A fantastic 60s album from Skip James – one that's billed as "Today", circa 1966 – but which has James very much back in the same stripped-down style as when he first recorded for Paramount Records back in the 30s! There's no other instrumentation apart from Skip's acoustic guitar – or piano on a few select tracks – and really, the one "today" factor that does stand out is the excellent recording quality, which makes the great vocals of James really sparkle with more sensitivity and charm than they might in a 78rpm setting. Titles include "All Night Long", "Crow Jane", "Drunken Spree", "Cherryball", "Washington DC Hospital Center Blues", "Cypress Grove", "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues", and "My Gal". LP, Vinyl record album

Plenty of blues power here – a searing live set recorded by Albert King before a very enthusiastic crowd at the Fillmore in the late 60s! The album's filled with lots of King's sharp-edged guitar lines – searing with a bit more soul than your usual bluesman, possibly in part because the backing group's so tight! At times, there's almost a bit of funk in the mix – given that the rhythm section romps it up pretty strongly – and the record stands nicely apart from some of the blues cliches that were creeping into the mix at the time. Titles include the 10 minute workout "Blues Power" – plus "Watermelon Man", "Night Stomp", "Blues At Sunrise", "Please Love Me", and "Look Out". LP, Vinyl record album

The title says it all – as Yusef Lateef works here in that wonderful mixture of hardbop, soul jazz, and Eastern stylings that he brought to all of his best early sessions as a leader! Lateef himself is playing tenor, flute, and oboe – which he uses to craft these eerie snakecharmer lines that work perfectly with the modal grooves of the tracks – very unusual rhythms for the time, and a real precursor to some of the world jazz experiments to come from overseas. The rest of the group features pianist Barry Harris, drummer Lex Humphries, and bassist Ernie Farrow, who also plays a strange instrument called a rabat – which further adds to the charm of the record. Titles include "Plum Blossom", "Purple Flower", "Three Faces Of Balal", and "Chinq Miau". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic bit of 70s salsa gold from vocalist Hector Lavoe – a record done in close collaboration with Willie Colon, with whom Lavoe had worked on a great run of albums during the late 60s and early 70s! The set's got a slightly warmer and more straightforward feel than some of Willie's records – but still features arrangements and production by Colon, as well as a two-trombone, two-trumpet section that brightens up the tunes with a proud brassy finish! Piano is by Mark Dimond – nice and bold, with those dark edges of his we really like – and titles include "El Todopoderoso", "Emborrachame De Amor", "Rompe Saraguey", "Mucho Amor", "Tus Ojos", and "Mi Gente". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most righteous albums ever from jazz vibes legend Johnny Lytle – a soaring, spacious set that's almost to Lytle's career what Gears was to Johnny Hammond's! Of course, Lytle's groove here is different – no Mizell production, and a mellower feel overall – but the unbridled space of 70s Milestone is definitely a key influence here – and Johnny stretches out here like never before! The players are all pretty hip – and include Daahoud Hadi (aka Butch Cornell) on electric piano and organ, Marvin Cabell on flute and tenor, Bob Cranshaw on bass, Betty Glamann on harp, and Jozell Carter on drums – all perfect mates here for Johnny's spiritual exploration of sound with his vibes – in ways that are almost more amazing than work from Bobby Hutcherson or Roy Ayers at the time! Titles include an amazing original called "Libra", plus "Tawhid", "Where Is The Love", "Family", and a version of "People Make the World Go Round". LP, Vinyl record album

Great work from west coast bop legend Howard McGhee – one of a few key early 60s sessions that have McGhee really coming back into the fold, and coming across with a sound that's nicely evolved from his initial postwar recordings! There's a groove here that's looser and more open than the bop years – definitely the kind of shift that the Central Ave scene was making in the world of LA jazz – captured beautifully here with a quartet that includes other Contemporary Records stalwarts – Phineas Newborn on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums! Some tracks are nice and long – rare for an album from McGhee – and titles include "Brownie Speaks", "Maggie's Back In Town", "Sunset Eyes", "Demon Chase", and "Summertime". LP, Vinyl record album

An early session as a leader from trumpeter Blue Mitchell – recorded during his glory years with Horace Silver! Unlike his other records, which usually have him in the company of another horn player, this set's got him carrying the full horn solo load by himself – working in a quartet, and playing in a vein that reminds us of similar Art Farmer quartet sessions from the time. Wynton Kelly's backing him up on piano – in a group that also includes Sam Jones on bass and Roy Brooks on drums. Some of the titles are quite unique too – and include "Avars", "Kinda Vague", "Sir John", and "Sweet Pumpkin". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark in jazz – easily one of Thelonious Monk's greatest albums ever, and a magical crossroads of talents that brings together a variety of jazz traditions! The work is performed by an ambitious Monk septet that includes both Coleman Hawkins and John Coltrane on tenor – and if you've ever doubted the brilliance of Hawk, this is the record to change your mind. The rest of the group is equally great – with Ray Copeland on trumpet, Gigi Gryce on alto, Wilbur Ware on bass, and Art Blakey on drums – all coming together with Monk to craft a perfect set of tunes that are virtually the definition of "modern jazz". Titles include "Abide With Me", "Off Minor", "Crepuscule With Nellie", and "Epistrophy". LP, Vinyl record album

