Eddie makes a nice little comeback here – singing in a style that's perhaps a bit rootsier than some of his classic sides, which actually had him working in a more sophisticated jazzy style – but which are still pretty nice, thanks to some good hard soul production. Titles include "Goodnight Baby Blues", "Juice Head Baby", "Cherry Red", "Cadillac Blues", and "Somebody's Got To Go". LP, Vinyl record album

An early 80s set from Cherry Red Records, and one that shows just how important the British label was to the world of post-punk music at the time – as you'll hear from an assortment of tracks that's more than enough to give labels like Factory or Rough Trade a run for their money! Cherry Red always had a way of thinking outside of the norm – mixing experimental sounds with more tuneful moments, and sometimes showcasing artists who weren't afraid to put their feelings on the line – at a level that other British indies would pick up more strongly a few years later. There's plenty of formative sounds here – and titles include "Plain Sailing" by Tracy Thorn, "My Face Is On Fire" by Felt, "No Noise" by Eyeless In Gaza, "Don't Blink" by The Nightingales, "Some Things Don't Matter" by Ben Watt, "Modi 2 (extract)" by Piero Milesi, "All About You" by Thomas Leer, "Portrait" by Five Or Six, "Eine Symphonie Des Grauens" by The Monochrome Set, "Lazy Ways" by The Marine Girls, "I Unseen" by The Misunderstood, and "On My Mind" by Everything But The Girl. This massive 3CD version of the collection is overflowing with great material – a whopping 72 tracks in all, 17 of which are unreleased, presented in a book-style package with plenty of notes! Added material includes work from The Nightingales, Kevin Coyne, The Passage, Monochrome Set, Jane, Five Or Six, Thomas Leer, Martyn Bates, Creation Rebel, The Reflections, Swallow Tongue, Bodhi Beat Poets, and even Patrick MacNee & Honor Blackman of The Avengers! CD

There's a 4AD-styled image on the cover – and the set looks at a moment in late 80s music when things were nicely swirling together – when production was getting a bit more layered and sophisticated from a few years before – yet not in a way that was overly polished or commercial! Instead, the style represented a new level of sonic sophistication – ways of taking core sounds and spinning them out with greater depth – which made for some really wonderful textures and shapes in the music – pushing things forward in ways that helped the vocals a lot too! The title references a few styles of the time, but there's plenty more going on within – a huge array of work on a special book-style, 4CD package that comes complete with loads of detailed notes on the music. Dozens of tracks in all – work by Ultra Vivid Scene, This Mortal Coil, Shelleyan Orphan, The Chameleons, Louis Philippe, Cranes, Breathless, Kitchens Of Distinction, The Wake, Lush, His Name Is Alive, Lycia, The Sweetest Ache, Smashing Orange, Sweet Jesus, Cranberries, Telescopes, Innocence Mission, Mazzy Star, St Etienne, Low, Dubstar, Pale Saints, and many others. CD

Excellent later work from keyboard giant Tim Blake – material recorded well into the 21st Century, but with the same freewheeling and spacey sound as his classics from the 70s! You might know Blake for his work in Gong, or for a few crucial albums under his own name – and he more than lives up to that legacy here on keyboards, which include the "virtual lead guitar" featured in the image on the cover! As with the best of older prog artists in contemporary settings, there's a very timeless quality to the record – and maybe a more core, more honest approach, given that Blake really made the music for himself – and not for a bigger label trying for a hit. Titles include "Absent Friends", "The Blue Light Zone", "The Arrival Of Migratory Cranes", and "On Contemplating The Southern Cross". CD

A nicely expanded version of the great second album from this very cool UK group – an early 80s act named after a famous song by Dave Brubeck – and one who definitely bring all sorts of jazz elements into their music! Blue Rondo A La Turk were pre-Sade, pre-acid jazz, and have a quality that resonates with some of the more jazz-based expressions of contemporaries like Working Week or Kalima – not straight jazz, but a definite jazz-influenced way of putting over British pop, and with a warmth that's very different than some of the more electronic sounds of the time! The group often dip into some Latin elements in their rhythms, but also have all the charms of bigger British pop groups of the time – a wonderful blend that comes through loud and clear on titles that include "Slipping Into Daylight", "Masked Moods", "Samba No Pe", "Hot Corner", "Smoking Dynamite", and "Are You Satisfied". 2CD edition features 19 more bonus tracks – including the previously-unissued cuts "Let's Get Real", "Kool Aid", "Devil Doll", "Love Let Me Lose You", "Hot Corner (early version)", "Mystery & Imagination", "Let It Go", and "Samba No Pe (early version)" – plus the tracks "Dirty Games", "The Method", and "Heavens Revisited" – and some 12" single mixes too! CD

