... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Underground soul genius from the great Ron Henderson – one of those great 70s also-rans – a true top talent who never fully got his due, but who cut some really wonderful material back in the day! The set features rare 70s singles and some unreleased tracks – all of which work together to showcase Ron's special way of blending older deep soul currents with warmer mellow soul touches – a great blend of southern and sophisticated styles that was years ahead of its time, which may well be why Henderson's genius is only getting its full appreciation in the 21st century! The package features 13 cuts in all – including "Your Love", "Reole Rose", "Sunshine", "She Pleases Me", "The Other Side", "Problem Child", "Yours Is The Love I Want", "You're Twenty One Today", and "Baby I Wanna Be Yours". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic from Ron Henderson and his excellent Choice Of Colors group – maybe one of the hippest soul acts in North Carolina during the 70s – and one who are certainly different than the groups of that scene who were trying more for a groove that would please vacationers on the coast! Instead, Henderson's a mellow soul genius – with elements in his music that maybe rivals some of the better-known work of artists like Bobby Wilson or Leroy Hutson – but which also has some Jersey/Philly elements at times, too – especially when the rest of the group harmonizes along with Ron's lead! The set features two Allen Toussaint remakes, and the rest is original material by Henderson – titles that include "I'll Be Around", "The Real Thing", "Love Is Gone", "Real Men Can't Be Wrong", "What About Love", "Mary Green", and "Problem Child". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of the greatest albums by this sweet east coast vocal group – also known to folks as the Golden Apples album, because of the crate full of gold-covered apples on the cover. The album's got a wonderful mellow harmony sound – arranged and produced by Van McCoy, much more in the style of his early uptown soul work than some of his other more overblown mid 70s work. Features the sublime stepper "When You're Young & In Love", the hit "I'm Gonna Walk Away From Love", and the cuts "Until We Said Goodbye", "Keep In Touch", "Angel Don't Fly Away", and "Hook it Up". LP, Vinyl record album

The production on both of these uses that big beat Lynn drum style that the MC's on Profile (like Word of Mouth) were using at the time. If you can believe it, the mostly instrumental "Gordy's Groove" uses the theme from the old Andy Griffith/Mayberry tv show for one of the better mid-80's novelty records. Produced by Fresh Gordon, who also does the rhymes on "Gordy's Groove." 12-inch, Vinyl record

Rochelle and the girls are in full force on this late 70s Salsoul groover – with production by Norman Harris and Tom Moulton! The opening trio of cuts have the continuously flowing vibe of an extended suite – and it's a really exhilarating 16 minutes of dancefloor soul – with gorgeous lead and harmony vocals, funky bass grooves and unexpected changes among the club soul standard-bearing grooves. The drum heavy sections of "Let Me Down Easy" and the title track stand out strongly amongst those, but there's lots of nice little twists throughout! Other titles include "Love Thang", and "Double Cross". LP, Vinyl record album

Underground soul genius from the great Ron Henderson – one of those great 70s also-rans – a true top talent who never fully got his due, but who cut some really wonderful material back in the day! The set features rare 70s singles and some unreleased tracks – all of which work together to showcase Ron's special way of blending older deep soul currents with warmer mellow soul touches – a great blend of southern and sophisticated styles that was years ahead of its time, which may well be why Henderson's genius is only getting its full appreciation in the 21st century! The package features 13 cuts in all – including "Your Love", "Reole Rose", "Sunshine", "She Pleases Me", "The Other Side", "Problem Child", "Yours Is The Love I Want", "You're Twenty One Today", and "Baby I Wanna Be Yours". CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A killer – and one of the earliest Philly club tracks! The tune's a hard-grooving two-part monster arranged and written by Norman Harris – tight rhythms steeped in strings, rolling, dipping, turning in a way that really works magic with the vocals of the ladies! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Accompanied by Sultan Khan on sarangi and Balkishna Iyer on tabla. CD

