats that shifts focus from the landscape of the tavern, to special features within, to some of the owners and managers of these well-established bars. In a generation of too-big TVs and too much sports in drinking establishments, places like this are falling by the wayside – and the book is a loving portrait of a slice of American life that may soon be lost if we're not careful! Hardcover, 125 pages, full color throughout. Book

An album-by-album, song-by-song look at David Bowie in the 70s – in a book that almost offers up album reviews for each Bowie classic, but then breaks the albums down into songs – and has a lengthy passage on each! Some sections are the story behind the song, others deal more with the contents or lyrics, and others even just detail the recording process – as the author moves through all the albums of the decade – Man Who Sold The World, Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, Pin Ups, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans, Station To Station, Low, Heroes, Lodger, and Scary Monsters. And even if you think you know everything about Bowie, there's plenty of interesting tidbits along the way – in this hardcover volume that runs through 192 pages in length. Book

Beautifully meditative music from Alabaster DePlume – a set that brings together work from a variety of recorded projects from the past decade or so – finally getting full exposure in this Transatlantic collaboration between Chicago's International Anthem label and London's Total Refreshment Centre! The sound is a great illustration of the genre-crossing modes that have been going on in both scenes – as Alabaster's music is definitely beyond easy description or definition, and comes across in a way that's as personal as it is collaborative – since DePlume works with a whole host of different musicians on the recordings, mixing flute, percussion, strings, keyboards, and other elements together in a way that follows a spiritual legacy from the more spacey side of Alice Coltrane, to the west coast experiments of Carlos Nino and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, to the changes taking place on the planet at present. Alabaster plays tenor and guitar, and vocalizes slightly – but never really sings – and titles include "Why Buzzardman Why", "Not My Ask", "Whisky Story Time", "If You're Sure You Want To", "What's Missing", and "Song Of The Foundling". LP, Vinyl record album

The world of Dexter Story just keeps getting bigger and bigger – not just because he's a richly collaborative player, but also because he's got this musical style that really opens up to so many different elements – but without ever sounding like he's trying to crash them together in any sort of inorganic way! Instead, Dexter draws evenly from spiritual jazz, Ethiopian rhythms, underground soul, and some of the best strands of 21st Century grooves – opening up the door for his own wonderful lead lyrics, while creating and exploring a planet of his own. Guests on the record include Carlos Nino on percussion, Te'Amir Sweeney on drums, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on strings, and Randal Fischer on tenor – and the set features guest vocals from Haile Supreme, Marie Daulne, Endeguena Mulu, Sudan Archives, Jimetta Rose, and Kibrom Birhane – although Dexter gets plenty of time in the lead too. Titles include "Mamdooh", "Buna Be Chow", "Gold", "Techawit", "Shuruba Song", "Bahir", "Abebaye", and "Jijiga Jijiya". CD features the Japanese only bonus track "Wejene Aolo" – which features work from Kamasi Washington! CD

Music from Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Clarence Carter, the O Jays, the Persuaders, the Spinners, Carla Thomas, the Delfonics, Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Dee Clark and more. CD

A great look back at the early years of Ernest Tubb – a set that was recorded at the end of the 50s, and which features Ernest presenting new stereo versions of all his early country classics! The updates are wonderful, and lose nothing at all from the sound of the originals – and backing by the Texas Troubadours is tighter than ever – a perfect understated balance for the unique phrasing that always made Tubb one of the standouts, right from the start! Titles include two dozen classics, without a clunker in the bunch – tracks that include "Walkin The Floor Over You", "There's A Little Bit Of Everything In Texas", "When The World Has Turned You Down", "I'll Get Along Somehow", "Slippin Around", "Don't Rob Another Man's Castle", "Carless Driftin", "Tomorrow Never Comes", "You Nearly Lose Your Mind", "Though The Days Were Only Seven", and "Let's Say Goodbye Like We Said Hello". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Gene Estes on vibes, John Pisano on guitar, Bob Bertaux on bass, Mel Pollan on bass, Jerry Williams on drums, Joyce Collins on piano, and John Bambridge on bass clarinet. LP, Vinyl record album