Sparkling Puerto Rican salsa from trumpeter Tommy Olivencia and his super-hot group of the 70s – an ensemble that features lead vocals from Chamaco Ramirez over some totally tight lines from the rest of the group! Tommy's trumpet is in some very brassy company here, but the sound is still nice and lean – not hokey and bogged down in cliche, but focused with enough power to match the strength of the tunes. Production and most of the arrangements are by fellow trumpeter Luiz Ortiz, and titles include "Plante Bandera", "Casimira", "Si Estas Herido", "El Amor", "Trucutu", "A Mi Pai Chango", and "A La Yumbae". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic set of 70s jazzy grooves, served up with a very unique criss-crossing of modes – as the record was created by brothers Hugo and Jorge Fattoruso, who emerged on the 60s scene in Uruguay with some great work in bossa nova and jazz – recording here with Airto at the production helm, on a set of tracks that were issued by Fantasy Records with a sweet Cali vibe! The whole thing is great – in the territory of Azymuth, but with a groove that's very much its own – as there's lots of really excellent keyboard work, and snapping drums and percussion that really drive the whole thing along in a soaring, soulful approach to funky fusion! Hermeto Pascoal plays flute on a couple of numbers and Airto guest on a number of tracks, too – and titles include "Golden Wings", "Groove", the suite "Pieces: Tombo/La Escuela/Tombo/The Last Goodbye", "Corre Nina", and "African Bird". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album on Fania Records – and a massive record that showcases Pacheco's new style – a shift from his earlier charanga grooves to a more solidly percussive style, with lots of timbales and trumpet! The album's a key turning point in 60s New York Latin – and still crackles with all the youthful energy it had back in the mid 60s – the kind of album that really set the standard for salsa to come in the following decade, and which also marked the shift towards smaller groups and tighter grooves at the time! Pete Rodriguez is on vocals, and tracks include "El Kikiriki", "Fania", "Dakar, Punto Final", and "Como Mango". Nice cover, too – with Pacheco playing timbales in front of a big cannon! LP, Vinyl record album

A really well-done set – and one that's way more than the usual "best of", as it goes past Charlie Parker classics in studio recordings, to include some key live moments that really help define his sound! The material here is from Parker's years at Savoy Records – a label who were smart enough to keep the tape rolling whenever the could – which is a good thing, and they definitely were able to win the record release sweepstakes with the amount of tracks they issued after Parker's too-early death! And while the studio recordings are great – seminal sounds from the early days of bop – the live material is even more amazing, as Bird always has this crisp intensity that comes through in an amazing way – and to really understand Charlie Parker, you definitely need to hear him live. Live tracks were recorded at Royal Roost, Massey Hall, and Carnegie Hall – and include "Ornithology", "Confirmation", "Anthropology", "Salt Peanuts", and "Groovin High" – next to studio tracks that include "Ko Ko", "Now's The Time", "Cheryl", "Parker's Mood", and "Billie's Bounce". LP, Vinyl record album

Art Pepper's blowing with a quiet intensity here – not as far out as you might expect from the title, but with that crisp genius that still graced all of his records from the time! The album features a quartet with Dolo Coker on piano, Jimmy Bond on bass, and Frank Butler on drums – working in a format that gives Art center stage, blowing with a slightly raspy tone that still always sends chills up our spine! There's a maturity here that we really like – that later Contemporary mode that has Pepper breaking things down a bit more than usual, and showing a bit more humanity in his horn. Titles include "Too Close For Comfort", "Gone With The Wind", "Long Ago & Far Away", and "I Love You". LP, Vinyl record album

Great 60s material from Tito Puente – one of those key Tico sides that have him really changing his sound up for the decade, and working with a slightly leaner vibe than his RCA recordings a few years before! Tito's not in boogaloo mode here, but he's definitely got an ear towards some of the younger, small combos who were showing up on the scene – and hit this sharpness that was as if he were reborn again – a great move, even though as "the king", he could have rested on his laurels! Titles include "Batacumba", "Malanga Con Yuca", "Donde Vas", "Gata Miau, Miau", "Africa Habla", and the classic "Oye Como Va", one of Tito's all time greatest! LP, Vinyl record album

Strong 70s work from Ismael Rivera – an album that has him working here with his popular Cachimbos group, set to arrangements by Javier Vasquez – in a really unified sound that's mostly salsa all the way through, but also has a few nice twists and turns as well! The album's got one incredibly strange track – a Latin remake of Piero Umiliani's "Mah Na Mah Na", which takes the track in a very different direction, yet still retains its mad groove and very unusual sound – a real standout number that's almost worth the price of the record alone! Other titles include "Dime Por Que", "Yumbo Agua Tana Oh", "Hasta Manana", "Traigo Salsa", and "San Miguel Arcangel". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic set that brings the east coast tenor of Sonny Rollins into contact with a west coast rhythm section of Ray Brown and Shelly Manne! Despite Rollins' silly look on the cover, and the album's overall "western" theme, the session's a brilliant one – right up there with Sonny's strongest trio sides of the late 50s, and a key link in a string of excellent recordings for Blue Note, Prestige, and Riverside! The lack of a piano really opens up the style of the set – letting Sonny explore freely on his solos, while Brown's bass and Manne's drums do more than enough to keep the rhythms going on their own. Solos aren't as "out" as on the Village Vanguard sessions, but certainly every bit as inspired – and titles include "I'm An Old Cowhand", "Solitude", "Come, Gone", "Way Out West", and "Wagon Wheels". LP, Vinyl record album

The complete Opera House recordings by Sylvester – material that partly appeared on the Living Proof album back in the 70s, but which is greatly expanded here – with over an hour of previously unreleased music, and extended performances of some tunes! The set documents a key moment of mainstream greatness from the legendary Sylvester – an extended performance at the Opera House in San Francisco at the end of the 70s – and one that documents a tremendous advancement for the underground singer at the time! The setting is perfect for the richness of Sylvester's music – done with a full orchestra that uplifts the sound even more than on the studio records, while still keeping plenty of disco currents in the music – as the great singer steps out in the lead and really soars, especially on some of the extended numbers! The record includes a "Sylvester Day Proclamation" from the city of San Francisco – plus cuts that include "Body Strong", "You Are My Friend", "Dance Disco Heat", "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Could It Be Magic/A Song For You", "Blackbird", "Everything Must Change/You Are My Love", "Sharing Something PerfectBetween Ourselves", and "Lover Man". CD

The complete Opera House recordings by Sylvester – material that partly appeared on the Living Proof album back in the 70s, but which is greatly expanded here – with over an hour of previously unreleased music, and extended performances of some tunes! The set documents a key moment of mainstream greatness from the legendary Sylvester – an extended performance at the Opera House in San Francisco at the end of the 70s – and one that documents a tremendous advancement for the underground singer at the time! The setting is perfect for the richness of Sylvester's music – done with a full orchestra that uplifts the sound even more than on the studio records, while still keeping plenty of disco currents in the music – as the great singer steps out in the lead and really soars, especially on some of the extended numbers! The record includes a "Sylvester Day Proclamation" from the city of San Francisco – plus cuts that include "Body Strong", "You Are My Friend", "Dance Disco Heat", "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Could It Be Magic/A Song For You", "Blackbird", "Everything Must Change/You Are My Love", "Sharing Something PerfectBetween Ourselves", and "Lover Man". LP, Vinyl record album