The complete recordings of a group departed all too soon – the wonderfully catchy, completely groovy Bow Wow Wow – a great breath of fresh air at the start of the 80s! The group were a new project of Malcolm McLaren after the Sex Pistols – but they clearly had plenty going for them on their own, and sounded great even after their acrimonious break with McLaren – thanks to a unique sound that was heavy on drums and percussion, laced with airy guitar, and topped with the fantastic vocals of the lovely Annabella – a voice on the scene that was every bit as unique as Siouxie Sioux or Debby Harry. The drums really drive the music, and give it a sound that's different than some of the group's UK contemporaries – and the songs really sound wonderful all these years later – maybe even more so away from the non-musical issues that sometimes got in the way of the group's success. 3CD set features the full albums See Jungle See Jungle Go Join Your Gang Yeah City All Over Go Ape Crazy and When The Going Gets Tough The Tough Get Going (they were never one for short titles) – and each record comes with bonus tracks, which, alongside the the third CD, makes for a total of 42 bonus tracks in all – along with a big booklet of notes. CD

A massive amount of work from the Dream Academy – a well-named British trio who gave the world some great sounds over the course of three full LPs and a heck of a lot of singles – all of which are included here with a huge amount of bonus tracks too! The group have a style that's similar to some of the other UK pop groups of the time, but expanded out around the edges with almost a cinematic sensibility – one that makes you feel as if they're working with much larger backings at points, even though they're just making the most of the digital equipment at their fingertips to spin out a rich sound that really enforces the catchiness of their lyrics. 7CD set features the full albums The Dream Academy, Remembrance Days, and A Different Kind Of Weather on the first three CDs. CD4 features additional material that didn't make the albums – including the tracks "The Chosen Few", "The Demonstration", "Sunrising", and "In The Heart". CD5 features rare b-sides and demos – including "Poised On The Edge Of Forever", "Test Tape No 3", and "Things We Said Today". CD6 features instrumental cuts – and CD7 features remixes and variants from singles! CD

Wonderful work from the ladies who helped redirect R&B during the 90s! Sure, En Vogue were chart toppers for many years – but they also were some of the first female singers to really use the changes in hip hop production to work out a more solid approach to soul music – heavy beats at the bottom that make their music a perfect fit for a younger soul audience who were raised on equal parts hip hop – but more than enough of the class and care to still appeal to an older audience as well. The vocals are wonderful – strong and proud – and titles include the huge hits "Hold On" and "Lies" – plus "Time Goes On", "Strange", "You Don't Have To Worry", "Don't Go", "Luv Lines", "Part Of Me", and "Party". 2 CD version is overflowing with bonus tracks – including "Waitin On You", "Silent Nite (Holiday edit)", "Mover", "National Anthem", "You Don't Have To Worry (radio)", "Lies (avant garde edit)", "You Don't Have To Worry (UK edit)", "Hold On (ext version)", "Lies (extended avant garde)", "Strange (house rmx)", "Silent Nite (long holiday mix)", "Hold On (hip hop rmx)", "Time Goes On (dance rmx)", "Lies (Kwame's bone age rmx)", "Hold On (dub)", "Lies (new jack rmx)", and "You Don't Have To Worry (lo cal mix)". CD

Seminal work from one of the greatest groups of British pop in the 80s – the incredible Felt, a band whose talents ran from the jangly to the lyrical and poetic! The album's a perfect illustration of these two sides of the group – as tunes shift effortlessly between light, melodic tracks with a 60s-inspired approach, to deeper, longer ones that involve complicated guitar and keyboard explorations. There's a sunny sadness to the whole album – the emergence of that indescribable sound that can only be summed up by "Felt" – and which has made the group a favorite of ours for years. Titles include "Sunlight Bathed The Golden Glow", "Roman Litter", "Sempiternal Darkness", "Spanish House", "Crystal Ball", "Vasco Da Gama", "Whirlpool Vision Of Shame", and "Imprint". LP, Vinyl record album