The era that catapulted cult heroes Devo into pop culture history – with bubblier synths, catchier hooks, and crazier multimedia shenanigans than ever before from these pioneers of the video era – and time capsule pop angle aside, it's still one of the best and most innovate albums of its time! It's pretty hard to imagine the early 80s without Devo, but the group and this record is just as amazing decades later, since there was never anyone else like them! Includes "Girl U Want", "It's Not Right", "Whip It", "Freedom Of Coice", "Cold War", "Don't You Know", "Gates Of Steel" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful set from the early 70s – a record that has John Fahey opening up even more than before, on three very long tracks that really extend his ideas into a much more open space! The territory is maybe a bit more in the mode of Robbie Basho or Sandy Bull – and the pieces themselves are dedicated to Fahey's guru, Swami Satchidananda – with some of the Eastern elements you might expect! Yet John's longstanding tradition to reworking an American idiom is still strongly in place – maybe just inflected with a new spirit breathed into the nation in the late 60s – and opened up with wonderful interplay on the strings of the guitar. Titles include "When The Fire & Rose Are One", "Thus Krishna On The Battlefield", and "Fare Forward Voyagers". CD

Not a true history of the Grateful Dead, but instead an important early album of well-selected live tracks – presented in a way that hints at the huge run of archival material that would see the light of day in the 21st Century! The release came out in the early 70s, but features tracks recorded at the Fillmore in 1970 – split into both an electric and an acoustic set, and hand-picked by the group's famous soundman, Owsley Bear Stanley – in part as a tribute to then group member, Pigpen, who sings lead on a number of tracks! Titles include "Black Peter", "Wake Up Little Susie", "Katie Mae", "Dark Hollow", "Hard To Handle", and "Smokestack Lightnin". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A sparkling collection of the soul jazz groovers churned out by Ramsey's famous first trio – the groundbreaking ensemble that featured Eldee Young on bass and Redd Holt on drums. The set does a good job of pushing past obvious hits, and includes some tasty little groovers like "Travel On", "Somethin You Got", "Look A Here", "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It", "Hello, Cello", and the classic "Blues For Night Owls". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

A few great slices of work by Zoot Sims – material recorded over a variety of sessions for Pacific Jazz – but all of it pretty darn great! Sims wasn't as much of a west coast hornman as some of the other leaders on Pacific Jazz – so the array of tracks makes for some surprising moments, both in Zoot's career, and for the label. Side one of the album has Zoot playing with a Gerry Mulligan ensemble on titles that include "I'll Remember April", "Red Door", and "Flamingo". Side two features Zoot playing instrumentals that were cut at the same time as an Annie Ross vocal session – with a group that includes Russ Freeman on piano, Jim Hall on guitar, and Mel Lewis on drums. Titles on that one are "You're Driving Me Crazy", "Brushes", and "Choice Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Features tracks by Poets Of Thought, LTJ Bukem, Longers, John Beltran, Makoto and more – 20 tracks in all! CD

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One of Sammy D's earliest albums for Decca – but a record that has him emerging as a fully-formed vocalist in his own right! The set's got a feel that's a lot like some of Davis' best live performances – one that mixes ballads, show numbers, and a few more playful tunes with ease – supported by light arrangements from Sy Oliver and Mort Stevens, and always coming across with a strong focus on Sammy's incredible voice and magnificent control. Every word of each tune is superbly contemplated, shaped, and phrased – packing the numbers with plenty of Sammy's personality, yet never going too far over the top. Titles include "You Do Something To Me", "Body & Soul", "Come Rain Or Come Shine", "It's All Right With Me", "Thrill Is Gone", "Tenderly", and "Happy Ending". CD

A fitting set, in some way – as Sammy's rise in the 60s was equivalent to Nat's at the end of the 40s – but you've gotta admit, Sammy's vocals are quite quite different from those of Cole! Don't think of this one as a "tribute", so much as it's a collection of classic time-tested songs – all delivered by Sam with that Wham that he was bringing to his best Reprise work of the time. Arrangers include Billy May, Marty Paich, Claus Ogerman, and Johnny Keating – all of whom are working in that wonderful 60s easy style that fit Sammy's voice so well – a surprisingly spacious sound, and one that always seems to have a hint of rhythm, even on the mellowest tracks! Great stuff all around, and with tracks that include "Pretend", "Unforgettable", "Straighten Up & Fly Right", "Sweet Lorraine", "Send For Me", and "Walkin My Baby Back Home". CD

