One of THE greatest experimental rock albums of the 60s – a landmark effort from a short-lived group that included avant musicians Joe Byrd and Gordon Marron! The group's got a really tremendous sound – part psyche, part electronic, and part folk rock – all put together in a freewheeling style that cares little for genre or convention – and which must have really shook the roots of Columbia Records when they submitted the tape for this set! The instrumentation on the set should be enough to pop your cork – as the group uses ring modulator, electric drums, electric harpsichord, organ, calliope, and other early electronic instruments – but their sound is topped off with some really beautiful vocals from singer Dorothy Moskowitz, adding a light touch that really makes for a strange juxtaposition! The lyrics are a bit poetic and trippy – in a good way – and titles include "The American Metaphysical Circus", "Garden Of Earthly Delights", and "Cloud Song". Beautifully expanded version of the album – with 10 bonus tracks, most previously unissued – titles that include "Tailor Man", "Osamu's Birthday", "No Love To Give", "I Won't Leave My Wooden Wife For You Sugar", and "Mouse (The Garden Of Earthly Delights)". CD

A trio of great albums from Babe Ruth – plus bonus tracks too! First up is First Base – the debut of a group so great and so groovy, they ended up having a huge influence on the early sound of hip hop – thanks to a wonderfully funky sound at the core of their progressive rock groove! Babe Ruth have this rhythmic impulse that's really amazing – a way of working bass, drums, and percussion together with qualities that go way past just prog rock noodling – and have this focus that really fits the lead vocals and guitar of Alan Shacklock, who also handled all the arrangements for this mighty debut too! Titles include their classic cut "The Mexican" – a famous sample cut from way back, with nice use of acoustic guitar and a Morricone riff too – plus versions of Zappa's "King Kong" and Jesse Winchester's "Black Dog" – and the originals "Wells Fargo", "The Runaways", and "Joker". Next is Amar Caballero, an album with a horse on the cover, and a sound that's maybe even more soulful than the first mighty outing by Babe Ruth – quite a lot, given the strength of that debut! Female singer Jenny Haan seems to have an even greater presence here – working some nice currents of color through the group's great ability to riff, groove, and sometimes step into more acoustic modes – all while holding onto one of the hippest currents going in the Harvest Records scene – and one of the most unique as well! There's plenty of surprises throughout – and in addition to great cuts like "Broken Cloud", "Gimme Some Leg", "We Are Holding On", "Amar Caballo", and "Doctor Love" – the group also turn in a nicely offbeat remake of "Cool Jerk" too! Last up is the self-titled Babe Ruth, a set that really stands as a testament to their many musical influences! There's few groups who could ever hope to wrap together influences from Stax Records, Ennio Morricone, and Curtis Mayfield – and whole the whole thing could ever turn out well – but the mighty Babe Ruth do exactly that, and still find time for some of their own unique grooves as well! The group are every bit as groovy here as on their previous records – mixing fuzzy guitars, well-crafted rhythms, and a nicely compressed version of prog into an amazingly fresh sound that still delights all these many years later – thanks to well-crafted vocals from Jenny Haan, and sharp arrangements from Alan Shacklock, whose guitars and sense of wit really keeps the whole thing moving nicely. Shacklock penned most of the original tunes here – like "Dancer", "Somebody's Nobody", "Jack O'Lantern", and "The Dutchess Of Orleans" – and the group also turn in nice remakes of "Fistful Of Dollars", "We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue", and "Private Number". 3CD set features bonus tracks – "Wells Fargo (single)", "Theme From A Few Dollars More", "Ain't That Livin", "If Heaven's On Beauty's Side", and "Private Number (single)" – plus a big booklet of notes. CD

Killer CTI work from Joe Farrell – with grooves so sharp you could cut your trousers on them! Farrell's angular reed style is in perfect form here – grooving with a small group that includes Herbie Hancock on piano, Joe Beck on guitar, Steve Gadd on drums, and Don Alias on percussion – a combo that's got a harder, tighter feel than most CTI groups – a key reason why Joe's records of this time are so legendary! The album features a fantastic version of Stevie Wonder's "Too High" – one that breaks all over the beginning with these riffs by Farrell, then grooves into a CTI electric funk mode for about 13 minutes. All tracks are long – and other tracks include "Hurricane Jane", "Geo Blue", "Penny Arcade", and "Cloud Cream". LP, Vinyl record album

Deep deep sounds from this hip Japanese drummer – a set that features a fusion-styled mix of keyboards and sax, but one that comes across with a gentle feel that's light years from conventional fusion! The balance is perfect throughout – kind of a spacey, soulful vibe – stretching out beautifully, yet never getting overindulgent – no jamming modes at all, and really a great ear for the space between the notes that keeps the whole thing on a open-handed level. One track goes slightly out, but in a way that balances the others nicely – and players include Tomoki Takahasi on tenor and soprano sax and Toshiyuki Daitoku on keyboards. Titles include "June Rain", "Burning Cloud", "Moki", "Racco", and "Cum Cum". LP, Vinyl record album

Dreamy, soul-steeped avant pop sounds from Sweden's Little Dragon! The group has been delivering with atmospheric production, high quality songs, and timeless, genuine soul for long enough that we could consider them veterans by this point – and we're glad they continue to do their thing with fresh, distinctive style. Singer Yukimi Nagano is a big part of the appeal, and she really flourishes on this one – infusing the synth pop styled tracks and the more subtle mood pieces with an indispensable soulful integrity. Includes "Klapp Klapp", "Mirror", "Pretty Girls", "Underbart", "Car Rider", "Paris", "Lurad", "Nabuma Rubberband", "Only One", "Killing Me", "Pink Cloud" and "Let Go". CD