A treasure trove of work from the legendary Fire Engines – a group who were missed by most when they first emerged at the start of the 80s, but one who've got a timeless sound that's continued to get plenty of attention over the years! The Fire Engines have a way of being noisy and catchy at the same time – almost like a collision between mid 80s work on Creation Records and Ron Johnson, but recorded before those two labels really got going – as a brief but bold post-punk explosion from the Scottish scene! The basslines are great, and share some energy with Gang Of Four – as do the fast-riffing guitar lines – both of which have the group really exploding with youthful energy in a great way. This great package brings together all the important material the group recorded in 1980 and 1981 – the Codex Communications/Aural Pop tracks – with titles that include "Candyskin", "Discord", "Lubricate Your Livingroom", "New Thing In Cartons", "Get Up & Use Me", "Plastic Gift", and "Meat Whiplash" – plus live material, Jon Peel sessions, and more – making for a 25 track package, with great notes too. LP, Vinyl record album

The full Stiff Records run from Lene Lovich – a singer whose sound and style were perhaps one of the most striking of the new wave generation! In fact, it's tempting to say that Lovich set a tone that countless other female artists would soon follow – a new vibe, a new look, a way of putting over a song that was completely different both from some of the 70s superstars from the middle of the decade, and from some of the harder-edged punk acts of the late 70s. If you know her classic "Lucky Number", you'll know what Lena is bringing to the table – but you'll also discover a heck of a lot more here, in a massive package of 81 tracks in all, 20 of which appear here on CD for the first time ever. The package features the full albums Stateless (in both the original and later mixes), Flex, No Man's Land, and New Toy – plus loads of bonus material from singles, b-sides, remixes, and live recordings too – wrapped up with very detailed notes. CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A wonderful collection of work from the always-great Momus – one of our favorite singer/songwriters of the past 40 years, a talent who really moves forward territory inspired by the work of Jacques Brel, Serge Gainsbourg, and George Brassens – and an artist who's given us so much incredible music during his career! The set really does a great job of spanning Momus' full career – from the acoustic start of his early Cherry Red albums and singles, to the open stylistic space of his music for Creation Records – where he shifted his ear for a catchy tune and sinister storyline into some really wonderful tracks – back to his return to Cherry Red and then formation of his own label – where he's continued to explore a fantastic array of topics with his undeniable wit. And in case you're wondering – the "public intellectual" title is a bit of a joke, taken from his classic "I Was A Maoist Intellectual" track from the 80s – but it's also somewhat fitting, given the incredible depth of his songwriting (although sadly, Momus has never hit the fame he deserves – which would make him a true public intellectual.) There's so many wonderful tracks on this set, we can't even count them all – and the collection's especially great for presenting some of the later Creation material that's been very hard to get in recent years. 3CD set features a whopping 56 tracks in all – plus notes on the tunes by Momus himself – and titles that include "Spacewalk", "Enlightenment", "The Ephephobe", "Paper Wraps Rock", "Flame Into Being", "The Homosexual", "How Do You Find My Sister", "Shaftesbury Avenue", "Summer Holiday 1999", "Ventriloquists & Dolls", "Born To Be Adored", "The Age Of Information", "London 1888", "The Art Creep", "The Hiker", "System Of Usher", "Widow Twanky", "Nervous Heartbeat", and "The Cheque's In The Post". CD

A real lost chapter of work in the world of British Pop – a range of early 70s recordings all done by Gerry Monroe, a singer with a quality that maybe feels like it's a bit late for time in which he cut these tracks! Gerry's got this nice sense of drama in his voice – a range that sometimes really wants to push over the top, and a quality of phrasing that often brings character to the lyrics in ways that make him a very distinct singer – qualities that certainly got Monroe some good attention on the British TV screens at the time, but which also comes through here without the use of visuals. The work here was all recorded for the Chapter One label, mostly under the supervision of maestro Les Reed – and the 2CD package features 49 tracks in all, showing a great legacy of work that links Monroe to other UK singers like Matt Monroe and Engelbert Humperdink – and maybe even Scott Walker too. CD

