... 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of Oscar Peterson's biggest records ever – one of those albums we turn up time and time again when digging through classic jazz collections – and for good reason too, given the lasting power of the set! The album's got a rock-solid sound that's filled with soul – almost a bit more down and dirty than some of Peterson's earlier work, very much in the spirit of the group's hit performance of the title track. In a way, the album's almost Oscar's answer to some of the rising younger stars in the soul jazz scene – and is proof that the master still can do things as great as the artists he inspired. Ray Brown is on bass and Ed Thigpen is on drums – and tracks include "Bag's Groove", "Georgia On My Mind", "Easy Does It", "Band Call", and "Night Train". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

One of the first few funky classics from tenorist Rusty Bryant – a record that showed a whole new side of his talents, thanks to the addition of a rock-solid rhythm section! As the title might imply, there's a bit of Rusty's old "Night Train" sound in spirit here – but the overall sound is much more modern, at least for the late 60s – thanks to the use of a varitone sax on the date, and a group that includes Ivan Boogaloo Joe Jones on guitar, Jimmy Carter (not the president) on Hammond, and Bernard Purdie on drums. Titles include a great funky version of "Night Train", plus some other originals like "Cootie Boogaloo", "Funky Mama", and "Funky Rabbits". LP, Vinyl record album

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". LP, Vinyl record album

An early 60s killer from Lou Donaldson – one that more than lives up to the promise of its great cover and compelling title! The lineup has Lou blowing in an easy, soulful style – working with a combo that includes Herman Foster on piano, Ben Tucker on bass, and Dave Bailey on drums – plus additional conga work by Alec Dorsey, which gives the session a wonderfully rolling groove. The tunes lope along with a nice mellow vibe – that midtempo rolling soul jazz mode that Prestige was also handling at the time, with a touch of Latin from the congas – and Lou blows it clean and lean on titles that include "Gravy Train", "Twist Time", "Avalon", and "South Of The Border". CD features alternate takes of 2 extra tracks! CD

The first album in Dylan's so-called "Christian Period", but it's not really the uber-dramatic departure from the "old" Dylan that it was treated as at the time – gospel soul backing vocals and testifying lyricism for sure, but it sounds more like gospel has come to Dylan than it sounds like Dylan has "gone gospel". Slow Train Coming has a focused approach, ala Blood On The Tracks, even if this train doesn't come close to crossing over onto those particular tracks – and the return to a leaner, more focused vibe is welcome one. It's got stellar studio players in the mix, and producer Jerry Wexler's production touches on a soul sound, but smartly hews to Dylan's vocal style and lyrical focus. Dylan's high bar for a masterpiece given his trailblazing past didn't give this record or the following couple much a chance to succeed on their own merits back in the day, but all these years later...wow, this is really good, passionate stuff. Includes "Gotta Serve Somebody", "Precious Angel", "I Believe In You", "Slow Trait", "Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking", "Do Right To Me Baby (Do Unto Others)", "When You Gonna Wake Up", "Man Gave Name To All The Animals", "When He Returns". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A wonderful album from Moody – one of his "comeback" albums for Chess/Argo, recorded after his release from the Overbrook institution, hence the title. By this point, Moody was writing and playing with much more of an edge than during his bebop days – and the record certainly shows that – not only on the title track "Last Train From Overbrook", a jumpy little number that became one of the big new tunes in Moody's book, but on the whole album, which features some well-conceived large charts written by Johnny Pate. Pate and Moody wrote the bulk of the songs, too – and titles include "Yvonne", "Brother Yusef", "The Moody One", "There She Goes", "Tico Tico", and "Why Don't You". The album also features a great double-exposed cover photo, and some of the most chilling liner notes you'll ever read about a jazzman's struggles with addiction. LP, Vinyl record album

Instrumental versions of tracks from the LP, including "Move Somethin", "The Blast" , "This Means You", "Down For The Count" , "Ghetto Afterlife", "Love Language", "Soul Rebels", "Eternalists", "Memories Live", "Africa Dream", "Name Of The Game" and "Too Late". LP, Vinyl record album