An ambitious little set from Christian McBride – one that brings together 3CDs of music recorded over 2 nights of performance – all in a mode that shows McBride picking up plenty of funky touches! The group here features Geoffrey Keezer on keyboards, Ron Blake on saxes, and Terreon Gully on drums – really hitting the kit with a pounding intensity to match McBride's pulsating work on both acoustic and electric basses – jamming here a lot strongly than we remember from other studio sides. The expanded package is presented (amazingly) at the same price as a regular CD – and offers plenty of long tracks to really hear this great band stretch out in a space that's nicely between conventional jazz and some of the looser modes of the jamband underground. Guest appearances include Charlie Hunter, DJ Logic, Scratch, Eric Krasno, and Jason Moran – and titles include "Say Something", "Clerow's Flipped", "Lejos De Usted", "Sonic Tonic", "Hibiscus", "Sitting On A Cloud", "Mwandishi Outcome Jam", "Lower East Side", "See Jam Hear Jam Feel Jam", "E Jam", and "D Shuffle Jam". Lots of jams! CD

A landmark blend of gospel spirit and 70s soul – and one of the greatest moments ever from The Mighty Clouds Of Joy! Like so many other soul artists before them, these guys have voices that are steeped in the best traditions of gospel – but rather than giving up their roots and going secular, they just cut this set with the best Philly soul help of the time – arrangements from Wade Marcus, and a smoking Sigma Sound lineup that includes work from Norman Harris, Vince Montana, Bobby Eli, Ronnie Baker, and Earl Young – all of whom give the record the vibe of the best Philly International material from the time! Dave Crawford produced, but the set almost feels more Gamble & Huff than anything else – as the quintet's vocals really soar on tracks that include "Stoned World", "Time", "Mighty Cloud Of Joy", "The Master Plan", and "Heart Full Of Love". LP, Vinyl record album

The first-ever live album from Joni Mitchell – and a record that sounds a fair bit different than a concert set might have during the Reprise years – as Joni's got plenty of help from Tom Scott & The LA Express, who bring a tight yet intimate vibe to the proceedings! Joni's definitely a superstar at this point – as you might guess from the size of the amphitheater on the cover – but she's also got an even stronger ability to come across with a personal, pointed style – one that's very different than the overblown hype of so many other 70s live albums. The set includes a few tracks not yet on albums, and a nice mix of material – including the live version of "Big Yellow Taxi" that ended up as a hit single – and the cuts"You Turn Me On I'm A Radio", "Blue", "Woman Of Heart & Mind", "Both Sides Now", "Real Good For Free", "Jericho", "Circle Game", "Cactus Tree", "The Last Time I Saw Richard", "People's Parties", and "Woodstock". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the most exciting piano jazz ever recorded – featured here on all of the Blue Note and Bethlehem recordings by the Herbie Nichols Trio! Nichols' heavy handed style is amazing throughout, and the record explodes with energy unheard of on other trio sessions from the time! The first 2/3 of the CD feature material from Nichols' Prophetic Herbie Nichols 10" albums on Blue Note – recorded in 1955, and featuring either Max Roach or Art Blakey backing Herbie up – on titles that include "Chit Chatting", "The Gig", "Terpsichore", "Spinning Song", "Mine", "House Party Starting", "Hangover Triangle",and "Query". Next up is material from the album Love Gloom Cash Love – Herbie's only one for Bethelehem – but stands nicely next to his better-known sides for Blue Note. The sound is similar to those, with a sharp and edgey approach – and an incredible sense of invention that pushes the work far past any expectations you might have! Titles include "Every Cloud", "S'Crazy Pad", "45 Degree Angle", "Beyond Recall", "Portrait of Ucha", and the beautiful title track "Love Gloom Cash Love". Last up on the set are 3 bonus tracks that feature a quartet with guitarist Danny Barker – on titles that include "Who's Blues", "S Wonderful", and "Nichols & Dimes". CD

A majestic large group performance from bassist William Parker – one that was recorded near the start of the century, and with a large lineup that mixes jazz luminaries with up and coming musicians, and spiritual sounds with global elements – all at level that makes the album one of Parker's boldest statements from the time! The bassist is a hell of a player, no matter what the setting – but we especially love it when he can let loose, and let his musical vision soar out and embrace the talents of others like this – really elevating the efforts of all involved, in a magical performance that must have been something to witness in person! Players include Billy Bang and Jason Kao Hwang on violins, Grachan Moncur and Steve Swell on trombones, Rob Rown on alto, Cale Brandley on tenor, and Daniel Carter on a variety of reeds – next to the great Dave Burrell on piano, Roger Blank and Jerome Cooper on balafon, Miya Masaoka on koto, and Leena Conquest on vocals. Gerald Cleaver plays drums, further adding to the magic of the performance – and titles include "Cloud Texture", "Silver Sunshine", "Leaves Gathering", "Open System One", "Tails Of A Peacock", and "All Entrances". CD