Seminal sounds from trumpeter Ian Carr and his Nucleus group of the early 70s – maybe one of the few jazz rock groups that was ever able to work with a fair bit of jazz in their sound! Unlike his contemporaries, who often started in rock first, then added some horns – Carr was already coming off an important 60s legacy, co-leading a group with tenorist Don Rendell – so the vibe here is like an extension of that very rhythmic, very tonal modern work – but with the addition of electrified instrumentation – thanks to the guitar work of Chris Spedding and keyboards of Karl Jenkins – who plays some fantastic electric lines throughout! The vibe is maybe a bit in the territory of early 70s electric work by Miles Davis and Donald Byrd (pre-Mizell for the latter) – but there's maybe a farther-reaching concept at play on many of the records, at a level that always helped the group cross over to the prog crowd, and move beyond just a straight jazz audience. Other key players include Brian Smith on tenor and soprano saxes – a really fantastic part of the lineup – plus Jeff Clyne on bass and John Marshall on drums – and as the albums move along a bit, the lineup shifts slightly, and also opens up to guests who include Kenny Wheeler and Harry Beckett on trumpets, Tony Levin on drums, and Norma Winstone on voice. And although some of the albums have been reissued before, this is the first set to really dive in completely – and bring together material from the Vertigo Records releases that include Elastic Rock, We'll Talk About It Later, Solar Plexus, Belladonna, Labyrinth, Roots, Under The Sun, Snakehips Etcetera, and Alley Cat. CD

The short but brilliant career of The Runaways, served up here in a really great box set – one that features all four of their studio albums (including one not released in the US at the time), and their more obscure live album from Japan! Together, the five records tell the tale of a group who forever transformed the sound of female rock and roll – a searing hard rock outfit who were almost punk, and certainly did a great job of playing with emotions and expectations, while also having a hell of a lot of fun in the process! And sure, Joan Jett went on to become a superstar in the following decade, but here alongside the young Cherie Currie and Lita Ford, she's part of a well-formed, super-tight group who brought a much harder edge to female rock than anyone might have expected in the generation of girl groups and singer/songwriters! The box set features the full albums The Runaways, Queens Of Noise, Live In Japan, Waitin For The Night, and And Now The Runaways – all with original cover art, and a nice booklet of notes. CD

Three classic albums from Shoes, plus bonus tracks, and a full CD worth of rare material too! First up is Present Tense – a power-pop classic from Shoes – their first full length for Elektra Records, and a set that stands with all the best end of 70s gems from either coast! The songs are impeccable, and the group do a fantastic job of blending sharper guitars with really great lyricism – a mode that maybe makes the Illinois group a strong precursor for territory that The Replacements wouldn't hit until many years later – and which makes just about every track on the album a precious nugget that just gets better and better with time! Titles include "Now & Then", "Every Girl", "I Don't Wanna Hear It", "Three Times", "In My Arms Again", and "Too Late". On Tongue Twister, Shoes continue the brilliance of their first album for Elektra – serving up the kind of music that was so well-done, so subtle, it was maybe missed by most of the world at the time – even though it's gone onto the status of classic, thanks to legions of fans and critics! Shoes have a way with a tune that's unlike anyone else – maybe that compressed charm of Big Star, but fused into the sharper modes of the power pop years – but without any of the too commercial modes of some of the bigger groups of the time. Instead, the whole thing feels like you've just stumbled upon a brilliant band, playing in a backroom bar – which, unfortunately, is how Shoes spent too much of their career. Titles include "Only In My Sleep", "She Satisfies", "Found A Girl", "Hate To Run", "When It Hits", "Yes Or No", "Your Imagination", and "Girls Of Today". On Boomerang, Shoes maybe look a bit too new wave on the cover, but still sound perfect within – very much in charge of that perfect yet understated approach to a tune that has gone on to make them legends in all the many years since this album was released! The group were never out to change the world, and maybe that held them back at the time – but they were also never trying for big chart success, or too-slick modes – and there's a wonderfully honest, down to earth approach to the songwriting and production that clearly sets the stage for all the bigger late 80s groups that would follow in their wake. Nearly every tune is a completely catchy mofo – and titles include "Curiosity", "In Her Shadow", "Double Talk", "The Summer Rain", "Under The Gun", "The Tube", and "What Love Means". 4CD set features a huge amount of bonus material – 8 track demo versions of all three albums, added to their discs – and a bonus CD of 18 more rare tracks – all in a box, with a big booklet of notes! CD