When Mos Def came out swinging with Black On Both Sides and we were all left both hot and cold, it seemed maybe Black Star should've never went their separate ways. But then, out came this burning set of dope joints, we all found out Talib could stand solid on his own, with the help of Hi-Tek's soulful production. And over time, in our book, this LP has become certifiably classic. Tracks include "Move Somethin", "The Blast" featuring Vinia Mojica, "This Means You" featuring Mos Def, "Down For The Count" featuring Rah Digga & Xzibit, "Ghetto Afterlife" featuring Kool G Rap, "Love Language" featuring Les Nubians, "Soul Rebels", "Eternalists", "Memories Live", "Africa Dream", "Name Of The Game", "Too Late", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A killer Kent collection – long out of print – with gems that include "Watermelon Man" by Lonnie Sattin, "Damelo Baby" by The Aztecs, "Bad Night" by Sammy Ambrose, "Do The Whoopee" by Sugar Pie DeSanto, "Soul Poppin" by Johnny Jones & King Casuals, and "Jerkin Time" by The Diplomats". LP, Vinyl record album

Early funky work from Rusty Bryant – 2 cookers for Prestige back to back on one CD! Night Train Now is one of the first few funky classics from tenorist Rusty Bryant – a record that showed a whole new side of his talents, thanks to the addition of a rock-solid rhythm section! As the title might imply, there's a bit of Rusty's old "Night Train" sound in spirit here – but the overall sound is much more modern, at least for the late 60s – thanks to the use of a varitone sax on the date, and a group that includes Ivan Boogaloo Joe Jones on guitar, Jimmy Carter (not the president) on Hammond, and Bernard Purdie on drums. Titles include a great funky version of "Night Train", plus some other originals like "Cootie Boogaloo", "Funky Mama", and "Funky Rabbits". Soul Liberation is fantastic funky jazz from tenorman Rusty Bryant – one of the real standout titles in the classic early 70s Prestige jazz/funk years! Rusty leads a group that includes heavyweights like Charles Earland on organ, Virgil Jones on trumpet, Melvin Sparks on guitar, and Idris Muhammad on drums – all top-shelf players who make for a date as great as you might imagine – one that definitely liberates Rusty's soul from older modes, and sets it free into new funky pastures! The vibe here is right up there with Bryant's legendary Fire Eater record – and titles include "Soul Liberation", "Cold Duck Time", "Lou Lou", and "Freeze Dried Soul". CD

An early 60s killer from Lou Donaldson – one that more than lives up to the promise of its great cover and compelling title! The lineup has Lou blowing in an easy, soulful style – working with a combo that includes Herman Foster on piano, Ben Tucker on bass, and Dave Bailey on drums – plus additional conga work by Alec Dorsey, which gives the session a wonderfully rolling groove. The tunes lope along with a nice mellow vibe – that midtempo rolling soul jazz mode that Prestige was also handling at the time, with a touch of Latin from the congas – and Lou blows it clean and lean on titles that include "Gravy Train", "Twist Time", "Avalon", and "South Of The Border". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent work from this hard-blowing St Louis tenorist – a figure who started in more R&B-styled material, but also helped open the door for soul jazz modes in the 60s! The work here predates Jimmy's well-remembered records for Prestige – as the package features early material cut for United Records during the early 50s – tracks that have that amazing tenor sound of Forrest alongside work from Chauncey Locke on trumpet, Bart Dabney on trombone, and either Bunky Parker or Charles Fox on piano. A number of tracks have nice use of congas, making for a mambo jazz mode at times – and titles include Jimmy's classic version of "Night Train" – plus "Calling Dr Jazz", "Mister Goodbeat", "Bolo Blues", "Hey Mrs Jones", and "Coach 13". CD features a number of unissued bonus tracks too! LP, Vinyl record album

Classic soulful sides from this legendary Jamaican producer – all recorded between the years 1969 and 1971! There's a whopping 18 cuts on here – all super-heavy – and titles include "Kimble" by Lee Perry, "Soulful Mood" by Tommy McCook Band, "The Wicked Must Survive" by The Reggae Boys, "Only Yesterday" by Ken Parker, "Jump It Up" by The Soul Mates, "Hijacked" by The Joe Gibbs Allstars, "Man Beware" by The Slickers, "Man A Wail" by The Young Souls, and "The Upsetter", a real classic from Lee Perry! LP, Vinyl record album