Deep deep soul from the great Johnnie Taylor – one of the real stalwarts of the Stax Records scene, especially during the post-68 years, when he scored a string of hits for the label! Taylor's always had a lot of blues influence in his music – a similar blend with soul that you'd find in Chicago singers from the west side – and this set brings out that blues element even more clearly, almost hinting at the direction that Taylor would take in the 80s, when he was recording for the smaller Malaco label down in Jackson. All titles are newly remastered for the collection – and titles include "I Had A Dream", "Stop Doggin Me", "Woman Across The River", "Save Your Love For Me", "Cheaper To Keep Her", "Doing My Own Thing (part 1)", "Somebody's Sleeping In My Bed", "That's Where It's At", and "Steal Away". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the key early albums in the career of trumpeter Clark Terry – and a set that's also noteworthy for being a key 50s session for the great Thelonious Monk! If you only think of Terry from his later smiling face on record covers, the player here you'll find is very different – one that has a lot more bite, and whose horn not only matches the sharpness of Monk's piano – but also delivers some great original material that allow you to hear Thelonious in a nicely varied setting than his own records! The group features excellent rhythm work from Sam Jones on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums – and titles include great originals like "In Orbit", "Pea Eye", "Argentina", "One Foot In The Gutter", and "Buck's Business". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent 50s Latin work from Cal Tjader – great vibes over some wonderful rhythms – and a set that boasts some especially nice tenor from the legendary Brew Moore! Moore's sound here anchors the date nicely – bringing in a bit more of a bottom sound than usual for a Cal Tjader Latin date – really rooting the record with a strong sense of soul has he blows with that wonderful tone he had in the 50s. Other players include Manuel Duran on piano, Carlos Duran on bass, Beny Velarde on timbales, and Luis Miranda on congas – and titles include Latin jazz takes on "Invitation", "Will You Still Be Mine', "Lover Come Back To Me", "Tropicana", "Manuel's Mambo", and "All the Things You Are". LP, Vinyl record album

Arguably one of the best 50s jazz sessions on west coast powerhouse label Contemporary – superbly recorded, and done in a format that really breaks from the format of a lot of LA jazz at the time! The whole thing's incredibly relaxed – really allowing for a lot of space to hear the playing of leader/bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and making for some great small group interplay between musicians that include Victor Feldman on vibes, Gerald Wilson on trumpet, Teddy Edwards on tenor, and Carl Wilson on piano. Tracks are longish, with great arrangements (some by Feldman), and titles include "Walk On", "Would You Like To Take A Walk", "Walkin", and "Walkin By The River". LP, Vinyl record album

Pure greatness from The Violent Femmes – only the trio's second album, but a set that already has them expanding their sound greatly! They've still got all the raw power of their debut – and Gordon Gano's vocals sound nastier than ever – but they've also picked up a lot more instruments, too – including some folksy elements that are mixed with punkier impulses – all at a level that complicates the groove, and really creates a lot more variety in the structure of their songs! A few guests round out the instrumentation – but the real charm is still mostly from the trio, and especially Gano – whose lead vocals are some of the most unique in music at the time – as is his conception of a song. Titles include the excellent "Country Death Song", plus "I Hear The Rain", "Jesus Walking On The Water", "Hallowed Ground", "Sweet Misery Blues", "Black Girls", "It's Gonna Rain", and "I Know It's True But I'm Sorry To Say". LP, Vinyl record album

A special 50th Anniversary set of the legendary Wattstax Concert in 1972 – a magical music moment that had the Memphis soul powerhouse Stax Records filling the Los Angeles Coliseum with some of its best artists – all to celebrate the pride and power of the community in Watts! This set features a distillation of the much longer concert, along with one never-issued track – titles that include "Baby" by Carla Thomas, "Old Time Religion" by The Golden 13, "I've Been Lonely For So Long" by Frederick Knight, "Them Hot Pants" by Lee Sain, "Better Get A Move On" by Louise McCord, "I'll Take You There" by Staple Singers, "I Can't Turn You Loose" by The Bar-Kays, "Hearsay" by Soul Children, "The Breakdown" by Rufus Thomas, "Ain't That Loving You" by David Porter, "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" by William Bell, "Explain It To Her Mama" by The Temprees, "Precious Lord Take My Hand" by Deborah Manning, "I Am Somebody" by Jesse Jackson, and "Shaft" by Isaac Hayes – plus the never-issued "I Shall Not Be Moved" by Eric Mercury. CD

A massive batch of boogaloo gems – all wrapped up in one mighty package! Tico Records was one of the first great New York indie labels to focus on Latin music in the postwar years – and by the time of the huge late 60s boom in the world of Latin Soul, the label were definitely in a great position to turn out some killer work from a variety of artists! Some of the label's artists were aging, but reinvigorated by the energy of the younger generation – who also got access to the top shelf Tico presentation, as they brought in some of the best soul styles from East Harlem to trim things down from the larger Latin ensembles of the previous generation, and really send things home with a funky sort of groove. This set's a great overview of these key years at Tico – and titles include "Sock It To Me" and "Psychedelic Baby" by Joe Cuba, "Tighten Up" and "The Horse" by Al Escobar, "Fever" by La Lupe, "Be's That Way" and "Bobo Do That Thing" by Willie Bobo, "El Watusi" and "Babalu" by Ray Barretto, "Hit The Bongo" and "Coye Como Va" by Tito Puente, "My People" by Joe Panama, "Come An Get It" and "The African Twist" by Eddie Palmieri, "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In" by Celia Cruz & Tito Puente, "Madrid" by Candido, "Times They Are A Changin" by Jimmy Sabater, "El Pito" and "Bang Bang" by Joe Cuba, "Fat Mama" and "TP's Shing A Ling" by Tito Puente, and "Yes I Will (part 1)" by Gilberto Sextet. LP, Vinyl record album