Pure brilliance from the early Everly Brothers – the kind of record that easily shows why they were the Louvin Brothers of the rock and roll scene! The harmonies are sublime – almost an exercise in vocal counterpoint that has the speakers stretching wide to encompass their greatness – and the tunes are beautiful – often rooted in country, with a heavy shade of blue – way more melancholy than the big pop hits you may know from the pair, and produced to perfection at a level that still leaves us breathless! Titles include "So Sad", "Just In Case", "That's What You Do To Me", "Sleepless Nights", "Carol Jane", "Oh True Love", and "Memories Are Made Of This". CD

Includes 20 tracks recorded with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. CD

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Mid 70s magic from vocalist Irene Kral – one of a handful of albums that really had Kral setting herself apart from most other jazz vocal contemporaries! The approach here is very simple – just Irene's voice and piano backing from Alan Broadbent – but a hell of a lot goes on in the spare space, thanks to subtly expressive vocals from Kral – never too overdone, yet filled with a mature sophistication that's wonderful – almost conversational at points, yet always with a soft swing that reminds us that she's a jazz singer at heart. Titles include "Love Came On Stealthy Fingers", "I Like You You're Nice", "When I Look In Your Eyes", "A Time For Love/Small World", "Never Let Me Go", "Lucky To Be Me/Some Other Time", "Don't Look Back", and "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Link Davis Jr on saxes, piano, and organ – and titles include "Just Groove Me", "Girls Today", "Groover's Paradise", "Houston Chicks", "Beautiful Texas Sunshine", and "Her Dream Man Never Came". CD

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". CD

A great late album from Nat King Cole – one done with some wonderfully rich arrangements by Nelson Riddle, which unlock all the poise and class that Cole had developed during his 50s decade at Capitol Records! There's definitely a slight ear here towards the Johnny Mathis sound that was beginning to grab the ears of the period – but Nat's firmly in place to remind all that he was there first, and can handle material like this in a wonderful way – with vocals that are still as breathtaking as ever, in a setting that's free from any of the gimmicks or missteps of later years. Titles include "Love Wise", "To Whom It May Concern", "My Heart's Treasure", "Unfair", and "This Morning It Was Summer". CD features four bonus tracks from singles – "Give Me Your Love", "Non Dimenticar", "Bend A Little My Way", and "Coo Coo Roo Coo Coo Paloma" CD

Ah to be a suitor in the 50s – when all you needed was a record like this to close the deal with a lovely lass! The album's one of Jackie Gleason's finest – and a perfect demonstration of the lush, romantic backings that he did so well for Capitol during the decade – an approach that was very much in direct contrast to Gleason's pyrotechnic personality in TV comedies, but which was a surprisingly good fit for the late nite, booze-heavy antics of Jackie in real life. There's a sense of loss and longing here that few other arrangers at the time could duplicate – and while the album's clearly poised to be a tool in the act of seduction, it's got an emotional depth that might actually have your potential conquest running home with memories of sadness past flooding her mind – not actually coming across with the goods! Titles include "You're My Greatest Love", "It's The Talk Of The Town", "She's Funny That Way", "Coquette", "Did I Remember", "Dancing In The Dark", and "You & The Night & The Music". Includes 9 more bonus tracks too! CD

Mid 70s magic from vocalist Irene Kral – one of a handful of albums that really had Kral setting herself apart from most other jazz vocal contemporaries! The approach here is very simple – just Irene's voice and piano backing from Alan Broadbent – but a hell of a lot goes on in the spare space, thanks to subtly expressive vocals from Kral – never too overdone, yet filled with a mature sophistication that's wonderful – almost conversational at points, yet always with a soft swing that reminds us that she's a jazz singer at heart. Titles include "Love Came On Stealthy Fingers", "I Like You You're Nice", "When I Look In Your Eyes", "A Time For Love/Small World", "Never Let Me Go", "Lucky To Be Me/Some Other Time", "Don't Look Back", and "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most". CD