Completely charming work from the great Dan Hicks – one of the few cats who could make us like music like this so much! Dan sings and plays rhythm guitar – and the group also fetaures vocals from Maryann Price – on titles that include "Long Come A Viper", "It's Not My Time To Go", "My Old Timey Baby", "Lonely Madman", "Cowboy's Dream No 19", and "Payday Blues". CD

One of Oscar Peterson's biggest records ever – one of those albums we turn up time and time again when digging through classic jazz collections – and for good reason too, given the lasting power of the set! The album's got a rock-solid sound that's filled with soul – almost a bit more down and dirty than some of Peterson's earlier work, very much in the spirit of the group's hit performance of the title track. In a way, the album's almost Oscar's answer to some of the rising younger stars in the soul jazz scene – and is proof that the master still can do things as great as the artists he inspired. Ray Brown is on bass and Ed Thigpen is on drums – and tracks include "Bag's Groove", "Georgia On My Mind", "Easy Does It", "Band Call", and "Night Train". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Horace Silver on piano with Clifford Jordan and Hank Mobley on tenor saxophone, Art Farmer on trumpet, Teddy Kotick on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums. CD

... CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

When Mos Def came out swinging with Black On Both Sides and we were all left both hot and cold, it seemed maybe Black Star should've never went their separate ways. But then, out came this burning set of dope joints, we all found out Talib could stand solid on his own, with the help of Hi-Tek's soulful production. And over time, in our book, this LP has become certifiably classic. Tracks include "Move Somethin", "The Blast" featuring Vinia Mojica, "This Means You" featuring Mos Def, "Down For The Count" featuring Rah Digga & Xzibit, "Ghetto Afterlife" featuring Kool G Rap, "Love Language" featuring Les Nubians, "Soul Rebels", "Eternalists", "Memories Live", "Africa Dream", "Name Of The Game", "Too Late", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from the Del-Rios, Billy Mashburn, Astor, Eddie & the Starlites, Impressions, Five Keys, Marcels, Velvets, Nutmegs, Penguins, Temptations, Blue Notes, Falcons, and more – 25 tracks total. CD

The late Sharon Jones has easily been one of the most important voices in soul music of the past few decades – a great talent who left us all too soon, and who had to work very hard to reach the sort of fame she really deserved! Jones was always a very old school sort of soul singer – especially during the 90s moment when she finally got a chance to record – and her story is also a very old school one of struggle and challenge – then one of personal triumph, only to face later challenge again in the form of the cancer that finally took her life. The full story of Jones, the Dap-Kings, and the Daptone label are all recounted here – in a well-penned book that also includes a record-by-record set of details at the end, and a brief section of images in the middle. Softcover, 230 pages. Book

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". CD

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". LP, Vinyl record album

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Steve Grossman on tenor saxophone, Piero Odorici on alto saxophone, Flavio Boltro on trumpet and flugelhorn, Riccardo Fassi on piano, Massimo Moriconi on double bass, and Giampaolo Ascolese on drums. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

With Royal Flush on "The Natural" and production by Buckwild on "Train Of Thought". 12-inch, Vinyl record

Remixes from the Funkjazztical Tricknology compilation. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Two of the group's best 70s classics! 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of Oscar Peterson's biggest records ever – one of those albums we turn up time and time again when digging through classic jazz collections – and for good reason too, given the lasting power of the set! The album's got a rock-solid sound that's filled with soul – almost a bit more down and dirty than some of Peterson's earlier work, very much in the spirit of the group's hit performance of the title track. In a way, the album's almost Oscar's answer to some of the rising younger stars in the soul jazz scene – and is proof that the master still can do things as great as the artists he inspired. Ray Brown is on bass and Ed Thigpen is on drums – and tracks include "Bag's Groove", "Georgia On My Mind", "Easy Does It", "Band Call", and "Night Train". CD