The second chapter in the career of Bridget St John, presented here in all its glory – with one key album, lots more rare material, and even some unissued session tracks too! The set begins with the wonderful album Jumblequeen – post-Dandelion Records work by British singer Bridget St John – an album that's a bit more straightforward than some of her earlier work, but still pretty darn great! Bridget still sings and plays guitar in a relatively folksy way – but there's a tighter focus here than before – a sense of song structure that's really wonderful, and which is delivered with these incredibly haunting vocals that almost remind us of Nico on her first album for Verve – only a bit better! Other instrumentation is often spare – but includes just the right amount of cello, organ, viola, and other lightly-used instruments to flesh out the tunes with sad colors and nicely blue shades. Titles include "Sparrowpit", "Song For The Waterden Widow", "Curious & Woolly", "Want To Be With You", "Last Goodnight", "Long Long Time", and "Sweet Painted Lady". CD1 also features other UK recordings from the time – including "3db Australia", "Bumper To Bumper", "Grow", "Nancy Alice", and "Just Like A Woman (Battered Ornaments version)". Next is the record Take The 5ifth – a set issued in the 90s, but with late 70s/early 80s demo tracks recorded by Bridget on her own, many with a fair bit of piano and keyboards – and contributions from other musicians that make them way more polished than just solo demo tracks. Titles include "Jealous Jailer", "Make Me Whole", "I Need It Sometimes", "Talk To Me", "Manhattan Madhatters", "One Night Wonder", and "Catch A Falling Star". Last up is the most unusual material, as CD3 features New York Sessions from the mid 70s, most of which have never been released, and show Bridget in a really wonderful mode – a bit warmer than her previous UK recordings, but with that edge we always love in her vocals – sometimes getting instrumental help from the team of Jim Mullen and Dick Morrissey. Titles include unusual versions of "Curious & Woolly", "Help Him Through", "Crazy Heart", "Talk To Me", "Sunnyside Up", "Flying For Now", "Moody", "Easy Come Easy Go",a nd "Keep You In Touch". CD

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Keyboard James Taylor works here in a very unique setting – but one that's totally great, as well – and which really seems to give his music a very fresh vibe! The title's no lie – as Taylor's working in a mass-like format, complete with a large vocal choir – but the result is this wonderful blend of funky jazz and voices, kind of like a 70s funk take on the 60s sounds carved out by artists like Donald Byrd or Max Roach on their "with voices" experiments! The choir soars mightily over James' keyboards – and tight rhythms at the bottom really keep things moving at all the best moments – blending in a groove that makes the whole thing sound far more secular than you might think. Titles include "Sanctus", "Flute", "Agnus Dei", "Kyrie", and "Gloria". CD

Keyboard James Taylor works here in a very unique setting – but one that's totally great, as well – and which really seems to give his music a very fresh vibe! The title's no lie – as Taylor's working in a mass-like format, complete with a large vocal choir – but the result is this wonderful blend of funky jazz and voices, kind of like a 70s funk take on the 60s sounds carved out by artists like Donald Byrd or Max Roach on their "with voices" experiments! The choir soars mightily over James' keyboards – and tight rhythms at the bottom really keep things moving at all the best moments – blending in a groove that makes the whole thing sound far more secular than you might think. Titles include "Sanctus", "Flute", "Agnus Dei", "Kyrie", and "Gloria". LP, Vinyl record album

Nice dubby material from this obscure On-U Sound combo – recorded back when Adrian Sherwood was at the helm, and was including a lot of odd post-modern techniques into the mix. The overall sound is pretty spare, and perhaps a bit dated – but the record's one of the more enigmatic from the early days of On-U, and has more than enough nice moments. Titles include "Very Big In America Right Now", "Grand Prix", "Feeling Wild", "Slipped Disco", "Stopping & Starting", and "Technical Miracle". CD

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Nancy Sinatra recording in London, but still getting some heavy help from Lee Hazlewood – who wrote about half the tracks on the record, and also guest stars on one number too! The backings are fuller than some of Nancy's other Reprise albums – clearly going for some of the jaunty modes of UK girl pop of the time – but most numbers still have that undeniable Nancy charm, sung in breathy vocals that still seem to have their own space away from the larger orchestrations. Titles include "Friday's Child", "Hutchinson Jail", "Shades", "This Littler Bird", "I Can't Grow Peaches On A Cherry Tree", "The End", and "Step Aside" – plus "Summer Wine", which features Lee. Features four great bonus tracks too – titles recorded in London with Mickie Most – "Zodiac Blues", "Colors Are Changing", "Are You Growing Tired Of My Love", and "The Highway Song". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