Forgive the silly pun in the title – and just dive in and dig this excellent 70s album from pianist Jimmie Rowles – a set that's maybe his hippest of the decade, thanks in part to work from Buster Williams on bass and Billy Hart on drums! With Buster and Billy in the mix, the set's anything but standard – as there's a depth and freshness to the rhythmic conception that really offsets Jimmie's piano – augmenting it and inspiring it, and not just bowing to its role in the lead – as can sometimes happen with other 70s rhythm trios in which Rowles works. Jimmie vocalizes a bit, but the set is mostly instrumental – and titles include "Jam Face", "While We're Young", "Where Or When", "My Mother's Love", "Irene", and two inventive medley tracks. LP, Vinyl record album

21 tracks in all! CD

Two of Jackie's booziest albums, back to back on one CD. Music, Martinis, and Memories is filled with sad tunes, perfect for drinking away your sorrows – and the more obscure Tawny ep is a rare treat that fits perfectly in the set. 21 tracks in all, including "The Song Is Ended", "Girl Boy Dance Affair", "Little Girl", "Some Day", "Once In A While", "Unforgettable", and "I'll Be Seeing You". CD

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Includes tracks by Wam Kids, Kerri Chandler, Nova Nova, Voices From Beyond, Manhattan Project, Starseeds, and Aqua Bassino. CD

Includes tracks by Chavellier, Shamlou, Dave Warrin, Jori Hulkkonen, Sascha Funke, Phoney Groupie, and Soul Glow – compiled and mixed by Good Morning People & Fish. CD

Tracks from DJ Stan Johnson, Kerri Chandler, Boo Williams, Idjut Boys, The & Quakerman, Fretless AZM, Groove Junkies, Kalk, Romanthony & DJ Predator, Dino & Terry, Barry Lyndon, The Rurals, and more. CD

A big one for Patti Austin – and a set that moved her from the jazz/soul sidelines right into the mainstream – but all without losing any of her charm from before! A big part of the record's success comes from the production work of Quincy Jones – a longtime associate who gave Patti some key exposure on earlier records of his own, and a great choice to handle the mix of sophisticated soul and jazzy moments on this set. The record features some key tunes penned by Rod Temperton – and James Ingram duets with Patti on the crossover classic "Baby Come To Me" – nestled nicely alongside other cuts that include "The Way I Feel", "Do You Love Me", "The Genie", "Stop Look Listen", "The Island", and "Symphony Of Love". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible package from the great Darrell Banks – a set that brings together his sublime Stax Records album, plus lots of rare bonus tracks too! The core record – Here To Stay – is incredible work from the great Banks – one of the few albums this genius Detroit soul singer cut before his untimely early death! Darrell's got a raw sound and a way with a groove that makes him a perfect choice for late 60s Stax/Volt Records – and he works here with Detroit studio genius Don Davis – who really knows how to mix the rough and the smooth in a perfect way – very different than both the usual Memphis or Detroit soul of the time! Tracks are very well-written – each one's a total lost nugget – and the arrangements have this punch that works perfectly with Banks' tremendous vocals. Titles include "I Could Never Hate Her", "My Love is Reserved", "No One Blinder", "Just Because Your Love Is Gone", and "We'll Get Over". CD then includes a wealth of bonus tracks – some previously unissued – including "Love Is Not An Easy Thing (demo)", "Mama Give Me Some Water (demo)", "Love Why Have You Forsaken Me (demo)", "Just Because Your Love Is Gone (single version)", "No One Blinder (single version)", and "Beautiful Feeling (single version)". CD

These guys may not be the baddest boys of the industry – they'd have to go a long way to reach that title – but they definitely do a good job of bringing a touch of attitude to the world of harmony soul – blending hip hop inspiration with old school formation, in a style that's similar to DRS and some of their other contemporaries! And sure, their name might make them seem like a bit of a joke, but the record stands nicely next to similar efforts of the time – in part because these guys can really sing when they want, a quality that's kept the record stronger over the years than you might expect. Titles include "Nasty", "Where Will You Go", "Addicted To You", "One Night Of Freedom", "Baby Hold On", "Da Choice Is Yours", and "Ecstasy". CD

