The complete early recordings of The Coker Family – a multi-voiced family act from the Bakersfield scene of the 50s – working here in a very hip blend of country modes and early rockabilly styles! The tracks here offer different Coker family members in the lead – singers Al or Alvadeen, or guitarist Sandy, who's got a heck of a deft touch on his instrument – which makes his instrumental numbers here some real standouts in the set! And given the different leads, there's a really rich feel to the collection too – 32 tracks that make you feel almost like you've got one of those great Bear Family compilations in your hands, with lots of variety that really keeps things interesting. As usual with the label, the overall package is wonderful – over 70 pages of notes, images, and other details that really illuminate the group's short history! CD

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark blend of soul jazz and bossa nova – cut by the legendary Quartette Tres Bien back in the 60s! The group are kind of a "piano trio plus" – an outfit with piano, bass, and drums in the lead – but also plenty of conga and added percussion – a style used here to really underscore the bossa inspiration of the set – often in ways that are more driving and more complicated than original 60s bossa recordings themselves! The feel is really unique – almost equally inspired by African rhythms in parts – and even when the group are playing familiar numbers, then manage to transform the tracks completely with their inventive approach to rhythms and super-searing work on piano! Titles include the jazz dance classic "Boss Tres Bien", plus "Rhodesian Chant", "Always on Saturday", "The Sweetest Sounds", "I Love Paris", "Lover Come Back To Me", and "Days Of Wine & Roses". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Includes the tracks "Lullaby Of The Leaves", "Tiger Rag", "Get Happy", "Sweet Lorraine", "Humoresque", and "Elegie". 78 RPM, Vinyl record

A great package – one that focuses not on the oft-reissued Verve Records material by Ella Fitzgerald, but on her earlier Decca sides from the postwar years – 39 tracks in all, with a good mix of bop and swing! CD

The British love of R&B in the 60s is no secret – thanks to the early work of The Rolling Stones, The Animals, and other chart-topping groups of the time. But here, that side of British music is explored in much greater depth – and served up in an assortment of lesser-known work from the time, with more than enough documentation to show that British R&B wasn't just a phenomenon confined to a handful of groups! The package is one of the best in the Decca "scene" series – and brings together 24 rare gems from the UK mid 60s years – most of which were never issued in the US, and all of which are offered up with great notes on the music, and vintage photos of the artists. Titles include "Keep Me Covered" by The Frays, "Louie Louie Go Home" by Davie Jones & The King Bees, "Anytime At All" by The Fairies, "You're On My Mind" by The Birds, "Cross My Heart" by The Exotics, "Blue Beat" by The Beazers, "King Lonely The Blue" by The Emeralds, "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" by Paul's Disciples, and "Can I Get A Witness" by Steve Aldo. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic collection of rockers from the Decca/Coral family of labels – companies that gave the world key recordings by Buddy Holly and the Johnny Burnette Trio – and who also had a huge commitment to other lesser-known acts as well! This overstuffed package is a great illustration of the wealth of material that Decca, Coral, and Brunswick recorded back in the late 50s and early 60s – a time when they seemed to have a very open door policy with both rockabilly and hillbilly artists – who they often recorded with the raw power that you might normally find with a smaller indie label. If you know the classic sound of "Train Kept A Rollin" by Johnny Burnette, you'll know what these guys are capable of – and even though that track's not here, there's plenty more great numbers – including "Big Town" by Ronnie Self, "Crazy Dream" by Terry Noland, "Broke Down Baby" by The Tyrones, "Rock Of Gibraltar" by Hank Penny, "Man Hunt" by Dodie Randle, "Where'd You Stay Last Night" by Joe Hudgins, "Gonna Have Myself A Ball" by Lance Roberts, "Honky Tonk Freeze" by Sandy Coker, "The Raven" by Jackie Brooks, "Midnight Monster Hop" by Jack & Jim, "Blue STreet" by Arnie Derksen, and "Tarzan" by Glenn Reeves. 33 tracks in all! CD

Mindblowingly psychedelic rock from the UK scene of the 60s – incredible work from a variety of lesser-known groups who worked in the shadows of the Beatles and the Stones! The sound here is fuzzy, tripped-out, and very much in the best mode of the psychedelic rock of American groups like Count Five, Love, or The Seeds – done with a sinister edge that really ups the sense of danger in rock and roll, and which makes full use of the fuzzed-out power of the guitar! A few of the names on the set are ones we recognize, but honestly, most of the work here is a new discovery for our ears! Titles include "No Good Without You Baby" by The Birds, "Father's Name Is Dad" by Fire, "Grounded" by Syn, "One Fine Day" by Shel Naylor, "Please Please Me" by The Score, "Pink Dawn" by The Human Instinct, "You Better Get A Hold On" by The Beatstalkers, "Run & Hide" by The Fairytale, "Poor Little Heartbreaker" by Timebox, and "I Can Take It" by Blue Stars. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic set – totally fresh, and way different than the usual Northern Soul compilation! The set features many tracks recorded in the UK – which makes for a sound that's different than some of the American-heavy grooves that you'll hear on other sets, and which adds in a compelling dose of British 60s pop. Don't worry about a lack in "soul", though – because that side of the set's just as strong as you could hope for – it's just expanded further with some compelling new takes on arrangements and instrumentation. Titles include "Listen To My Heart" by The Bats, "Giving Up On Love" by Sonny Childe, "Billy Sunshine" by Billie Davis, "So Called Loving" by David Essex, "Nothing But A Heartache" by The Flirtations, "Name It You Got It" by Micky Moonshine, "Don't Change It" by Fearns Brass Foundry, "Our Love Is In The Pocket" by Amen Corner, "Heart Trouble" by Eyes Of Blue, and "Something Beautiful" by Adrienne Posta. 25 tracks in all! LP, Vinyl record album