One of the greatest albums by this funky Latin combo! The record differs from some of their earlier Prestige albums in that the tracks are longer, more instrumental, and have a hard fuzzy electric groove. The band jams hard in a way that's more like some of the funk combos of the early 70s, than the Latin groups from which they came – and that's no problem by us, because the results are wonderful! Includes two funky numbers written by Sonny Phillips – "The Spokerman" and "Jamilah" – plus a great extended cover of "Cloud Nine". Great horn work from the funky Pazant Brothers, plus Seldon Powell, who also plays flute and tenor on the album – and other jazz funk stars on the album include Bernard Purdie, Billy Butler, and Neal Creque, Pucho's right hand man! LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful music from Arthur Russell – some of his most tunefully compelling work ever, but still done with all the offbeat edges we love from his more experimental sounds too! The music often features Russell singing along with processed lines on cello – in this haunting style that at one level evokes the more personal side of the post-punk scene, but which also links Arthur back to older singer-songwriters like Tim Buckley or Kenny Rankin at their best. The use of processing on the vocals recalls a bit of the vibe of the early Ben Watt solo recordings, and his work with Robert Wyatt – but there's also a sound and spirit here that's definitely Russell's own – that incredible outburst of creativity that was taken from us all too soon. Titles include "Hollow Tree", "My Tiger My Timing", "Losing My Taste For The Night Life", "Me For Real", "Lucky Cloud", "Another Thought", and "A Little Lost". CD

Beautiful music from Arthur Russell – some of his most tunefully compelling work ever, but still done with all the offbeat edges we love from his more experimental sounds too! The music often features Russell singing along with processed lines on cello – in this haunting style that at one level evokes the more personal side of the post-punk scene, but which also links Arthur back to older singer-songwriters like Tim Buckley or Kenny Rankin at their best. The use of processing on the vocals recalls a bit of the vibe of the early Ben Watt solo recordings, and his work with Robert Wyatt – but there's also a sound and spirit here that's definitely Russell's own – that incredible outburst of creativity that was taken from us all too soon. Titles include "Hollow Tree", "My Tiger My Timing", "Losing My Taste For The Night Life", "Me For Real", "Lucky Cloud", "Another Thought", and "A Little Lost". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent companion to the legendary first Disco Spectrum set – and like the first, this one's a stunning batch of rare club tracks, expertly selected by Joey Negro! This one's even more soulful than the first set – and is more a great set of rare club and dancefloor tracks, than it is a straight bunch of disco tunes. Nearly every cut's a winner, and there's loads of excellent vocals, and plenty of nice jazzy playing in the mix. This 2CD version features a total of 22 cuts, all unmixed – including "Let Me Be Your Fantasy" by Love Symphony Orchestra, "Spread Love" by Al Hudson & The Partners, "Making Love" by Sammy Gordon & The Hip Huggers, "Welcome To The Disco" by Air Power, "Phoenix" by Aquarian Dream, "Do It Any Way You Wanna" by Louie Ramirez, "I'll Keep A Light In My Window" by NYCC, "Music Is My Way Of Life" by Patti Labelle, "Don't Let This Rainbow Pass Me By" by Cloud One, "Get Another Love" by Chantal Curtis, "Evening Of Love" by Main Ingredient, "Hooked On Your Love" by Fantastic Aleems, "Hooked On You" by Cerrone, and "Give Me Some Action" by Queen Samantha. CD

A killer set of rare club and underground disco – filled with lots of tracks we haven't seen on other collections! Andy Smith has given us many amazing compilations over the years – sets that have a special mix magic, made up of rocksteady, reggae, vintage funk, and even some rockabilly too! Yet as Andy says here in the notes, he first got hooked on music in the disco generation – and has always had a life-long love of unusual and underground grooves – which he definitely demonstrates here, in a stunning selection of cuts that focus on the funkier side of the disco generation – with a good number of tracks that have turned out to be sample cuts over the years. Titles include "For The Love Of Money" by Disco Dub Band, "Patty Duke" by Cloud One, "Times Are Tight" by Jimmy Young, "Share The Night" by World Premiere, "Is It In" by Jimmy Bo Horne, "Let It Flow" by Tamiko Jones, "Main Thing" by Shot with Kim Marsh, "Give It Up" by Neddy Smith, "Groove To Get Down" by T-Connection, "Holding You Tight (ext DJ mix)" by Sure Thing, "First True Love Affair (Andy Smith & Nick Halke reach up edit)" by Jimmy Ross, "Got To Have You (Whiskey Barons re-edit)" by Joanne Wilson, "I Wanna Be Myself" by Don Laka, "Get Up & Boogie" by Freedom, and "Take Me To The Top" by Advance. 2CD version features all tracks unmixed on one disc, and a special mix on the other! CD

The "exotic" in the title is certainly well-placed – as many of these tracks take a familiar instrument, and use it in a slightly unusual way – a saxophone, piano, electric guitar, or something else – often set to grooves that start out in an R&B, early rock, or jazz-based style, but move into much groovier territory too! Some of these numbers have the spirit of the cuts we love in the Jukebox Mambo series – and others draw in elements of postwar Latin or exotica styles – while still keeping things pretty soulful overall! CD brings together material from the long-deleted Katanga and Ahbe Casabe 10" vinyl releases – with tracks that include "Nene Aman" by Artie Barsamian, "Green Onions" by Claus Ogerman, "Classie's Whip"b y Classie Ballou, "Cleopatra Kick" by Jack LaForge, "Lucky Is My Name" by Bruce Cloud, "They Took John Away" by Steve Arlen, "Shadow Street" by Kip Tyler, "Cleopatra" by Jamie Coe, "Katanga" by Ike Turner, "Lucky Me" by Chance Hallyday, "Ahbe Casabe" by Marti Barris, and "Thirteen Women & One Man" by Dickie Thompson – plus two bonus tracks "Riddle Of The Papawhos" by Danny Staton and "Pu Chun Ga (Sweet One)" by Elena Madera. CD