A completely righteous mix of jazz and African percussion – put together by drummer Art Blakey at a time when he was riding high with the Jazz Messengers, but also was willing to work on great experiments like this! The album's years ahead of its time – and arguably opens the door for countless spiritual jazz projects like this in the 70s, more proof that Blakey was a groundbreaking artist who was always opening doors for others! Blakey's own work on drums is joined by percussion from Montego Joe, Chief Bey, Garvin Masseux, James Ola, Folami, Robert Crowder, and Solomon Ilori – the last of whom would record his own record for Blue Note – and the rest of the group features Yusef Lateef on flute and tenor, Curtis Fuller on trombone, and the great Ahmed Abdul-Malik on bass – a great choice for the record, given that he was mixing together similar modes on his own records of the time. Titles include "Tobi Ilu", "Love, The Mystery Of", and "Obirin African". CD

A sparkling Christmas set from Mary J Blige – one that takes full advantage of those wonderful vocals, and lets them loose on a whole host of Holiday tunes! The album's on Verve, and has a feel that's a lot more classic than some of Mary's other work – a vibe that's somewhere between contemporary R&B and the older vocal jazz you'd hear on Christmas favorites from years past – an approach that comes through strongly in Mary's choice of tunes. Most of the numbers are favorite standards from the Holiday season, given a special Blige twist – arranged by David Foster, and titles include "Little Drummer Boy", "My Favorite Things", "This Christmas", "The Christmas Song", "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer", "Do You Hear What I Hear", "The First Noel", and "Petit Papa Noel". CD

A sparkling Christmas set from Mary J Blige – one that takes full advantage of those wonderful vocals, and lets them loose on a whole host of Holiday tunes! The album's on Verve, and has a feel that's a lot more classic than some of Mary's other work – a vibe that's somewhere between contemporary R&B and the older vocal jazz you'd hear on Christmas favorites from years past – an approach that comes through strongly in Mary's choice of tunes. Most of the numbers are favorite standards from the Holiday season, given a special Blige twist – arranged by David Foster, and titles include "Little Drummer Boy", "My Favorite Things", "This Christmas", "The Christmas Song", "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer", "Do You Hear What I Hear", "The First Noel", and "Petit Papa Noel". LP, Vinyl record album

A great package that includes the "final" concert by David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars persona – recorded at London's Hammersmith Odeon in 1973, and pulled from the soundtrack to the DA Pennebaker film of the same name! The original film featured Bowie, Mick Ronson, and the rest of the Spiders jamming their way through the guitar-heavy tunes of the Ziggy era, plus a few choice bits from earlier years. Titles include "Ziggy Stardust", "Watch That Man", "Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud", "All The Young Dudes", "Oh You Pretty Things", "Moonage Daydream", "Changes", "My Death", and "Hang Onto Yourself". Plus, this 50th Anniversary edition features much better mastering than the original – and also includes the not-reissued Jeff Beck appearances on "Jean Genie/Love Me Do" and "Round & Round". CD

A great package that includes the "final" concert by David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars persona – recorded at London's Hammersmith Odeon in 1973, and pulled from the soundtrack to the DA Pennebaker film of the same name! The original film featured Bowie, Mick Ronson, and the rest of the Spiders jamming their way through the guitar-heavy tunes of the Ziggy era, plus a few choice bits from earlier years. Titles include "Ziggy Stardust", "Watch That Man", "Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud", "All The Young Dudes", "Oh You Pretty Things", "Moonage Daydream", "Changes", "My Death", and "Hang Onto Yourself". Plus, this 50th Anniversary edition features much better mastering than the original – and also includes the not-reissued Jeff Beck appearances on "Jean Genie/Love Me Do" and "Round & Round". LP, Vinyl record album

Bassist Mario Pavone makes for a surprisingly great choice to duet here with the reeds of Anthony Braxton – as Pavone's got a richly responsive way of improvising, one that almost creates these little shadows of sound behind Braxton's lead! The approach is extremely resonant – really bringing the players sensibilities together wonderfully, and making for a record that's almost warmer than other Braxton dates of this nature – especially when Anthony plays it a little straight on the album's readings of "I Remember You" and "Stablemates". Other titles include "Composition No 65", "Composition No 6(0)", "Composition No 135", and "The Call". CD