(Note: This item is not for sale online until 7:00am on Sunday, April 13. It is in limited supply — and by nature of the Record Store Day rules it will be offered for sale first to customers who visit the Dusty Groove retail outlet in Chicago the morning of Saturday, April 12. It will not be pre-sold or reserved in any way. However, after 7:00am on April 13 we will offer up whatever we have left for sale online.) LP, Vinyl record album

A grea overview of the early work of Curtis Mayfield – a set that not only includes some key cuts he recorded with The Impressions, but also a number of songs that Curtis penned for Jerry Butler after he left that group – as well as some other Mayfield tunes that hit big for other singers on the Vee Jay label too! Most of the work here is from the years before Mayfield and The Impressions rose to greater fame on the ABC label – and there's a nicely unified quality to the work, despite the variety of artists – a testament to the strong in-house treatment Vee Jay gave their singers. Impressions tunes include "A New Love", "That You Love Me", "Let Me Know", "Young Lover", "At The County Fair", "For Your Precious Love", and "The Gift Of Love". Jerry Butler tunes include "Aware Of Love", "I'm The One", "A Woman With Soul", "I Found A Love", "He Will Break Your Heart", "Find Another Girl", "Thanks To You", and "When Trouble Calls". Also includes "At The Party" and "Devil In Your Soul" by Wade Flemons, "Rainbow" and "Man's Temptation" by Gene Chandler, and "Just Be True" and "It's All Right" by Jerry Butler & Betty Everett. LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible addition to the rich legacy of Stax Records – a massive collection of 146 tracks, almost all of which appear here for the first time ever – a set that represents recordings done by all the great songwriters who were working for Stax at the time, most of whom were also recording artists on the label! Given that fact, these aren't scratchy recordings performed by hacks who can't sing – as almost all the material features the sort of top-shelf vocalists who made Stax such a deep soul powerhouse in the 60s and 70s – represented here in a style that shows just how much freedom of creative expression the label allowed its best – very different than the way some of the bigger companies would just cram a song down a quickly-booked session in the studio! Plus, these demo tracks are done in a variety of modes – some with very stripped-down instrumentation, some with fuller groups – and together, they offer a key look at the creative process at Stax – one that's very different than the iconic sound of productions in their Memphis studio, and which really shows an even deeper range of expression through the variety of approaches. The 7CD set has a really cool approach – CDs 1, 2, and 3 feature demos by Stax artists singing their own material; CD4 features Stax singer/songwriters working on non-Stax material; and CDs 5, 6, and 7 feature songs by these artists that were never issued at the time! The set includes work by The Staple Singers, William Bell, Carla Thomas, Bettye Crutcher, Homer Banks, Eddie Floyd, Veda Brown, Frederick Knight, Mack Rice, Delaney Bramlett, Jimmy Hughes, and many others – and the package features 146 tracks in all, with copious notes on the material! CD

An incredible addition to the rich legacy of Stax Records – a collection of rare tracks, almost all of which appear here for the first time ever – a set that represents recordings done by all the great songwriters who were working for Stax at the time, most of whom were also recording artists on the label! Given that fact, these aren't scratchy recordings performed by hacks who can't sing – as almost all the material features the sort of top-shelf vocalists who made Stax such a deep soul powerhouse in the 60s and 70s – represented here in a style that shows just how much freedom of creative expression the label allowed its best – very different than the way some of the bigger companies would just cram a song down a quickly-booked session in the studio! Plus, these demo tracks are done in a variety of modes – some with very stripped-down instrumentation, some with fuller groups – and together, they offer a key look at the creative process at Stax – one that's very different than the iconic sound of productions in their Memphis studio, and which really shows an even deeper range of expression through the variety of approaches. This LP version features tracks that later became hits in the finished versions – titles that include "A Woman's Love" by Carla Thomas, "634-5789" by Eddie Floyd, "If Loving You Is Wrong" by Homer Banks, "I Got To Be Myself" by Carl Smith, "I'll Be Your Shelter" by Homer Banks, "I've Got No Time To Lose" by Deanie Parker, "I'll Be The Other Woman" by Shelbra Bennett, "Respect Yourself" by Mack Rice, "Woman To Woman" by Henderson Thigpen, and "We Can Love" by Eddie Floyd. LP, Vinyl record album

The only album ever issued by this wicked Latin funk group from the 70s – a rare set from the Fania side of the universe, and one that features production by the mighty Ray Barretto! There's definitely some elements of Nuyorican soul going on here – but the album also echoes some of the headier styles that were taking place on the Chicano scene in LA too – nice use of rock instrumentation next to timbales and congas, with some sweet jazzy touches on trumpet, tenor, and flute. The basslines really set the groove, and open up some nice instrumental solos – and the set also features some guest work from the great Justo Almario, on sax and flute on a few cuts! Titles include "Si Dame Tu Amor", "Move & Groove", "Siempre Mas Y Mas", and "I Got To Get Away". LP, Vinyl record album

A haunting and unusual batch of tracks from bassist Ron Carter – working here with a group that includes spiritual modernists Eric Dolphy on reeds and Mal Waldron on piano – both players who really add a lot to the set! In a way, the album's more like Dolphy's own work as a leader from the time than the sort of music usually associated with Carter – and Ron really seems to let the reedman shape the overall sound of the set with his tremendous work on alto, flute, and bass clarinet. Carter plays a bit of cello in addition to his bass – giving the record a nicely eerie sound at points – and Waldron's piano, as always, is excellent during this point in his career. Titles include Randy Weston's "Where" and "Saucer Eyes", plus "Bass Duet", which features Carter dueting with George Duvivier, and a very nice version of "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic 70s salsa jammer from Willie Colon – working here with his one of his greatest vocalists – the young Ruben Blades, back before he'd crossed over to super-huge success! The album really marks a departure for Willie – moving past the bad boy style of earlier records, that kind of "tough guy in the hood" look – into a mode that was more open to other Latin scenes, and which marked an even greater rise to Latin stardom – really warm, open-handed, and a push forward with a new level of power and maturity. Titles include "Dime", "Plastico", "Buscando Guyaba", "Maria Lionza", "Ojos", and "Siembra". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic pairing of talents – one that seems to push each individual artist to a new high point in their career! By the time of the set, Johnny Pacheco was emerging as one of the strongest forces in 70s salsa – a crack percussionist whose instrumentation was driving on a younger generation of musicians with a new sense of pride and power – which made his music a beautiful fit for the richly expressive vocals of Celia Cruz! Cruz was no stranger to recording, but really seems to come across like a brand new talent here – really on fire, with a new sense of soul – taking flight in ways that really make the album a standout classic in the Fania catalog. The instrumentation is as wonderful as the vocals – and features some great work on tres by Charlie Rodriguez. Titles include the tasty groover "Quimbara", plus "Tengo El Idde", "Toro Mata", "El Tumbao Y Celia", and "Lo Tuyo Es Mental". LP, Vinyl record album