Plenty percussion from the great Dick Schory – and one of the musician's most jazzy albums of the time! There's still all the percussion you'd hear on Dick's famous sides for RCA – drums, marimbas, xylophone, and lots more – played by Schory and his "Percussive Art Ensemble" – with warm inflections on piano, guitar, and other instruments – enough to give the tracks just the right sort of swing! Titles include "Cloud Nine", "Omoo", "Amazon Tributary", "Josephina De Granada", and "Pentatonic Clock". LP, Vinyl record album

A masterpiece in psychedelic soul from The Temptations – perhaps the most perfectly realized album from their years working with Norman Whitfield! The set's awash in that bottom-heavy, rumbling funk mode that Whitfield brought to the group at the end of the 60s – served up in bold tracks that push the group's vocals to a whole new level, and which bring in a more righteous sound than anyone might have expected previously from Motown! The centerpiece here is the amazing "Runaway Child" – a really extended number that has all the political soul of a Curtis Mayfield tune – and other titles include "Cloud Nine", "Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me", "Love Is A Hurtin Thing", "I Gotta Find A Way", "I Need Your Lovin", and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". CD

Dave McKenna on piano and Joe Temperley on baritone and soprano saxophone and bass clarinet. CD

Includes the songs "Theme & Intro Melancholy Lullaby", "Oh, Lady Be Good", "Plymouth Rock", "A Home In The Cloud", "Bye Bye Blues", "Scandal In A-Flat", "I'm In The Mood For Swing", "Blue Evening", "Honeysuckle Rose", "Theme", "I Can't Get Started", "Jump Call", "Polishin' Brass", "I Cover The Waterfront", "Cuttin' Time","Love For Sale", "Without A Song", and "Oofdah!". CD

Four important albums from Jade Warrior – all brought together here in a single set! Floating World is the first album in Jade Warrior's mid-70s run for Island Records – and a set that marks a key shift for the group – a moment when they leaned even more heavily into their interest in global sounds, dropped most of their vocals, and used their impeccable instrumentation to take off in really amazing ways! The core duo of Tony Duhig's guitar and Jon Field's flute serve up most of the instrumentation here – and both players handle plenty of percussion too – yet there's a richness to the record that's undeniable too, which is a great testament to the way the pair make really special music together! Martha Mdenge serves up some guest vocals on the final track "Quba", the group take on the legendary "Monkey Chant" of Balinese music, and other titles include "Red Lotus", "Clouds", "Mountain Of Fruit & Flowers", "Waterfall", and "Easty". Kites is one of the most ambitious records ever from Jade Warrior – a set that expands their core sound in a wonderful way, with all sorts of great guests who really add a lot to the music! As before, the duo of Tony Duhig and Jon Field are at the core – guitar, flute, and plenty of percussion – but augmented here with all sorts of cool contributions by guests who include Fred Frith on violin, Gowan Turnball on saxes, and Jeff Westley on electric piano – plus Clodagh Simonds on a bit of vocals – all really bringing a new sort of majesty to the sort of music that the group delivered on their previous record – but without losing the sense of intimacy either. Titles include "Towards The Mountains", "Wind Song", "The Emperor", "Songs Of The Forest", "Quietly By The River Bank", and "The Last Question". Waves is a key moment in the continuing evolution of Jade Warrior – and a set that nicely moves the group from the prog styles of their roots, into leaner territory that's almost jazz-based at times! Some of the group's contemporaries were making such shifts, but usually in a way that was more heavy handed – where the lightness that Jade Warrior had on previous records really guides the music here – as they work with their core combination of keyboards, flute, guitar, and plenty of percussion – with additional work from Dave Duhig on lead guitar, Maggie Thomas on alto recorder, and Steve Winwood on moog, piano, and keyboards! There's a bit of vocals on the record from a female singer – but most of the tracks just have this gentle instrumental flowering – moving through an album-length suite that includes the tracks "Caves", "Groover", "River To The Sea", "Song Of The Last Whale", "The Sea", and "Wave Birth". Way Of The Sun is a set that's got a few sharper edges than some of the previous records by Jade Warrior – yet one that still hangs nicely in that Eastern-inspired blend of jazz and prog that made their Island Records years so great! As before, the album works as a unified whole – each track crucial to the overall feel of the set – with plenty of excellent work on flute from Jon Field, amidst more conventional guitar, keyboard, and percussion. There's some occasional nice guest moments on flugelhorn, harp, and saxes – and titles include "Sun Ra", "Dance Of The Sun", "Heaven Stone", "Moontears", "Sun Child", "Carnival", and "Death Of Ra". CD

How can we even begin to describe the genius of Lambert Hendricks and Ross? The group was a jazz vocal supergroup that merged three talents that had already made a big name in the bebop vocalese field – Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, and the lovely Annie Ross – and the project was an attempt to completely work the emerging vocalese style onto a full-blown jazz group. This album wasn't their first – but it was the first to really break them with the masses, and it's a vocal jazz classic if there ever was one. Backings are by the Ike Isaacs Trio, plus Harry Edison on trumpet – and titles include "Moanin", "Twisted", "Cloudburst", "Everybody's Boppin", and "Sermonette". CD