The title gets it right – as the album's easily the closest thing to free jazz that Ornette Coleman ever recorded – an album-length improvisation played by a "double quartet" that's overflowing with classic players! The style here is a fair bit like John Coltrane's Ascension album for Impulse – and like that one, the session features Ornette and his contemporaries really stretching out – blowing like never heard before on record, and working in a highly unstructured setting! Other players include Eric Dolphy on bass clarinet, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, and Scott LaFaro on bass – alongside regular group members Don Cherry on pocket trumpet, Charlie Haden on bass, and both Ed Blackwell and Billy Higgins on drums. One long track – just titled "Free Jazz"! LP, Vinyl record album

Tomorrow may be the question, but the record screams "today!" – and even this many years after its recording, this early set by Ornette Coleman has an energy and presence that cannot be denied! The sound here is kind of a rougher take on the mode that would gel more strongly on Ornette's Atlantic albums – but even so, it's still incredibly fresh, and well worth seeking out – especially as an example of the sharper edges that were bursting forth from the once-cool west coast scene! Coleman's on alto sax and Don Cherry is on trumpet – but they're not joined by their more familiar associates, and are instead working with a more conventional rhythm team that includes either Percy Heath or Red Mitchell on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums – all clearly trying to make a bit of sense of Ornette's approach here, but in a way that also creates a great sense of tension on the record! Tracks are shortish, with great solos by Ornette and Cherry – and titles include "Tomorrow Is The Question", "Endless", "Rejoicing", "Lorraine", "Turnaround", "Tears Inside", and "Giggin". CD

One of the coolest albums ever cut by the Singers Unlimited – thanks to great instrumentation from the mighty Art Van Damme! Art plays accordion – in a way that works perfectly with the banks of sound and sweetness we love from the group – an instrument whose own breathy tones turns out to be a perfect accompaniment for their harmonies, especially in the way it sets a very melancholy mood! Other instrumentation is great too – relatively spare use of the guitar of Sigi Schwab, plus vibes from Heribert Thusek, bass from Eberhard Weber, and drums from Charly Antolini – and titles include a really sublime version of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Wave", plus "Violets For Your Furs", "Cherry", "Spring Is Here", "Ecstasy", "We Could Be Flying", and "Invitation". LP, Vinyl record album

A treasure trove of soul music from a famous London label of the 70s – almost all of it American work, but hand-picked with the kind of selection that made Contempo a strong precursor for later British reissue labels – like Ace/Kent, Charly, or Expansion Records! Contempo grew out of the magazine Blues & Soul – that very long-running bible of soul music that came out of London – and like the magazine, the label really focused on lesser-known acts, both from the 60s, and more contemporary years too – often with an eye towards tunes that still warranted greater discovery by the world at large. Some of the numbers are great groovers, others are in a deep soul mode – and in the later years, you can definitely hear a growing love of disco – especially on some of Contempo's own productions. The company also recorded older American soul singers when they visited the UK for shows during the 70s – finding audiences that were stronger than they had back home, and a label that was also willing to give them a chance in the studio. There's a huge amount of great work here – from late 60s American soul through late 70s clubby groovers – and as usual with Cherry Red, the whole 3CD package comes with a very detailed booklet of notes and photos. The set features 63 tracks in all – with work by The Exciters, Bettye Swann, Major Lance, Black Stash, The Montclairs, Jimmy Thomas, Ultrafunk, Moses Dillard, Ernie Bush, Mr Superbad, Dorothy Moore, Sir Mack Rice, Sam & Dave, Rice & Beans Orchestra, Oscar Toney Jr, Richie Pitts, The Masai, JJ Barnes, African Music Machine, Cymande, Juggy Jones, Armada Orchestra, Banzai, and many others! CD