A really great project from Tito Puente – maybe not his only collaboration with Celia Cruz, but maybe one of the best – a top-to-bottom album of unified vision, topped with sublime vocals from the legendary lady! The set was arranged and produced by Tito – and brings together tunes that are maybe a bit rootsier than some of his other work – that return to tradition that Puente was clamoring for as the 70s began, as a way of shaking off what he felt were the worse influences of the Latin Soul youngsters (not something we agree with ourselves!) The vibe of the album is quite different than its 1970 date – more like something from pre-Castro Havana at times, but with an updated, more sophisticated sense of arrangements and percussion. Titles include "Guiro 6/8", "Chango", "Alguien Vendra", "Cuyi", "Sahara", "Elegua", and "Salsa De Tomate". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Bill Evans' landmark sessions with the young bassist Scott LaFaro – a player who made key contributions on every record he touched, then left this earth far too soon in his career! The live session's a perfect demonstration of the way that the Evans trio format not only re-worked the use of the piano in jazz, but also the bass and drums as well – as LaFaro's deeply evocative playing is paired with the equally fresh drum work of Paul Motian – heard here at his youthful early best, before some of his contributions to jazz had become cliche in the hands of other players. The session was caught live at the Village Vanguard on the night of June 25, 1961 – and titles include longish takes on "Solar", "Jade Visions", "Gloria's Step", and "Alice In Wonderland". LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing stuff from Isaac Hayes! Although Ike had first appeared on LP with the album "Introducing", this was the first record to really expose his true soul genius – and it was also the first release on Ike's successful sub-label at Stax, Enterprise Records. The record shows that for all the years Ike was working away on other folks' songs for Stax, he was carefully cooking up his own style of soul that would forever change the way we think about the music. Back in 1969, the album must have blown more than a few minds for its incredibly baroque approach to soul music – taking common elements like strings, piano, and funky rhythms, and stretching them out into long waves of sound that cycle over and over, working a sly subtle magic along with Ike's super-sexy vocals, and his monologue-heavy approach to popular tunes. The album features incredible remakes of pop hits "Walk On By" and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" – both of which run for over 10 minutes, and which completely transform the songs into something way more than simple radio fodder. Also features the psychedelic soul masterpiece "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic", which has this crazy funky piano, and a messed-up sound that would make even George Clinton weep! LP, Vinyl record album

Helen Humes is a west coast singer from an earlier generation of jazz, but she gets a wonderful update here – thanks to some swinging arrangements from Marty Paich, who creates the same groovy style for Helen that he did for Mel Torme and other more contemporary Cali singers of the period! As with most of Paich's charts, the lineup is loaded with top-shelf jazz players – Ben Webster and Teddy Edwards on tenor, Art Pepper on alto, Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Barney Kessel on guitar, and Andre Previn on piano – all players who deliver that top-shelf Paich swing, on titles that include "I Want A Roof Over My Head", "If I Could Be With You", "You're Driving Me Crazy", "My Old Flame", and "Imagination". LP, Vinyl record album

The stunning debut of Ralfi Pagan – one of the most soulful singers to ever record for Fania Records – so much so that his work was often linked more with some of the sweet soul groups of the time than his more Latin-based labelmates! The vibe here is very similar to those records on which Joe Bataan sings straighter soul – as Ralfi's got this wonderfully heartbreaking quality and great vocal range – alternating lyrics in both Spanish and English, and really getting the most out of the songs! There's some Latin percussion on the set at times, to let you know you're definitely listening to a Faia release – and titles include "Latin Soul", "Who Is The Girl For Me", "Negrita", Sere Para Ti", "Don't Stop Now", Tipa Quema", "Ain't No Big Thing", "El Hijo De Mama" and "Pelao". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic of spiritual jazz! The album is one of the few rare pairings of Sonny Simmons and Prince Lasha from the 60s – and it's arguably the greatest album they ever cut! The set was recorded for the Contemporary label in LA, but it's far far different than the cool jazz that was the label's stock in trade during most of the 50s – done instead with a pulsating spiritual feel that really takes off as the album progresses! The lineup features the twin-reed frontline of Lasha on flute and Simmons on alto, plus an amazing rhythm section that includes 2 bass players (Gary Peacock and Mark Procter), who really give the tunes a pulsating feel overall – plus drums by Gene Stone. Titles include the famous groover "Congo Call", plus the tracks "AY", "Lost Generation", "Red's Mood", and "Green & Gold". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic from Jimmy Reed – and one of the first few albums on the Vee Jay label, and a gem from the very first note! The sound is spare, rootsy, and bluesy – the kind of tunes that made Jimmy an instant favorite, and which were a key force in the Chicago blues sound of the 50s! The set features material with Jimmy on vocals, acoustic guitar, and harmonica – with just light backing from Eddie Taylor on second guitar, and a bit of tight drums from Earl Phillips – really lean electric blues that helped define the Chicago sound in the second half of the 50s – and inspire other generations for years to come in blues, soul, and rock! Titles include "Honest,I Do", "You Got Me Dizzy", "Can't Stand To See You Go", "Boogie In The Dark", "You Got Me Crying", "Little Rain", "Roll & Rhumba", and his classic "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