A gem of an album from Randy Newman – a masterpiece of understated rock from the mid 70s, and one of his most fully-conceived records for Warner Brothers! The album offers up a vision of the south, past and present, through Newman's eyes – eyes that are partially clouded by the distance of the scene seen from the vantage point of smoggy LA, but which still manage to pull out various strands of life with surprising poignancy. It's easy to write this one off as some sort of slap against the face of the backward south in the 70s, but Newman actually approaches his subjects with some sort of subtle tenderness – not nearly as mean as you might think on first listen, as evidenced by the beautiful orchestrations he penned for the sessions. Titles include "Birmingham", "Marie", "Rednecks", "Louisiana 1927", "Rollin", "Back On My Feet Again", and "Wedding In Cherokee County". LP, Vinyl record album

Two early albums from this legendary group – back to back in a single set! First up is the self-titled Pointer Sisters – the group's debut, and an album that's a lot deeper than most of their crossover pop from years to come! At the time of the album's release, the trio were a badass group of female singers on the Bay Area scene – out to redefine the role of the girl group in soul – working not only with righteous power that was a real change from modes of the 60s – but also this trans-temporal quality that had them reaching back with ease for references from decades past, which also includes a surprising amount of jazz! The highlight here is the group's classic funky break version of Allen Toussaint's "Yes We Can Can" – and other titles include "Naked Food", "Wang Dang Doodle", "Sugar", "Pains & Tears", "Jada", "River Boulevard", and "Cloudburst". That's A Plenty is a wonderfully retro-styled set from the Pointer Sisters – one that has the group singing in a variety of older jazz modes, but which also mixes in a nice dose of heavy funk as well! The format's an odd one, but very typical of the group's genre-blending style – of the sort that first got them noticed strongly in the early 70s, then helped them bridge out to a wide variety of audiences later in the decade. Styles include bop, swing, and even a bit of trad jazz – plus some bluesier funk on the best numbers – and the album features an incredible 8 minute version of "Love In Them There Hills", done in a sweet 70s electric style! Other tracks include "Grinning In Your Face", "Little Pony", "Fairytale", "Black Coffee", "Shaky Flat Blues", and "That's A Plenty/Surfeit USA". CD

A really sweet record from the Canadian scene at the end of the 60s – and a set that feels a lot more like a California-styled version of Sunshine Pop than you might expect! The group's an initial vehicle for the husband/wife team of Susan and Terry Jacks – the latter of whom would blossom as a big AM radio star in the early 70s, but who here steps aside and lets Susan take the lead on most tracks – singing in this slinky style that really fits her look on the cover, with support from instrumentation that includes some psych-styled guitar lines, fit to a more mainstream mode – occasionally touched by nice use of percussion too. Titles include their huge hit "Which Way You Goin Billy" – plus the tracks "Free From the City", "Beyond the Clouds", "There's No Blood In Bone", "Happy Island", and "Of Cities & Escapes". CD

Ultra-hip soul from the 70s – a brilliant collection of underground tunes that represents some of the best of the decade's indie scene! The title says "modern", but the groove here is also pretty darn deep – as many of the tracks on the set have nice touches of southern soul, despite the smoother 70s production overall. Vocals are extremely heartfelt, and most tracks are in a mellow or midtempo pace – making for a really wonderful batch of tunes that moves away from the more uptempo and clubby sounds you might hear on other modern soul compilations. The set's a very unique take on the music, with a total of 22 tracks in all – most of them probably pretty new to your ears! Titles include "Ain't No Telling" by The Houston Outlaws, "Chase Those Clouds Away" by Sam Nesbit, "Fair Warning" by Ted Taylor, "I'm Me Just Me" by Gil Billingsley, "Come Through Me" by Garland Green, "I'm A Lonely Man" by Al Christian, "Bringin Me Back Home" by Lou Pride, "I Call It Love" by The Pretenders, "Second Hand Love" by Lynn Varnado, "Love Me Baby" by Tender Loving Care, and "What Can I Do, I'm In Love With You" by Jean Shy. CD

Harmony soul – our favorite kind of soul – served up in a sublime batch of 24 rare tunes from the late 60s and early 70s, presented in an all-legit package with great sound and well-done notes! As with the first volume, there's a strong influence here from mid 60s Impressions – a crackling vocal approach that's honest, personal, and heartfelt – and never too smooth, even when the sound is sweet and warm. There's also a few well-chosen female group soul tunes on the set – nicely offsetting the mostly-male approach to harmony with some key cuts that remind us that the girls could often go a deep in the genre as the guys. The whole thing floats along on a heavenly cloud of vocals and lightly-done backings – perfect late nite listening, and a must-have set for any fan of the genre! Titles include "Keep On Trying" by The Invincibles, "Chapel Bells Are Calling" by The Insiders, "You're Gonna Make It" by The Festivals, "Daydreamer" by CC & Company, "I Like The Way You Love Me" by Foxy, "So Glad You're Home" by The Superbs, "Things Will Be Better" by The Just Brothers, "I'm Still Here" by The Notations, "Never Will I" by The Magnificent Seven, and "Someone Else's Arms" by Channel 3. CD