The name Channel One is well known to even the most neophyte aficionados of Jamaican music. One of the cornerstone studios on the Kingston scene, the birthplace of so many classic numbers, any collection is of tracks cut there is going to be heavy. This great set collects both well known hits and some tasty lesser known selections, 36 numbers in all! "I Need A Roof" by the Mighty Diamonds, "Without Love" by Leroy Smart, "CB 200" by Dillinger, "Fade Away" by Junior Byles, "Up Park Camp" by John Holt, "Far East" by Barry Brown, "Things & Time" by the Wailing Souls, "Road Block" by Sammy Dread, "Truly (DJ mix)" by Rankin Trevor, "Dances Are Changes" by Barrington Levy, "Ballistic Affair" by Leroy Smart, "Satisfaction" by John Holt, "Natty Burial" by the Lone Ranger, "Natty Have Credentials" by Don Carlos, "Hard To Confess" by the Tamlins, "MPLA" & "Burial" by Revolutionaries, "I Know Myself" by Ernest Wilson, "Welding" by I Roy, "Smoke Ganja Hard" by Little John, "Babylon" by Sugar Minott, "Worries In The Dance" by Frankie Paul and "Queen Majesty" by Jay & Trevor Rankin. LP, Vinyl record album

Lovely stuff! The work of singer Cesara Evoria is remixed by a host of modern club talents – no surprise, as her best tracks of the past few years have been getting plenty of action on the 12" front – taking her from the world music scene into the clubs, with very surprising results! The record is really pretty darn wonderful overall – appealing to fans of a modern groove, but touched with all the depth, soul, and history of Cesara's fantastic voice. Titles include "Angola" remixed by Pepe Braddock, "Miss Perfumado" remixed by 4 Hero, "Nutridinha" remixed by Kerri Chandler, "Besame Mucho" remixed by Senor Coconut, "Angola" remixed by Carl Craig, "Negue" remixed by Chris Prolific, "Sangue De Beironia" remixed by Francois K, and "Bondade E Maldade" remixed by Osunlade. CD

An overlooked history in jazz – a huge book that not only documents important female-led groups and solo artists in the music, but also focuses on those that were heavily featured in visual media as well! The scope might seem small at first, but the author expands with a voluminous range of artists from the 20s through the 50s – leaders, musicians, and singers who were able to get exposure in film and television that they might not have received otherwise! The book has dozens of black and white photos – many illustrating the visual potential of the artists – and subjects include Hazel Scott, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Ina Ray Hutton, Phil Spitalny & His Musical Queens, International Sweethearts Of Rhythm, The Ingenues, Carl Adams, and others. Softcover edition is 316 pages, with black and white photos. Book

Culled from the rich history of the Atlantic records label, and lovingly put together with great notes and everything! 28 tracks in all, including "I Cried A Tear" by LaVern Baker, "What'd I Say (parts 1 & 2)", 'Let The Good Times Roll" and "Just For A Thrill" by Ray Charles, "There Goes My Baby" and "This Magic Moment" by the Drifters, "Charlie Brown" and "Poison Ivy" by the Coasters, "Spanish Harlem", "Stand By Me" and "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)" by Ben E King, "Gee Whiz" by Carla Thomas, "Just Out Of Reach" by Solomon Burke, "Last Night" by the Mar-Keys, "I'm Blue (The Gong Gong Song)" by the Ikettes, "You Don't miss Your Water" by William Bell, "I Found A Love" by the Falcons, and "Green Onions" by Booker T & The MG's. LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal sounds from the Kansas City scene of the late 70s – a wealth of power pop work from the tiny Titan label – all brought together in one of the most brilliant packages we've ever seen from the Numero Group! Like most Numero releases, there's a great story behind this set – a tale of bounced checks, interstate culture, and a cadre of great groups who would have been huge – had they recorded this music out on the coast! Titan's way more than just a tiny label that managed to put out some killer singles back in the day – it's a pop powerhouse that shows just how much under-discovered genius the American scene can hold – music that really helps break down simple understandings of late 70s rock, especially when presented this well. The 2CD set features 42 tracks and a 40 page booklet – a great counterpart to Numero's Yellow Pills set – filled with notes on Titan, a complete discography, and a wealth of wonderful photos that really make this unique scene come alive. Titles include "Shark" and "Real Life Saver" by Gary Charlson, "No Way Baby" and "I Wanna Be" by Arlis, "It's Your Heart Tonight" and "Radio Heart" by Secrets, "Please Change Your Mind" and "Baby It's You" by Boys, "Rock N Roll Song" and "Radio City" by Bobby Sky, "The Last Song" by JP McClain & The Intruders, "Cry" and "Didn't Like It Anyway" by Gems, "Coit Tower" and "Drink A Toast" by Millionaire At Midnight, and "I Think About You" by Scott McCarl. CD