Pivotal work from pianist Mal Waldron – stepping out of the blowing session mode, and emerging as one of the 60s most striking modernists! The set shows an amazing desire for new forms and ideas – and features a stunning lineup that's overflowing with creative talent – Eric Dolphy on alto and bass clarinet, Booker Ervin on tenor, Ron Carter on cello, Joe Benjamin on bass, and Charlie Persip on drums! Carter plays bowed cello, as he did on Dolphy's Out There session, and he gives the set a dark moody feel. Ervin's in his best modernist mode, and he ably trades lines with Dolphy and keeps the whole thing moving nicely. Waldron's writing and arranging is superb, and the tracks feature a lot of weird time structures and unusual modal patterns. Includes the tracks "Status Seeking", "Warm Canto", "Warp and Woof", and "Fire Waltz". LP, Vinyl record album

A well-done package that celebrates the key contributions that Savoy Records made to the field of jazz on record – as the New Jersey company was one of the first to record the new wave of bebop in the late 40s, and quickly unleashed the music of Charlie Parker and his contemporaries on a host of famous 78rpm singles at the time! This set features many of those key 78 recordings, but focuses on their presentation in a series of 10" LP releases that Savoy did in the early 50s – vinyl packages that compiled the earlier shellac sides into a more durable format – and presented the key efforts that the label made in helping bebop get out of the clubs and onto the turntable! As with other Craft Records packages, the presentation is great – and really upgrades other reissues of the material with great sound, notes, and artwork that really live up to the contents within. 5LP set features all the original 10" LP sleeves, housed in a slipcase, alongside notes and photos – with classic material recorded under the leadership of Milt Jackson, Leo Parker, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, JJ Johnson, Charlie Parker, Kai Winding, Allen Eager, Budd Johnson, Fats Navarro, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Roy Porter, and Serge Chaloff! LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic classic from Latin percussion legend Ray Barretto – one of his most sophisticated albums of the 70s, and a set that's different than some of his later salsa hits! The album mixes together rootsy percussion and smoother jazzy arrangements – in a manner that keeps things fresh at all points, and which shifts the focus nicely from track to track – creating a really rich sound that's almost unlike anything else he ever recorded! Luiz Cruz plays excellent electric piano, and Adalberto Santiago is on lead vocals on a few tracks – and titles include the extended version of "Cocinando", used as the theme in Our Latin Thing – plus the cuts "Que Viva La Musica", "El Tiempo Lo Dira", "Bruca Manigua", and "Alafia Cumaye". LP, Vinyl record album

A mid 70s classic from Willie Colon – continuing the progression of his "gangster" image by supposedly having him break out of prison! (Previously, Willie had been brought to justice on the Juicio album – but now on the loose, is described in a wanted poster on the cover – "Willie Colon & Hector LaVoe have been known to kill people with little provocation with their exciting rhythm without a moment's notice"!) That claim might be a bit far-fetched, but considering the strength of Willie's work at the time, it's certainly well-founded – as he and Hector cook things up nicely on this set by bringing in some even-earthier grooves to their blend of 70s salsa modes! The group's got Colon's tight twin-trombone approach firmly in the lead, and other instrumentation is merely piano, bass, and lots of percussion – all very stripped down, and with lots of room for LaVoe's wonderfully evocative vocals. Titles include "Pa' Columbia", "Ghana'E", "No Cambiare", "Barrunto", and "Sigue Feliz". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that was a bit of a "save" after the Fania All Stars had a disastrous concert at Yankee Stadium – and one that actually turned out to be one of their funkiest albums of the 70s! The set features half live material, and half studio tracks – the latter recorded after the concert failed to yield a record – and for the session, the group brought in some unusual guest stars to really up their game – Manu Dibango on saxophone, Jorge Santana on guitar, Jan Hammer on keyboards, and Billy Cobham on drums – all working nicely with the legendary lineup of Fania singers and musicians! Titles include great versions of "Soul Makossa" and "Viva Tirado", plus a very nice track called "Smoke". Other titles include the classic "El Raton", plus "Congo Bongo", "Chanchullo", "There You Go", and "Mama Guela". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing record – one with a depth that goes way beyond its simple roots, and which has gone on to become one of the true Christmas classics of the 20th Century! Although a Christmas soundtrack, the album's more of a tapestry of sadness, longing, and loss – the best qualities that always emerge in true Christmas classics – underscoring the blue side of the season that's always lurking around corners from the happier moments. Vince Guaraldi penned this score back when he was a rising talent on the San Francisco scene – and in a way, it was almost his musical contribution to the cartoon that made it such a lasting favorite – even over and above the appeal of the famous animated characters. Most tunes are simple piano ones, but played with a phrasing that's beautifully timeless – and the few vocal numbers feature voices from the cartoon, singing softly with the music. Titles include the classic "Linus and Lucy" – plus "My Little Drum", "Christmas Is Coming", "Christmas Time Is Here", "Skating", and "Fur Elise". CD1 features a new stereo mix from the original tapes, plus the original stereo mix. CD2 through CD4 feature a wealth of unissued material from the sessions – showing that the simple approach of Guaraldi was the product of a heck of a lot of work! Blu-ray features a hi-res audio version of the new stereo mix, and a Dolby Atmos mix too – and the whole thing comes in a book-style package with new notes. CD

One of our favorite albums of all time – and a record that just gets better and better the more we listen to it – and we've listened to it for years! Johnny "Hammond" Smith began his career as a simple soul jazz organist – but by the time of this album, he'd teamed up with the mighty Larry Mizell, the genius arranger/producer who'd breathed new life into the careers of Donald Byrd and Bobbi Humphrey. Mizell works with Hammond in the same way he does with other jazz artists – by taking a groove that works best with their solo style, and slowly layering other instrumentation and effects on top of it, so that when the solo kicks in, it's supported on waves and waves of funky sounds and soulful grooves. Mizell and his brother Fonce both play keyboards on the record, and the rest of the group includes monster fusion players like Harvey Mason, Roger Glenn, Hadley Caliman, and Jerry Peters. The real treat is Johnny, though – as his solos are heavenly, the best of his 70s work, stripped mean and lean, laid in at just the right points. Includes the breakbeat classic "Shifting Gears", the house classic "Los Conquistadores Chocolates", and funky numbers "Fantasy" and "Tell Me What To Do". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe one of the greatest settings we've ever heard for Sonny Terry – as the record's a nicely stripped-down gem that presents Lightnin Hopkins at his best! Lightnin plays guitar with a rhythmic vibe and spins out these effortless lyrics throughout – that almost-conversational style that makes his music so compelling, and which seems to bring out even more conversationally-oriented harmonica lines from Terry – who's beautifully expressive, never tries to overwhelm Hopkins at all, and instead really augments his sound with his harp. Bass is from Leonard Gaskin, drums by Belton Evans, and titles include "Hard To Love A Woman", "Conversation Blues", "Rocky Mountain", "Take A Trip With Me", and "So Sorry To Leave You". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic 60s album from Skip James – one that's billed as "Today", circa 1966 – but which has James very much back in the same stripped-down style as when he first recorded for Paramount Records back in the 30s! There's no other instrumentation apart from Skip's acoustic guitar – or piano on a few select tracks – and really, the one "today" factor that does stand out is the excellent recording quality, which makes the great vocals of James really sparkle with more sensitivity and charm than they might in a 78rpm setting. Titles include "All Night Long", "Crow Jane", "Drunken Spree", "Cherryball", "Washington DC Hospital Center Blues", "Cypress Grove", "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues", and "My Gal". CD