A treasure trove of greatness from British folk rock legend John Renbourn – all of his late 60s solo work, done before moving on to greater fame in Pentangle! First up is There You Go – a rare one from singer Dorris Henderson and future Pentangle founder John Rensbourn! Florida born, LA raised singer Dorris Henderson moved to London in 1965 and was soon singing London's folk clubs, where she met Rensbourn. A solid mix of traditionals and then contemporary folk songs – stripped down and honest takes on "Saly Free And Easy", "Cotton Eyed Joe", "Mr Tamborine Man", "Going To Memphis", Something Lonesome", "Mist On The Mountain" and more. This edition includes bonus tracks from a rare 45 – "Hangman" and "Leaves That Are Green". Next is the self-titled John Renbourn from 1965 – a set that would not only establish John's legacy for years to come, but also have a very strong impact upon the role of the guitar on the British scene too! The album's definitely in a mode that owes something to an American folk legacy – but it also really breaks from the past with unusual phrasings and colorings in Renbourn's guitar – certainly with an ear towards ancient English modes, but also at once very fresh and contemporary – a strong precursor to the waves of new acoustic talents that would flow from the UK a few years later, but maybe even more revolutionary – given that John's mostly just working here with his guitar and voice. Bert Jansch adds guitar to a few tracks – and titles include "Song", "Down On The Barge", "Plainsong", "Judy", "Beth's Blues", "Blue Bones", "Train Tune", "Winter Is Gone", and "Noah & Rabbit". Bert & John is a hell of a collaboration between British legends Bert Jansch and John Renbourn – both working here together to completely redefine the sound of their music for the generation to come! This one album may well hold all the sense of subtle power and possibility that was about to flower in the Brit movement often known as "acid folk" – that reworking of older aesthetics with modern conceptions, and doing so mostly with their work on acoustic guitar – quite a feat, given the stripped-down instrumentation of the set! Bert sings a bit – in that incredible style of his – but the real attraction here is the guitar interplay, which is always fresh, never hokey, neither familiar American folk nor forced singer-songwriter backup material. Titles include a wonderful reworking of Charles Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" – plus "Red's Favourite", "Orlando", "Soho", "Piano Tune", "East Wind", "After The Dance", and "The Time Has Come". Another Monday is maybe the most obscure album in the collection – a set that is mostly instrumental, with some completely fantastic work by Renbourn on guitar – but which also features a bit of guest vocals from singer Jacqui McShee – whose warmer presence next to John really makes for a nice pairing. The album's as powerful as it is subtle, really beautiful in its sense of variety – with titles that include "Buffalo", "One For William", "Lost Lover Blues", "Another Monday", "Day At The Seaside", "Nobody's Fault But Mine", and "Waltz". Watch The Stars is another great collaboration with Dorris Henderson – an American singer, but one who moved to London in the 60s – where she cut this rare gem with guitarist John Renbourn! The album's got a righteous vibe that's hipper than the usual folk set – with some traditional tunes and some contemporary material – recorded with that amazing phrasing that made Renbourn's guitar so distinct right from the start, with lots of those jazzy currents we love so much – and which really fit the creative vocal approach of Henderson! Dorris also plays some autoharp, and there's a bit of bass in the backings – although overall the main focus here is on Renbourn's guitar and Henderson's vocals. Titles include "Come Up Horsey", "God Bless The Child", "Watch The Stars", "30 Days In Jail", "Mosaic Patterns", "Tomorrow Is A Long Time", and "There's Anger In This Land". Sir John A Lot Of is perhaps one of the best-known albums from British guitar legend John Renbourn – as it was issued widely in the US, and kept in print for a surprisingly long time over the years! The approach here is slightly different than Renbourn's previous records – a bit in the image presented by the cover, although with maybe not as slavish a sound – as John just uses the whole thing to go a bit more ancient than before, in ways that echo the time travel that the whole British folk scene was taking as the 70s approached. The tunes are done in ways that are really beautiful – still lots of the incredible guitar work that made Renbourn such a standout on the scene – plus flute from jazzman Ray Warleigh, who's very different here than usual – and spare use of finger cymbals, African drums, and glockenspiel by Terry Cox. Titles include "Morgana", "Transfusion", "The Trees They Do Grow High", "Sweet Potato", "Seven Up", and "White Fishes". 6CD box features all records in original artwork sleeves, with a booklet of notes – and bonus tracks that include "Message To Pretty", "The Waggoner's Lad", "Lucky Thirteen", "Blues Run The Game", "The Wildest Pig In Captivity (alt)", "Can't Keep From Crying", "Transfusion (alt)", and "The Leaves Are Green". CD

Early work by The Ventures – brought together here in an unusual album of color-themed tunes! The record somehow manages to start off with their famous rendition of "Walk Don't Run", but then rolls into an even more creative batch of older standards with some sort of color in the title – played by the group with their guitar-heavy shadings in a smoking instrumental mode that really breathes new life into these older classics! All tunes have a heavy twang and lots of tight drums – and titles include "Green Leaves Of Summer", "Blue Skies", "Red Top", "Yellow Bird", "Blue Moon", "Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White", and "Silver City". LP, Vinyl record album