A lost chapter in the all too short history of Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra – an album recorded shortly after the group's better-known album for ECM in the 80s! Like other Liberation Music outings, Carla Bley is a very strong presence on this set – penning original tunes for the album, handling arrangements, and sharing Charlie Haden's love of rhythms and inspirations from Latin and African sources – inspirations that are brought in subtly, and shaped to fit the overall spirit of the group. Players include Tom Harrell, Ken McIntyre, Joe Lovano, Dewey Redman, and Ray Anderson – and titles include "Dream Keeper", "Rabo De Nube", "Nkosi Sikelel'I Afrika", and "Sandino". CD

A lost chapter in the all too short history of Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra – an album recorded shortly after the group's better-known album for ECM in the 80s! Like other Liberation Music outings, Carla Bley is a very strong presence on this set – penning original tunes for the album, handling arrangements, and sharing Charlie Haden's love of rhythms and inspirations from Latin and African sources – inspirations that are brought in subtly, and shaped to fit the overall spirit of the group. Players include Tom Harrell, Ken McIntyre, Joe Lovano, Dewey Redman, and Ray Anderson – and titles include "Dream Keeper", "Rabo De Nube", "Nkosi Sikelel'I Afrika", and "Sandino". CD

Here it is, the mother of them all! The set's got 8CDs worth of killer soul, funk, and Rhythm & Blues – all culled from the rich history of the Atlantic records label, and lovingly put together with great notes and everything! Although this sort of set usually tends to be a bit simplistic, this box actually features a beautiful mix of tracks, lots of which are hard to get in any format. It's a lot to go through, but it's worth the trip! We can't even begin to list the tracks here, there's 203(!) of them in all, but some of the artists include the Bar Kays, the Beginning of the End, Archie Bell & The Drells, Ruth Brown, Solomon Burke, the Capitols, Clarence Carter, the Chords, the Cookies, Don Covay, King Curtis, Tyrone Davis, the Drifters, Roberta Flack, King Floyd, Aretha Franklin, Major Harris, Donny Hathaway, the Ikettes, Willis Jackson, Nat Kendricks & The Swans, Barabra Lewis,the Mar-keys, Les McCann & Eddie Harris, Stick McGhee, Otis & Carla, the Persuaders, Percy Sledge, The Spinners, Willie Tee, Joe Tex, Chuck Willis, Betty Wright and loads more! CD

A really great little collection – one titled from a legendary studio jam that originally appeared on film, not record – a cut that begins this great array of cuts from the famous Black Ark studio of Lee Scratch Perry! Perry's on the cover, and has a strong hand on most of these tracks – but there's also a very nice mix of material going on here – some righteous roots vocals, other dubby cuts that are leaner overall – with a mix of groups and solo singers, all showing the keenly creative 70s Perry style at its best. Titles include "Play On Mr Music" by Upsetter Revue, "One More River To Cross" by Mystic I, "One More Dub To Cross" by the Upsetters, "People Get Ready" by Junior Mervin, "Give Me A Love" by Jimmy Riley, "Feel All Right" by The Silvertones, "Milte Hi Ahkhen" by Sam Carty, "History (dub plate mix)" by Carlton Jackson, "Rejoice Jah Children (dub plate mix)" by The Silvertones, and "Sugar & Spice" by Keith Rowe. CD

Although Jimmy Webb is best known to the world for the pop hits he gave LA when he was a wee wee lad ("MacArthur Park", "Up Up & Away", etc), he also has a lesser-known recording history, the better part of which is represented by his early recordings for Reprise. This album has a very different sound than you'd expect from Jimmy's hits – and features sort of a hip insider LA kind of semi-singer/songwriter sound, plus some C&W influences, set in wild baroque arrangements. The songwriting is far more complex, and far more far-reaching than Webb's pop writing for other artists – and although it sometimes doesn't always work, the album has an enigmatic pull that keeps us returning to it more than we'd expect. Titles include "P.F. Sloan", "Carless Weed", "Psalm One-Five-O", and "Music For An Unmade Movie", a suite in 3 parts that takes up a big chunk of the album. LP, Vinyl record album