One of THE electric blues records of the 60s – a seminal set by Albert King that was probably blasted out of more college dorm rooms than southside juke joints, but which still more than deserves its due! The set was recorded by Stax with a nice raw sound – guitar very much upfront, but also set amidst arrangements that have a bit more soul than the average Chicago blues session from the same time. The set features a number of originals by Stax regulars like Booker T and David Porter – and titles include "The Hunter", "Born Under A Bad Sign", "Crosscut Saw", "Down Don't Bother Me", "Laundromat Blues", and "Personal Manager". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer of a mid 70s album from Hector Lavoe – recording here as a solo act after his split from the Willie Colon group, but still with strong backings and musical supervision from Willie himself! The style here is very similar to the last few albums Lavoe recorded with Colon – a brilliantly bouyant mix of samba and soul, carried off with increasing sophistication few might have expected from the pair's early years, and a depth of feeling that clearly made Hector one of the most important Latin singers of the 70s. Titles include "Tanto Como Ayer", "Vamos A Reir Un Poco", "Consejo De Oro", "De Ti Depende", and "Mentira". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning hardbop set from drummer Shelly Manne – a player most folks associate with more arranged jazz, or cooler modes of the LA scene of the 50s – but a player who was already starting to open up and forge new roads by the end of that decade! Shelly became a surprising proponent of hardbop modes with a few key records like this – and the live setting has Manne leading a great group with really searing solo work that's very different than west coast cool jazz modes normally associated with both the drummer and the Contemporary label! The album features key work from trumpeter Joe Gordon – stunning work, recorded in the years before his too-soon death – and tenorist Richie Kamuca really opens up too – in a combo that also has Victor Feldman on piano and Monty Budwig on bass – going through very long tunes that are filled with extended solo space. Tracks on this first volume include "Summertime", "Our Delight", "Poinciana", "Blue Daniel", and "Theme From A Gem From Tiffany". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first records ever as a leader from funky drummer Idris Muhammad – a set that was cut right at the same time Idris was burning up the kit on his classic jazz funk sessions with other Prestige label players! The groove here is tight, funky, and very much in the mode that Muhammad laid down for other bigger soloists – a solid, socking sound that was the early 70s inheritance of the "Popcorn" funk groove of the late 60s. Players here are all great – and include Melvin Sparks on guitar, Harold Mabern on electric piano, and Virgil Jones on trumpet – and tracks include great covers of "Express Yourself" and "Super Bad", plus "Wander" and "Soulful Drums". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic from Jimmy Reed – and one of the first few albums on the Vee Jay label, and a gem from the very first note! The sound is spare, rootsy, and bluesy – the kind of tunes that made Jimmy an instant favorite, and which were a key force in the Chicago blues sound of the 50s! The set features material with Jimmy on vocals, acoustic guitar, and harmonica – with just light backing from Eddie Taylor on second guitar, and a bit of tight drums from Earl Phillips – really lean electric blues that helped define the Chicago sound in the second half of the 50s – and inspire other generations for years to come in blues, soul, and rock! Titles include "Honest,I Do", "You Got Me Dizzy", "Can't Stand To See You Go", "Boogie In The Dark", "You Got Me Crying", "Little Rain", "Roll & Rhumba", and his classic "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby". CD

Titles include "Everybody Hurts", "Drive", "Ignoreland", "Man On The Moon", "Find The River", and "Try Not To Breathe". Anniversary edition includes bonus disc, Live At The 40 Watt Club, with a concert recorded the same year. CD

One of the strongest 70s albums from Sonor Poncena's mighty run for Inca Records – a set that's produced with a stripped-down, almost rootsy energy at times – and that's saying a lot, given the focused and professional feel of the group! Larry Harlow is in the producer's seat here, and he put together the record with the same sort of balance as his own albums of the time – enough rawness on percussion to set an edge nicely on the rhythms, but plenty of sharp focus on the horns on the top, and on the soulful vocals from singers Luigi Texidor and Miguelito Ortiz. Tracks are all pretty lively, and arguably a bit more soulful at times than on other records – with titles that include "Las Lenguas", "Ecue Baroni", "Si Fue Por Ti", "Juana Bayona", "Telarana", "La Llave Y La Cerradura", and "Llore Y Rei". LP, Vinyl record album

Deep deep soul from the great Johnnie Taylor – one of the real stalwarts of the Stax Records scene, especially during the post-68 years, when he scored a string of hits for the label! Taylor's always had a lot of blues influence in his music – a similar blend with soul that you'd find in Chicago singers from the west side – and this set brings out that blues element even more clearly, almost hinting at the direction that Taylor would take in the 80s, when he was recording for the smaller Malaco label down in Jackson. All titles are newly remastered for the collection – and titles include "I Had A Dream", "Stop Doggin Me", "Woman Across The River", "Save Your Love For Me", "Cheaper To Keep Her", "Doing My Own Thing (part 1)", "Somebody's Sleeping In My Bed", "That's Where It's At", and "Steal Away". CD