Possibly the best yet from the Carolina Chocolate Drops! The Chocolate Drops are a group that can (and do) make a banjo and beatbox go together like pork and beans – they're that damn good. On this set, they're working with producer Buddy Miller, who seems a perfect choice. On his own records, Buddy honors folk & country heritage, all the while standing strongly in the contemporary landscape, so we can see why he'd be selected by Chocolate Drops. The group themselves have always been great at bringing out the soul in traditional folk music, and they do that as beautifully as ever here. Includes "Riro's House", "Kerr's Negro Jig", "Country Girl", "Run Mountain", "West End Blues", Po' Black Sheep", "I Truly Understand That You Love Another Man", "No Man's Mama", "Brigg's Shucking Jig/Camptown Hornpipe", "Pretty Bird" and more. CD

Sublime pop disco from Tina Charles – a record that mixes older vocal touches with the swirling sounds of the legendary Biddu – in a groove that's got a heck of a lot to offer! Tina never was one of the most underground singers of her generation – but it's her confidence in that fact that makes this music so great – an unabashed love of the poppier sounds of the dancefloor, in a way that beautifully mixes together 70s AM sensibilities with the growing sounds of the disco movement. Biddu's a great choice for the project – and while the music isn't as exotic as some of his own albums, it's still got some great instrumental flair! Titles include "Love Me Like A Lover", "I Love To Love", "Hold Me", "Hey Boy", "Why", and "Disco Fever". LP, Vinyl record album

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Chris Connor is easily one of the best song stylists of her generation – and although most of her better-known work was cut for American labels in the 50s and 60s, she kept on making really great records and developing her sound overseas – as on this gem of a date for the Japanese market in the late 70s! The vibe is great – a bit more contemporary in approach than the 60s, including the choice of material – delivered with a slinky soulful vibe by a trio that features Harold Danko on piano, Ronnie McClure on bass, and Ed Soph on drums – all players who are a really great match for Connor's sound. The arrangements are great, very inventive – and tracks include "Come In From The Rain", "Baltimore Oriole", "A Baby's Born", "I'll Catch The Sun", "Blue, Green Grey & Gone", "Fly Me To The Moon", "More Today Than Yesterday", and "All Or Nothing At All". CD

The complete recordings of a legendary live cycle of shows in Stockholm from 1960 – material that was previously issued on two different 2LP sets during the album era, now brought together here with bonus tracks too! The first third of the set features incredible work from the team of Miles Davis and John Coltrane – working together in space that's very open, and far more exploratory than their studio work of the late 50s – maybe at a level that really shows the impact that Coltrane's growth was having on the solo approach of Davis! The key rhythm trio keeps things swinging – Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums – which almost seems to allow the horn players even more freedom. The second two thirds of the set are equally striking, but in a very different way – as they feature the great Sonny Stitt, blowing both alto and tenor with Miles' group – a choice that's maybe a bit surprising, but equally wonderful too – a Stitt brings the sound maybe back to a bop core, but also seems to really get a chance to show off some of those modern currents that he had to soft-pedal on his albums for Roost. Titles with Coltrane include "So What", "On Green Dolphin Street", "All Blues/Theme", "Walkin/Theme", and "Fran Dance" – and titles with Stitt include "Autumn Leaves/Theme", "Walkin", "All Of You", "June Night", "Stardust", "Lover Man", "If I Were A Bell", "No Blues/Theme", "Softly As In A Mornin Sunrise", and "So What". CD

There's few singers we like better than Blossom Dearie – and this great little record captures Blossom at her unfettered best, working live before an intimate crowd at London's Ronnie Scott's nightclub in the 60s! The performance is in the same small combo mode as some of Dearie's Verve albums from the 50s – but there's a looser swing here that's really great – an even hipper approach to the even hipper tunes that pushes the Blossom aesthetic very nicely into the 60s. Blossom herself is on piano, supported by the bass of Freddie Logan and drums of Alan Ganley – and overall, the album's a few notches up from the better-known Blossom Time At Ronnie Scotts, thanks to a more fluid groove and very strong choice of material. Titles include "Big City", "One Note Samba", "On A Clear Day", "You Turn Me On Baby", "Let's Go Where The Grass Is Greener", "You're Gonna Hear From Me", "Peel Me A Grape", "Sweet Lover No More", and an early reading of "Sweet Georgie Fame". CD