A fantastic entry in this long running series – a batch of compilations that normally focuses on rare disco grooves, but which also features a fair bit of funky soul nuggets this time around! The groove is still mostly uptempo, but with all these wonderfully weird, wild funky elements in the mix too – not gimmicky tracks, but the kind of unusually-crafted cuts that are quite far from the mainstream – and which show that there were often some really amazing things happening in the farther reaches of the soul music underground at the end of the 70s! Plus, most of these cuts are impossibly rare – so much so that many are reaching our ears for the first time, via this excellent compilation – in a list of tracks that includes "Specialty Item" by MVP Cloudburst, "Give Me Love" by EKG, "Disco 2000" by Pleze, "Flashback" by Jeff Burns, "Dance Your Blues (part 2)" by Spellboun, "Forget Yourself" by Body Heat, "Say Raise Your Hand & Say McNasty" by McNasty, "Reflex" by Reflections, "Reaching For Our Star" by Sharon Revoal, "Space Ghost (parts 1 & 2)" by Jackson Lee, "Spend Some Time With Me" by Rideout, "Move On" by Frederick, "I'm Into Your Love" by Executive Jam, "Seeking" by Cash Money, "Give It Up" by Horizon, and "Twilight" by Firewater. CD

An nice lost session by modernist George Russell – recorded in New York in 1960, with one of his more obscure groups of the time. The set was originally recorded for the Decca label, as one of Russell's few LPs for the imprint – and like the others, it's got a fresh, unacademic tone that marks it as different from his other sides at the time. Russell's still got his head in the clouds theory-wise, but he also really manages a good swing on the record, weaving complex grooves alongside the trumpet of Al Kiger, the trombone of David Baker, and the tenor of David Young. Titles include "Swingdom Come", "Beast Blues", "121 Bank Street", and "Moment's Notice". CD

During the late 60s, the Temptations career really started to take off – and the group emerged to become a landmark vocal ensemble with a groundbreaking effect on the history of soul and funk. Working with Norman Whitfield, they forged a righteous heavy soul sound that was quite different than that of their Motown contemporaries – filled with politics and social consciousness, laid out in a blend of heavy basslines and full fuzzy guitars that really kicked ass. This second volume of the Temps' greatest hits dips heavily into those key years – and it includes killer cuts like "Cloud Nine", "Ball of Confusion", "I Can't Get Next To You", "Run Away Child, Running Wild", "Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down", "I Wish It Would Rain", and "Psychedelic Shack". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes tracks by Rich Medina, Atjazz, Alice Russell, Earth Wind & Fire, Domu, Incognito, Cloud Nine Music, and Micatone. CD

Bobby was one of the more unlikely soul acts of the late 70s – but thanks to some skillful keyboard playing and smooth vocals, he scored huge with the track "What You Won't Do For Love", a nicely compressed mellow soul cut that almost feels like ballad-style Earth, Wind & Fire circa 1975, and which has remained a perennial favorite. The cut's included here on Bobby's first album, along with "Special To Me", "Can't Say Goodbye", "My Flame", "Love Won't Wait", "Come To Me", "Down For The Third Time", "Take Me Back To Then" and "Kalimba Song", another nod to Maurice White and crew, to be sure! LP, Vinyl record album

We're huge fans of The Neon Philharmonic – a very unique act on late 60s Warner Brothers, and one who were given the same sort of creative freedom as contemporaries like Van Dyke Parks and Harpers Bizarre! Like both of those artists, Neon Philharmonic have a style that's really hard to pin down, and very much their own – sophisticated, but groovy too – often using the studio as an instrument as much as the core elements of the cuts – and working with sublime arrangements from the young Tupper Saussy, whose creative skills really make these tunes sparkle! Like so many other creative talents at Warner during these golden years, Neon Philharmonic recorded a lot more than was structured into full length albums. All those gems and more are here – unreleased tracks that include "Jody", "Letters Crossing", and "Better Times" – and non-album singles "Clouds", "Now", "Don't Know My Way Around My Soul", "To Be Continued", "Got A Feelin In My Bones", and "Keep The Faith In Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Ain't Nothin' Real BUT Love", "Clouds", "Round 2000", "Justice", and "Lucky One" – 8 tracks in all. CD

Features 3LPs worth of Temptations classics, with tracks recorded between 1964 and 1972. The album follows the group right up to their move to ABC, and includes classics like "Cloud Nine", "Just My Imagination", "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", "Ain't Too Proud To Beg", "My Girl", and lots of other great lesser-known material! LP, Vinyl record album

A big album for Chaka – as her hits of the late 70s and 1980s are remixed into new club versions for the 90s – although oddly, those versions, which were "fresh" at the time, sound almost a bit dated next to some of the originals! Remixers include Hank Shocklee & Eric Sadler, Winston Jones, Paul Simpson, Clivilles & Cole, Frankie Knuckles, Tony Humphries, and David Morales – and titles include "Life Is A Dance", "I Know You, I Live You", "This Is My Night", "Ain't Nobody", "Clouds", "I Feel For You", "Slow Dancin", "I'm Every Woman", and "One Million Kisses". CD