Pure greatness from The Violent Femmes – only the trio's second album, but a set that already has them expanding their sound greatly! They've still got all the raw power of their debut – and Gordon Gano's vocals sound nastier than ever – but they've also picked up a lot more instruments, too – including some folksy elements that are mixed with punkier impulses – all at a level that complicates the groove, and really creates a lot more variety in the structure of their songs! A few guests round out the instrumentation – but the real charm is still mostly from the trio, and especially Gano – whose lead vocals are some of the most unique in music at the time – as is his conception of a song. Titles include the excellent "Country Death Song", plus "I Hear The Rain", "Jesus Walking On The Water", "Hallowed Ground", "Sweet Misery Blues", "Black Girls", "It's Gonna Rain", and "I Know It's True But I'm Sorry To Say". LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Funk Inc, Charles Earland, Richard Groove Holmes, Houston Pearson, Bernard Purdie, Idris Muhammad, Melvin Sparks, and Boogaloo Joe Jones. LP, Vinyl record album

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Quite a great session for Chet Baker – one that has him recording in New York, with a hip lineup that includes some incredibly soulful players! The tunes on the set feature Chet in either quartet or quintet formation – working with Johnny Griffin on tenor, Al Haig on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. Tracks are longish, and the sound is much more in the mode of Riverside at the time, than the sound of Chet's earlier Pacific Jazz records – and Chet holds his own nicely in this company, giving a hint of the style to come in a few more years. Titles include "Fair Weather", "Hotel 49", "When Lights Are Low", "Solar", and "Blue Thoughts". LP, Vinyl record album

A warm set of solo tracks from pianist Dave Brubeck – a record that's a fair bit different than the early material you might know from the jazz legend, with a very personal, intimate quality that really fits the spirit of the season! Dave's work on the keys isn't nearly as modern as in the early days – and there's a nice dose of sentiment that really matches the right Holiday flavor for the material – a set list that includes "Away In A Manger", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", "To Us Is Given", "Run Run Run To Bethlehem", "Jingle Bells", "The Christmas Song", and "What Child Is This". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic album from San Francisco pianist Dave Brubeck – recorded at Oberlin College, the mid-Ohio haven of bohemiana, and a growing hotbed of jazz activity centered around students in the college's conservatory of music at the time of the recording! Dave and crew made the trip at the request of the kids – breaking from their mostly San Francisco-based recording career to cut what would end up becoming a very successful album in Dave's catalog, and begin a whole "at" or "goes to" series in his career – followed up at many other locations. The group's the early quartet with Paul Desmond on alto, Ron Crotty on bass, and Lloyd Davis on drums – and tunes include long and jamming versions of "The Way You Look Tonight", "How High The Moon", and "Stardust". LP, Vinyl record album

A really legendary meeting between two young jazz giants – guitarist Kenny Burrell and tenor legend John Coltrane – the latter of whom plays here in a rare session with a guitar! The album was done at a time when Coltrane's star was really rising, and the Prestige label was letting him try things out in a variety of different settings – and Burrell himself was also willing to move past older standard jazz guitar modes, as on his Blue Note albums from the period – which makes for a perfect match for Coltrane in the frontline. Tracks are long and flow with qualities that are similar to other Coltrane Prestige sessions from the time – and backing is from a superb trio that features Tommy Flanagan on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Titles include "Big Paul", "Lyresto", "Why Was I Born", "I Never Knew", and "Freight Trane". LP, Vinyl record album

A great second session of Christmas music from Willie Colon in the 70s – served up with the same warm spirits and earthy energy as the first! As before, Hector Lavoe's on vocals, Yomo Toro plays cuatro, and the group's got a rootsy sort of feel that recalls Willie's excellent Good Band & Ugly album – that rootsy style that Willie Colon used a bit in the mid 70s, after charging things up with his youthful break from tradition at the end of the 60s! The cover has a great image of Santa and his helpers gangstering a car mechanic – and Joe Torres turns out some great piano lines, next to the percussion of Milton Cardona and Jose Mangual. Titles include "Cantemos", "Pescado", "Tranquilidad", "Arbolito", "La Banda" and "Recomendacion". LP, Vinyl record album

Willie and Hector really open things up here on this excellent early 80s session – going for longer tracks that really expand upon their classic sound of the 70s! There's a very ambitious approach to the music – with more passages that shift between vocals and instrumentation than before, and an overall sound that changes up mood and tone, sometimes a number of times within the same tune. That's not a bad thing, either – as it really gets them past a formula, into whole new territory! The work was originally intended for a soundtrack, but stands quite well on its own – and titles include "Pase La Noche Fumando", "Juanito Alimana", "Vigilante", and "Triste Y Vacia". LP, Vinyl record album

A heady second chapter of a legendary funk group that were only around for a few short years, but gave us some great music in the process – presented here with 16 unissued tracks from their years in Los Angeles, including work from members of the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band too! With so much unreleased music, the set's like a fresh discovery of Dyke & The Blazers – adding new takes and versions to the material they recorded in LA before Dyke passed all too quickly – making for a long-overdue addition to their small body of recorded work. Titles unissued stereo mixes of "We Got More Soul (full length)", "Funky Walk (full length)", "The Wobble (full length)", "Let A Woman Be A Woman Let A Man Be A Man", "Funky Bull (full length)", "Booga Jivin", "Stuff (full length)", "Runaway People (full length)", and "Moon" – plus the never-issued "The Walk (part 1 east)", "Do It Together (orig mix)", "WUFO Radio Spot", "Day Is Comin (demo)", and "I'm So All Alone (alt)". Also includes the cuts "Black Boy", "It's Your Thing", "You Are My Sunshine", and "Shot Gun Slim" – all very funky! LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful late work from piano legend Bill Evans – a set that was recorded in 1977, but not issued until after his death in 1980 – at which point it became an instant essential in his catalog! As with so many of Bill's 70s recordings, the session benefits from the bass work of Eddie Gomez – rich, round, and warm – a perfect accompaniment for Evans' sometimes faltering piano work at the time – and a player that Evans was incredibly lucky to be working with during much of his later years. Elliot Zigmund is on drums, a beautifully sensitive player – and the set includes a sublime version of Michel Legrand's "You Must Believe In Spring", plus the tracks "Theme From Mash", "The Peacocks", "Sometime Ago", and "Gary's Theme". LP, Vinyl record album