... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

One of the most continually inventive musicians from the rock years on Chess – stepping out here for a UK performance! LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Childhood Sweetheart", "Do You Love Me", "Big Ben Blues", "Let Me Sleep Woman", "Vacation Time", "Men & The Donkey", and more! LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A pair of amazing all-star albums from Chess Records – back to back on a single CD! First up is Two Great Guitars – in which Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry come together in a really unique album for Chess Records in the 60s – and that's saying a lot, given all the groundbreaking sounds we heard from that label at the time! The format is quite unusual – as each side features a long instrumental jam that really lets the guitarists work out their differences – in modes that are almost proto-funk more than blues, rock, or soul – with lots of wicked guitar lines that are way ahead of their time in terms of recording space! The long tracks are "Chuck's Beat" and "Bo's Beat" – but the duo also shine brilliantly on the shorter tunes "Liverpool Drive" and "When The Saints Go Marching In". Next is The Super Super Blues Band – a group that definitely lives up to its name – given that the lineup features the Chess Records stalwarts Bo Diddley, Howlin Wolf, and Muddy Waters! The set's maybe a bit more in the mode of Wolf or Waters than some of Bo's own records – although there's a bit of that riffing spark of his at times – and the tracks are often nice and long, with more than enough room to make you feel like Phil Chess gave these guys plenty of space in the studio to hang out, and find the right way to interact. As much as we love Chess albums with short songs and a soulful punch, we really appreciate it when they can break format and open up on a session like this – which really helps create a unique moment on record! Titles include "Goin Down Slow", "Long Distance Call", "Sweet Little Angel", "Ooh Baby & Wrecking My Love Life", and "Spoonful". CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A double-helping of Chuck Berry brilliance from his early years on Chess Records – music that always has way way more to offer than you might think! Sure, some of Chuck's hits are very familiar – and sure, the man could later be a bit of a parody of himself – but there's no denying the power of this early material, and the revolutionary way Chuck had of playing guitar – rooted in blues, paving the way to rock, and also opening the door to lots more funky soul in years to come! The guitar work alone is worth the price of admission, but the songs and vocals are wonderful too – and the CD features 26 titles that include "Down The Road A Piece", "Mad Lad", "Sweet Little Rock & Roller", "Anthony Boy", "Little Queenie", "Oh Baby Doll", "Confessin The Blues", "Almost Grown", "Jo Jo Gunne", "Wee Wee Hours", "Too Much Monkey Business", and "Brown Eyed Handsome Man". CD

Four classic albums from The Routers – one of those unusual 60s groups who never really existed as a real band – but whose name was used to sell some very groovy records at the time! The Routers came from the same production talents who handled The Markettes – who also made some sweet instrumental albums for Warner Brothers at the time – and like that "group", the real music here is mostly played by the cream of LA's session musicians – including Wrecking Crew heavyweights like drummer Hal Blaine, and tenor sax legend Plas Johnson. All tunes are instrumental – and some follow a surf rock mode, while others focus on a particularly strong mode that made The Routers soar – kind of a jaunty, chanting style that was particularly great for big crowds at a live event. As you might guess from the album titles here, some of the records are heavy on Router-ized covers, while others feature original material – and titles include "Let's Go", "Sting Ray", "Martian Hop", "Half Time", "Bucket Seats", "Make It Snappy", "Mashy", "Charge", "Illinois Loyalty", "Ramblin Wreck", "School Days", "Sou'wester", "Pep Rally", "Roll Over Beethoven", and "Bye By Johnny". 48 tracks in all – and complete notes on the "group"! CD

The Band's surprising step back to their roadhouse roots – paying homage to early rock and rhythm & blues the grew up on, and honed their chops on when in their years as The Hawks! Moondog Matinee features a few great covers that split the difference between the raucous energy of their inspirations, from Chuck Berry to Clarence Frogman Henry to Fats Domino to Junior Parker – and the well-oiled, multi-voice Band groove at near-peak form. Titles include "I Ain't Got No Home", "Holy Cow", "Share Your Thoughts", "Mystery Train", "Third Man Theme", "Promised Land", "The Great Pretender", "I'm Ready", "Saved" and "A Change Is Gonna Come". LP, Vinyl record album