How can we even begin to describe the genius of Lambert Hendricks and Ross? The group was a jazz vocal supergroup that merged three talents that had already made a big name in the bebop vocalese field – Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, and the lovely Annie Ross – and the project was an attempt to completely work the emerging vocalese style onto a full-blown jazz group. This album wasn't their first – but it was the first to really break them with the masses, and it's a vocal jazz classic if there ever was one. Backings are by the Ike Isaacs Trio, plus Harry Edison on trumpet – and titles include "Moanin", "Twisted", "Cloudburst", "Everybody's Boppin", and "Sermonette". 70s version of the group's first album for Columbia – Hottest New Group In Jazz – but works fine as a best of! LP, Vinyl record album

An nice lost session by modernist George Russell – recorded in New York in 1960, with one of his more obscure groups of the time. The set was originally recorded for the Decca label, as one of Russell's few LPs for the imprint – and like the others, it's got a fresh, unacademic tone that marks it as different from his other sides at the time. Russell's still got his head in the clouds theory-wise, but he also really manages a good swing on the record, weaving complex grooves alongside the trumpet of Al Kiger, the trombone of David Baker, and the tenor of David Young. Titles include "Swingdom Come", "Beast Blues", "121 Bank Street", and "Moment's Notice". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic entry in this long running series – a batch of compilations that normally focuses on rare disco grooves, but which also features a fair bit of funky soul nuggets this time around! The groove is still mostly uptempo, but with all these wonderfully weird, wild funky elements in the mix too – not gimmicky tracks, but the kind of unusually-crafted cuts that are quite far from the mainstream – and which show that there were often some really amazing things happening in the farther reaches of the soul music underground at the end of the 70s! Plus, most of these cuts are impossibly rare – so much so that many are reaching our ears for the first time, via this excellent compilation – in a list of tracks that includes "Specialty Item" by MVP Cloudburst, "Give Me Love" by EKG, "Disco 2000" by Pleze, "Flashback" by Jeff Burns, "Dance Your Blues (part 2)" by Spellboun, "Forget Yourself" by Body Heat, "Say Raise Your Hand & Say McNasty" by McNasty, "Reflex" by Reflections, "Reaching For Our Star" by Sharon Revoal, "Space Ghost (parts 1 & 2)" by Jackson Lee, "Spend Some Time With Me" by Rideout, "Move On" by Frederick, "I'm Into Your Love" by Executive Jam, "Seeking" by Cash Money, "Give It Up" by Horizon, and "Twilight" by Firewater. LP, Vinyl record album

A bouncy early gem from The Cyrkle – filled with easygoing, impeccable harmonies – and mixed with some wonderful arrangements and production from the legendary John Simon – who's really at the top of his game here, during a short but wonderful run of records for Columbia! Early on, The Cyrkle records were great for adding some oddball elements to tunes that are otherwise pleasant 60s pop rock – some woozy keyboards here, some extra fuzzy guitar there – mixed with harmonies as strong as any young group of the time, but which take on a nicely unusual quality in the setting – thanks to Simon's great guidance in the studio! Titles include "Red Rubber Ball", "Why Can't You Give Me What I Want", "Big, Little Woman", "Cloudy", "Cry", "Turn-Down Day", "Bony Moronie", "How Can I Leave Her", and "Money To Burn". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautifully minimal sounds from the duo of David Grubbs and Nikos Veliotis – Grubbs on piano and Hammond organ, and Veliotis on cello and e-bowed piano – all instruments that are used together in really wonderful ways! The first half of the set features piano and cello – the latter of which is often gently bowed, with these long-running tones that are very different than the spacious, well-chosen notes that come from Grubbs' piano – almost as if Veliotis is trying to create this subtle cloud of darkness to offset the brighter tones of the keys. That approach shifts slightly on the second half – as both the Hammond and bowed piano have a similar resonance together – making these very slow, subtle sonic shifts as the record moves on – creating some very nice tension near the end! LP, Vinyl record album

Includes work by Jim Jackson, Tampa Red, Georgia Tom, Speckled Red, Charlie Spand, Blind Blake, Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis, Cripple Clarence Lofton, Big Bill Broonzy, Jimmy Yancey, Pete Johnson, Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra, Andy Kirk and His Twelve Clouds Of Joy, Jones-Smith Inc, Jay McShann, and Count Basie's Kansas City Seven. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Very heady work from Jon Hassell – a set that almost seems to showcase his skills as a producer as much as it does his always-creative work on trumpet and keyboards! The sound here is often very layered and dense – maybe Hassell's own take on the noisier territory of Miles Davis electric imports of the 70s – but warmer, and with more of the organic elements that we love in some of Jon's other material. The recordings have never been issued – and are reworked elements of some material that went into the City/Works Of Fiction album – but with a quality that's very different than that. Tracks are shorter than some of Hassell's ususal work, which only increases their density – as Jon plays with work from a group that uses guitar, bass, keyboards, and plenty of live and sampled percussion. Titles include "Cityism Superdcub", "Harambe", "Freeway", "Midnight", "Favela", "Waterfront District", "Cloud Shaped Time", and "Emerald City". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the hippest large American ensembles of the late 60s – almost a US equivalent to the groovy sound of the Clark Boland Big Band over in Europe! Trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Mel Lewis had already made some great music together on their own – but once they came together in a record like this, they really found a great new direction for their energy – a bold musical force that's strong enough to also encompass the rich talents of players who include Pepper Adams on baritone sax, Joe Farrell on tenor, Jerome Richardson on soprano sax, Richard Williams on trumpet, Bob Brookmeyer and Tom McIntosh on trombones, Hank Jones on piano, and Richard Davis on bass! The sound is full, but never overwhelming – and like the Clark Boland group, this one has a great way of breaking open to allow key soloists to have some great space on their own – a modern approach, and one that still never has the band losing its groove. Titles include "ABC Blues", "Mean What You Say", "Three & One", and "Once Around". LP, Vinyl record album