One of the few small group sessions from vocalist Betty Roche – a singer who was known for her work with Duke Ellington, but who sounds even better in this setting! Betty's got a style that's warmly raspy – a bit more edge than some of the cooler vocalists on the Bethlehem label at the time, but still backed with a group that's slightly modern – in keeping with other dates on the label. The combo features Eddie Costa on vibes, Donn Trenner on piano, Conte Candoli on trumpet, Whitey Mitchell on bass, and Davey Williams on drums – all grooving gently with Betty on a set of tracks that includes "Take The A Train", "Something To Live For", "All My Life", "All Too Soon", "You Don't Love Me Any More", "Go Away Blues", and "September In The Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... CD

59 tracks of classic soul – in a sweet velvet-covered case! Music from MFSB, James Brown, BB King, Al Green, the Staple Singers, the O Jays, the Pointer Sisters, Aretha Franklin, LTD, Teddy Pendergrass, Kool & the Gang, Stephanie Mills, Patti Labelle, Kool Moe Dee, MC Hammer, Naughty By Nature and more. CD

Music from Alicia Keys with Busta Rhymes, Angie Stone, Jaheim, Usher, Jagged Edge with Nelly, Fabolous with Nate Dogg, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot, The O'Jays, and Donnie McClurkin. CD

Music by Bryan "Josh" Taylor, Dante Harmon, Calvin Cooke, Glenn Lee, Aubrey Ghent, Elton Noble, Robert Randolph, and others. CD

... CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Two early 70s scores from Philippe Sarde – both from a time when he was really at the top of his game! Le Chat is a soundtrack that's done with the rich amount of feeling that can make some of the best Sarde scores so special – larger orchestrations, but peppered with solo piano by Philippe – who really knows how to set the mood for his music with a special sense of tone and timing! There's one unusual tune on the set – the vocal number "Le Temps Des Souvenir", sung by Jean Sablon, who's in the film – but all others are instrumental, and include "L'Escalier", "Solitude", "Les Petits Papiers", "Suspense 2", and "Grande Surface". Le Train is a really beautiful little soundtrack from Philippe Sarde – done partly in the mode of the more dramatic French scores of the 60s, but also with some of the lighter, more contemporary elements that made some of Sarde's music a nice step forward from other French composers like Francis Lai! As with Lai, Sarde has a wonderful sense of moment and mood – using familiar elements, but in a very special way – moving way past the obvious with his orchestrations on tunes that include "L'Attaque", "La Nuit", "La Guerre", "Julien", "La Traversee", and "Anna". CD

Very hip gospel work by Sister Rosetta Tharpe – singing here with her own guitar accompaniment, plus backing by small combos! The sound is a folksy mix of gospel and blues styles, with traces of early soul as well – and titles include "Didn't It Rain", "This Train", "Strange Things Happening Every Day", and "My Journey To The Sky". LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty amazing batch of soul, R&B, and funk from the Nashville scene – from an astonishing range of years, too! Of course the memorabilia industry that is "Music City USA" is dominated by country music and pop, and this long, long, LONG overdue collection of singles from 1945-1970 demonstrates how much more was going on in East Tennessee beyond Chet Atkins and the Opry! The tunes range from jump blues & soul of the late 40s and 50s, and on through the harmony soul of the 60s and the pre-funk late 60s. 38 tracks on two CDs: "Nashville Jumps" by Cecil Gant, "Just Walkin' In The Rain" by The Prisonaires, "Baby Let's Play House" by Arthur Gunter, "Christene" by Little Hank Crawford, "You Can Make It If You Try" by Gene Allison, "Somebody, Somewhere" by Larry Birdsong, "Monkey Doin' Woman" by Shy Guy Douglas, "What'd I Say" by Etta James, "Snap Your Fingers" by Joe Henderson, "I Want To" by Joe Tex, "The Chokin'" Kind" by Joe Simon, "Rediscover Me" by Johnny Adams and tons more! CD

A real classic from the early years of Johnny Cash on Columbia Records – a time when he was moving from just a simple country singer, into a role where he was single-handedly addressing issues of American history, masculinity, and social identity with songs like these! The tunes definitely live up to the promise of the cover – and Johnny's look on the cover – with a mix of classic themes and biting commentary on the life of the working man, of the sort that made Cash a huge influence on generations to come. The Carter Family provide a bit of help at times – and titles include "Busted", "Another Man Done Gone", "Tell Him I'm Gone", "Waiting For A Train", "Roughneck", and "Chain Gang". LP, Vinyl record album