20th century piano pieces ranging from composers John Adams, Charles Ives, John Cage, Henry Cowell, Milton Babbitt, Conlon Nancarrow, Thelonious Monk and more. CD

From what we remember about the story of this film, the original score was supposedly written by Bernard Herrman, then discarded – although we're not sure if that story's actually true. Whatever the case, John Addison does a surprisingly nice job with this one – and his music for the film is one of the better things about this oft-forgettable cold war thriller. The main theme has a nice dark little melody – one that shows up in the better numbers on the album – and although the overall approach is dramatic, it's handled with a rare flourish that makes it stand alone fine away from the film. Titles include "Premonitions Of Trouble", "Michael & Sarah", "Escape On The Bus", "Pi Bus Theme Variations", "Sarah Alone", and "Love Theme From Torn Curtain", sung by the Johnny Mann Singers. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

A really great collection of some of Basie's first important material – 2LPs worth of classics that set the tone for generations to come! LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

The full orchestral version of the Sweet Smell Of Success soundtrack – but done in a style that's almost as jazzy and swinging as the small combo one! Elmer Bernstein's at the helm here – and the music's a wonderful pastiche of modes that's right up there with his sublime score for The Man With The Golden Arm – done in a similar blend of driving jazz, somber moments, and some slightly more raucous touches! As with that album, the players are all great – and soloists on the album include Pete Candoli, Ted Nash, and Shelly Manne – west coast players despite the New York setting of the film, and playing here with a fair bit of grit in their groove. Titles include "The Street", "Hot Dogs & Juice", "Toots Shor's Blues", "Nite Spot Rock", "Love Scene", and "Out Of Darkness". LP, Vinyl record album

A jazz soundtrack double-header – one that features both the small combo and larger band version of the soundtrack to The Sweet Smell Of Success! Part of the CD features the Chico Hamilton Quintet's album of music – a wonderful bit of cinematic jazz from the 50s. The combo was a key part of the LA scene at the time, but are oddly featured as a regular club act in the movie's New York setting – but we'll gladly forgive that geographic error, given that the music on the set is so great. The quality's a bit like some of the Hamilton Quintet work on World Pacific – but there's a slightly freer, more urgent feel here too – work that's sometimes somewhat driving, and beautifully blended from the guitar of John Pisano, clarinet of Paul Horn, cello of Fred Katz, piano of Carson Smith, and drums from Chico. Side one features a lot of short incidental cuts – like "Susan", "Cheek To Chico", "Jam", and "Night Beat" – and side 2 is an extended "Concerto Of Jazz Themes From The Soundtrack Of Sweet Smell Of Success". The second half of the CD features the full orchestral version of the Sweet Smell Of Success soundtrack – but done in a style that's almost as jazzy and swinging as the small combo one! Elmer Bernstein's at the helm here – and the music's a wonderful pastiche of modes that's right up there with his sublime score for The Man With The Golden Arm – done in a similar blend of driving jazz, somber moments, and some slightly more raucous touches! As with that album, the players are all great – and soloists on the album include Pete Candoli, Ted Nash, and Shelly Manne – west coast players despite the New York setting of the film, and playing here with a fair bit of grit in their groove. Titles include "The Street", "Hot Dogs & Juice", "Toots Shor's Blues", "Nite Spot Rock", "Love Scene", and "Out Of Darkness". CD

Late 60s grooves from The Birds – the British Birds, not the American Byrds – featuring young Ronnie Wood! This collection brings together all four of The Birds extremely rare 1964-1965 Decca singles, along with ten unreleased demos, alternate takes, and unissued rarities. They never made a proper album in their day, but the singles are really great – brilliant British rockin' R&B that's on par with their far more legendary contemporaries – certainly an amazing precursor to The Faces and others! Titles include "You're On My Mind", "You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)", "Next In Line", "No Good Without You Baby", "Daddy Daddy", "How Can It Be"he previously unissued "Run Run Run" and "Good Times" and much more. 18 tracks in all. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

A real turn to hipper territory for Xavier Cugat – a move away from more familiar Latin modes, and into a range of groovy sounds for the 60s! There's still a bit of the classic vamp we've come to know and love in Cugie – but the rhythms are leaner overall, and swing with some great mod elements that update his sound nicely. Instrumentation is heavy on percussion, but also features some electric guitar, organ, and other soul-based sounds – and while the album isn't exactly a Latin Soul set, it's certainly veering towards that territory. A number of tracks are covers, done in cool instrumental versions – and titles include "The Joker", "Concrete & Clay", "Call Me", "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'", "Charade", "La Playa", and "Bang Bang" (the Cher song, not the Joe Cuba one!) LP, Vinyl record album

A groovy 70s pirate film score – written by the brothers De Angelis with some great exotic touches! Given that there weren't a heck of a lot of pirate films in the 70s, you might be hard pressed to guess the sound of this one – so let us say that it's got kind of a Euro-exotic feel overall – one that takes advantage of the distant island locales to craft some tunes that blend together standard European 70s instrumentation with rougher acoustic percussion, bits of flute, and some other earthy elements that drift into the mix as the set moves on. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album