A big stack of singles from one of the coolest groups on the American scene of the 70s – one who are remembered for a few key singles, but delivered a heck of a lot more greatness over the space of the decade! Redbone are maybe best known for their makeup – as the group featured Native and Mexican American members – but they also stood equally well next to their contemporaries on the airwaves, with a great ear for a catchy groove and a way of mixing soulful currents with rock expressions that was perfect for the AM radio generation! And it's on their singles that the group maybe excelled the most – able to come up with tunes that were short and catchy, but also had all these cool twists and turns too – as you'll hear on the big mix of styles on this 36 track collection that brings together all the a-sides and b-sides of their classic singles! Tracks include their huge hit "Come & Get Your Love" – plus "Message From A Drum", "One Monkey", "Physical Attraction", "Turquoise Eyes", "Crazy Cajun Cakewalk Band", "New Blue Sermonette", "Alcatraz", "We Were All Wounded At Wounded Knee", "Wovoka", "Clouds In My Sunshine", "Checkin It Out", "I've Got To Find The Right Woman", "Niji Trance", "The Witch Queen Of New Orleans", and "Light As A Feather". CD

All the great early hits – including "Play With Fire", "Satisfaction", "19th Nervous Breakdown", "The Last Time", "As Tears Go By", "Get Off My Cloud", "Not Fade Away", "Good Times Bad Times", "Time Is On My Side", and "It's All Over Now". LP, Vinyl record album

Early live work from The Stones – titles include "Not Fade Away", "Under My Thumb", "Get Off My Cloud", "Lady Jane", "The Last Time", "Time Is On My Side", "Satisfaction", "I'm Alright", and "19th Nervous Breakdown" – plus a nice take on the New Orleans soul tune "Fortune Teller"! LP, Vinyl record album

A cool Mexican-only collection – with titles that include "Mother's Little helper", "Satisfaction", "19th Nervous Breakdown", "Get Off Of My Cloud", "Congratulations", "Paint It Black", "Lady Jane", "Around & Around", and "Surprise Surprise". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of Carmen McRae's best records of the 60s – an album done with beautiful arrangements from Peter Matz, who's probably best known for his work with Barbara Streisand at the time – and who really helps McRae take her music to the next level! Carmen was already one of the most sophisticated jazz singers of the 50s – but in the following decade, she really perfected her phrasing – and was able to grab material and make it completely her own – all with a mode that's steeped in the special sort of inflections a jazz singer can bring, but which is also able to maybe be even more adult in approach overall. The strings soar, the percussion is fairly spare and often a little bit off kilter – and Carmen emphasizes her phrasing and more earthy tendencies without any empty histrionics – on titles that include "In The Love Vain", "The Music Makes Me Dance", "Too Good", "Once Upon A Summertime", "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes", and "Cloudy Morning". CD

A killer album from Mongo Santamaria's classic 60s run for Columbia – and a record that also features some wonderful alto work from a young Sonny Fortune! Sonny's the key soloist on the record – bringing some sharp jazz elements to an album that's equal part Latin and 60s soul instrumental – served up with key arrangements from Marty Sheller, and played by a cool mix of Latin and soul players that includes Mongo on congas and bongos, plus Pretty Purdie on drums, Haldey Caliman and Hubert Laws on tenor, Luis Gasca on trumpet, and Stephen Berrios, Julito Collazo, and Osualdo Martinez on percussion! Tunes are a mix of covers and cool originals – and titles include "Hitchcock Railway", "See Saw", "Cloud Nine", "Where We Are", "Love Child", "Who's Making Love", and "The Now Generation". LP, Vinyl record album

Money Mark's second full length album, another heady trip into the psyche of one of the west coast's more unique visionaries on the keys! You've heard his heavy work for Beasties laying down Groove Holmes-esque grooves on their best albums, but this albums a melange of out there funk, trippy grooves, and other nicely messed-up ballads that plays like the soundtrack to a partly cloudy afternoon on a So Cal beach! There's 2 albums worth of introspective genius here – including the cuts "Dha Teen Ta", "Powerhouse", "Harmonics Of Life", "Don't Play Piano", "Hand In Your Head", "Poor Shakes", "Bossa Nova 101", "Rock In the Rain", "Crowns", and "Push The Button". CD

Rosie is Rosalie Hamlin – an unusual singer for the time, in that she wrote all the tunes herself! Backing is by Dick Jacobs – and titles include "My Darling Forever", "We'll Have A Chance", "The Time Is Near", "Cloud Nine", and "It's Time To Go Home". CD

Angie Stone's first solo LP, after her years with the Sequence and Vertical Hold. With a sound that nods towards the classic soul of the 70s, but firmly rooted in a more contemporary post-Hip Hop/NuSoul vibe, this set's a strong effort with the sort of self assured songcraft and tight production you'd expect from an artists who's paid her dues like Stone. 16 tracksi nall on this hard to get import vinyl pressing, including "No More Rain (In This Cloud)", "Everyday", "Life Story", "Coulda Been You", "Love Junkie" and "Heaven Help". CD