A wealth of rare rockers from King Size Taylor – an overlooked figure on the British scene of the early 60s, and one who borrows some of the best influences from the American singers and guitarists of the decade before! Taylor's got a strong presence and a nicely bold voice – a style that sometimes echoes the Big Bopper, other times is maybe more in a Carl Perkins style – with just some occasional echoes of the new modes that were brewing up in and around Liverpool. In fact, some of his use of Perkins and Chuck Berry-influenced material echoes that of the young Beatles – who crossed paths with Taylor over in Hamburg. This set features 31 numbers in all – served up with the usual great sound and very detailed notes that we love in a Bear Family package – a long-overdue addition to the rock and roll history books! Titles include "I Can Tell", "Sad & Blue", "Saw My Baby With Another Guy", "Matchbox", "Money", "Sherry Baby", "All Around The World", "Dr Feelgood", "She Said Yeah", "Stupidity", and "Domino Twist". CD

Music from Obray Ramsey, Merle Haggard, Dixie Cups, Cannon's Jug Stompers, Marty Robbins, Bob Dylan, Charlie Patton, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, Henry Thomas, Jimmy Reed & more. CD

Music from Little Walter, Otis Rush, Magic Sam, Jimmy Reed, Eddie Taylor, Lightnin' Slim, Howlin' Wolf, Dale Hawkins, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Slim Harpo & more. CD

The Band's surprising step back to their roadhouse roots – paying homage to early rock and rhythm & blues the grew up on, and honed their chops on when in their years as The Hawks! Moondog Matinee features a few great covers that split the difference between the raucous energy of their inspirations, from Chuck Berry to Clarence Frogman Henry to Fats Domino to Junior Parker – and the well-oiled, multi-voice Band groove at near-peak form. Titles include "I Ain't Got No Home", "Holy Cow", "Share Your Thoughts", "Mystery Train", "Third Man Theme", "Promised Land", "The Great Pretender", "I'm Ready", "Saved" and "A Change Is Gonna Come". LP, Vinyl record album

Guitar legend George Benson pays tribute to the music of New Orleans – and also hearkens back to his earliest years in R&B, before he rose to jazz fame in the 60s! George sings as much as he plays guitar here – working in a tight combo that's heavy on soul styles – and most tunes are remakes of Nola classics, mixed with some other Chuck Berry songs, done in a more contemporary mode. The set's a fair bit grittier than most of Benson's recent recordings, and also has a tight horn section too – on titles that include "You Can't Catch Me", "Ain't That A Shame", "Blue Monday", "How You've Changed", "Walking To New Orleans", "I Hear You Knocking", and "Havana Moon". LP, Vinyl record album

Guitar legend George Benson pays tribute to the music of New Orleans – and also hearkens back to his earliest years in R&B, before he rose to jazz fame in the 60s! George sings as much as he plays guitar here – working in a tight combo that's heavy on soul styles – and most tunes are remakes of Nola classics, mixed with some other Chuck Berry songs, done in a more contemporary mode. The set's a fair bit grittier than most of Benson's recent recordings, and also has a tight horn section too – on titles that include "You Can't Catch Me", "Ain't That A Shame", "Blue Monday", "How You've Changed", "Walking To New Orleans", "I Hear You Knocking", and "Havana Moon". CD

An all star effort from the one-and-only Professor Of Funk – the inmitable Bootsy Collins – joined on the sprawling Funk Capital Of The World by Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, George Duke, Ron Carter, Jimi Hendrix (?!?), Musiq Soulchild, Samuel L Jackson, Bela Fleck, Dr. Cornel West, Rev. Al Sharpton, Bobby Womack and many more! It's a bizarro guest list and some of the tracks are pretty out there, too – but there's quite a bit of vintage styled Bootsy here – be it G-Funk hip hop with guest rhymers or tripped out monologues – and of course the classic Bootsy bass groove. Titles include "Hip Hop @ Funk U" with Ice Cube, Snoop, Chuck D and Swavay, "Garry Shider Tribute" with George Clinton & Linda Shider, "Yummy, I Got The Munchies" with Musiq, Razzberry & Tom Joyner, "The Jazz Greats" feat George Duke & Ron Carter, "Don't Take My Funk" with Catfish Collins & Bobby Womack and many more. CD