Snapping grooves and a sweet clubby sound from Con Funk Shun – one of the best ensemble funk groups to make the transition from late 70s styles to the key years of 80s groove! The bass is tight, the keyboards are electric, and the rhythms are great – never forced or stiff, and always flowing with a sense of soul that's head and shoulders above most of the group's contemporaries. Vocals are strong too – especially on the numbers that step things down a few notches – and titles include "Ms Got The Body", "Let's Ride & Slide", "Everlove", "Hide & Freak", "You Are The One", "Take It To The Max", "The Freak", and "Love's Train" – plus the 12 inch single and 12 inch instrumental versions of "Ms GotThe Body". CD

A trio of early 80s efforts from Con Funk Shun in a 2CD set – with bonus tracks! Touch is a killer from the group – one of the few mainstream funk groups who actually managed to sound better and better with each new record – and on this set, they really seem to come into their own! Titles include "Too Tight", "Lady's Wild", "Give Your Love To Me", "Kidnapped", "Welcome Back To Love", "Touch", and "Play Widit". Includes 2 bonus tracks: "Lady's Wild (12" Version)" and "Body Lovers (12" Version)". 7 is not the group's 7th album, but a bold statement of the unity they feel as a 7 piece ensemble – perfectly lived up to in the record's well-crafted grooves! The album's one of Con Funk Shun's best overall – really solid, but never too slick, very tight in the bass department, but still soulful on the vocal tip, and never afraid to slip into a sweeter, more mellow tune. Titles include "Straight From The Heart", "Bad Lady", "Promise You Love", "I'll Get You Back", "A Song For You", and "California 1". To The Mix has snapping grooves and a sweet clubby sound. The bass is tight, the keyboards are electric, and the rhythms are great – never forced or stiff, and always flowing with a sense of soul that's head and shoulders above most of the group's contemporaries. Vocals are strong too – especially on the numbers that step things down a few notches – and titles include "Ms Got The Body", "Let's Ride & Slide", "Everlove", "Hide & Freak", "You Are The One", "Take It To The Max", "The Freak", and "Love's Train". Includes the bonus "Ms Got The Body (12" Version)" and an instrumental version. CD

Creedence Clearwater Revival may not have actually been born on the bayou – they were long-timers in the San Francisco scene of the 60s – but they do a hell of a job of reinventing swamp rock on this second stunning album! The quartet are a masterpiece of spare, unbridled power – the tremendous guitar and vocals of John Fogerty, strong rhythm guitar support of brother Tom, driving drums of Doug Clifford, and rolling bass of Stu Cook – all forged into a sound that's maybe more perfectly a summation of the blend of blues, funk, rock, and soul than some of the groups of the south were turning out at the time. Tracks include the huge hits "Born On The Bayou" and "Proud Mary" – sitting nicely alongside even more compelling numbers like "Bootleg", "Graveyard Train", "Penthouse Pauper", and "Keep On Chooglin". CD

Creedence Clearwater Revival may not have actually been born on the bayou – they were long-timers in the San Francisco scene of the 60s – but they do a hell of a job of reinventing swamp rock on this second stunning album! The quartet are a masterpiece of spare, unbridled power – the tremendous guitar and vocals of John Fogerty, strong rhythm guitar support of brother Tom, driving drums of Doug Clifford, and rolling bass of Stu Cook – all forged into a sound that's maybe more perfectly a summation of the blend of blues, funk, rock, and soul than some of the groups of the south were turning out at the time. Tracks include the huge hits "Born On The Bayou" and "Proud Mary" – sitting nicely alongside even more compelling numbers like "Bootleg", "Graveyard Train", "Penthouse Pauper", and "Keep On Chooglin". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "South Rampart Street Parade", "Gin Mill Blues", "Squeeze Me", "Stumbling", "Who's Sorry Now?", "Coquette", "Fidgety Feet", "You're Driving Me Crazy", "Can't We Be Friends?", "Dogtown Blues", "March of the Bob Cats", "Slow Mood", "Big Foot Jump", "The Big Crash from China", "Five Point Blues", "The Big Noise from Winnetka", "Swingin' at the Sugar Bowl", and "Honky Tonk Train Blues". CD