One of the best full lengths by The Cramps! By the time A Date With Elvis came out in the mid 80s, The Cramps had pretty much perfected their wild mix of ghoulish innuendo and truly devoted roots rock/garage revivalism. The sex club and monster movie imagery was for show, but their love of rootsy rumbles was no joke! The record is dedicated to the memory of Ricky Nelson and the dedication is not ironic. Great, ghoulish Cramps at their mid-decade peak. Oh, and by the way. . .Elvis couldn't have handled a date with Ivy. She'd have wrecked that boy. Includes "How Far Can I Go?", "The Hot Pearl Snatch", "People Ain't No Good", "What's Inside A Girl?", "Can Your Pussy Do The Dog?", "Kizmiaz", "Aloha From Hell", "Cornfed Dames" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks include "Devotion", "Keep Your Head To The Sky", "Be Ever Wonderful", "Imagination", "Open Your Eyes", and "Spirit" – 14 tracks total. CD

A wonderful Holiday album that's stayed fresh for years – a date that was maybe done as a seasonal one-off for singer Ella Fitzgerald, but one that's gone on to become one of her best-selling records of all time! Ella's got a perfect style to interpret these numbers – upbeat and swinging, very much as promised in the title – with a quality that makes the tunes move, and avoids some of the too-blue and more melancholy modes that can sometimes get in the way of making a Christmas jazz vocal album work this well! Fitzgerald has great arrangements here – working with Frank DeVol and Russ Garcia – on a set of lightly jazzy versions of Christmas favorites like "Sleigh Ride", "Jingle Bells", "Winter Wonderland", "White Christmas", "Frosty The Snowman", and one of the best versions of "What Are You Doing New Years Eve" ever recorded! LP, Vinyl record album

A definite shot at the pop market by Ella Fitzgerald – quite possibly recorded as a follow-up to the 60s success of former singing partner Louis Armstrong, who's referenced nicely in Ella's rendition of the title hit! The first 4 tracks on the set were done in the UK, under the leadership of arranger Johnny Spence – and the remaining 8 were done back on Ella's home turf, with familiar backings by Frank DeVol, and an overall sound that's a bit more lush than those on the British numbers. Includes a hit reading of "Can't Buy Me Love", plus "Hello Dolly", "The Sweetest Sounds", "My Man", "Volare", "The Thrill Is Gone", "How High The Moon", and "Lullaby Of The Leaves". LP, Vinyl record album

Ella swings it nicely with the orchestra of Frank DeVol on this set of standards and classics – an overlooked treat from her late 50s years – and a set that's overflowing with great little numbers! The album's got a sound that's lush at times, but never overly emotive – thanks to Ella's keen ear for jazz in the tunes, which works strongly against DeVol's sometimes tendency to overarrange. The album's a nice contrast to some of Ella's Songbook work from the time – and titles include "You Go To My Head", "Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year", "Lost In A Fog", "So Rare", "Stairway To The Stars", and "Tenderly". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice one from Ella – and a good move past the Songbooks mode that sometimes dogged her years on Verve a bit too much! This set has Ella singing to light arrangements by Frank DeVol – nothing fancy, but a good set of tunes that are perfect for the lovely style that Ella was hitting back in the 50s. Tracks are short, uncomplicated, and very nicely swinging – even in the gentler moments – with titles that include "Let's Fall In Love", "Sweet & Lovely", "Moonlight Serenade", "I Remember You", and "East Of The Sun". LP, Vinyl record album

Really fantastic material from legendary pianist Abdullah Ibrahim – a set cut with a larger group of musicians, which we like even more than Ibrahim's work in a solo or trio format! The group here is his Ekaya ensemble – who flesh out Abdullah's larger musical ideas in a really great way – providing this sensitive soul and spirit for his work on piano – which, after all these years, still echoes the rhythmic impulses that made him such a standout in the 60s – but which also has this matured approach to color and tone that's really wonderful – and beautifully illuminated by the group! Players include Cleave Guyton Jr on alto and flute, Lance Bryant on tenor, Andrea Murchison on trombone, and Marshall McDonald on baritone – and the rhythm section features great work from Will Terrill on drums, and Noah Jackson on bass and cello. Titles include "Jabula", "Tuangu Guru", "ZB2", "Dreamtime", "Nisa", "Tonegawa", and "Devotion". LP, Vinyl record album

Really fantastic material from legendary pianist Abdullah Ibrahim – a set cut with a larger group of musicians, which we like even more than Ibrahim's work in a solo or trio format! The group here is his Ekaya ensemble – who flesh out Abdullah's larger musical ideas in a really great way – providing this sensitive soul and spirit for his work on piano – which, after all these years, still echoes the rhythmic impulses that made him such a standout in the 60s – but which also has this matured approach to color and tone that's really wonderful – and beautifully illuminated by the group! Players include Cleave Guyton Jr on alto and flute, Lance Bryant on tenor, Andrea Murchison on trombone, and Marshall McDonald on baritone – and the rhythm section features great work from Will Terrill on drums, and Noah Jackson on bass and cello. Titles include "Jabula", "Tuangu Guru", "ZB2", "Dreamtime", "Nisa", "Tonegawa", and "Devotion". CD

Although the cover makes it look as if this album's a set of duets between Chuck and Tammi, it's more of a split LP – with one side of each artist, and a few tracks that seem to have them singing duets. The production's in the best uptown tradition that was used by Wand, and the track list includes "You Don't Know Like I Know", "Need To Belong To Someone", "Every Man Needs A Home Town Girl", "Voice Of Experience", and "Sinner's Devotion". Nice stuff by both of them – especially Tammi! LP, Vinyl record album

A record with a strange mix of elements on the outside – a confusing title, a proggy-cover image – but one that's got a sound that's a perfect maturation of the fantastic sound of Alexis Korner in the 60s! Korner's one of the overlooked heroes in British music – a strong devotee of American blues, and maybe so much so that sounds more like his inspirations than most – but never in a slavish way, as Alexis is always able to full absorb the sound, and make you feel like it's coming from his own deep soul – and over the years, he really shifted things in these slight, but powerful ways – making his music a huge influence on a big generation of UK rock acts to come. Here, the double-length set is almost a "thanks back" affair – as Korner records with a huge all-star array that includes folks like Robert Plant, Jack Bruce, Charlie Watts, Ginger Baker, Graham Bond, Lol Coxhill, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Ray Warleigh, Harry Beckett, and many more – a fantastic crossroads of all that's hip in British rock, blues, and jazz at the start of the 70s. Titles include "I Got A Woman", "Rockin", "She Foold Me", "I Wonder Who", "Dee", "Love Is Gonna Go", "Clay House Inn", "Evil Hearted Woman", "Mighty Mighty", "Sunrise", and "Hellhound On My Tail". CD

One of the few Blue Note LPs devoted to trad material, and a not-bad set that features Lewis on clarinet, along with a group that includes Jim Robinson on trombone and Kid Howard on trumpet. Howard and Joe Watkins sing on a few tracks, and titles include "Ice Cream", "Burgundy Street Blues", "Red Wing", "Canal Street Blues", and "Over The Waves". LP, Vinyl record album

Monica's got a really sweet vocal style – a bit sexy, and certainly adult – arranged here with some nice jazzy touches from Frank DeVol, working in backings that are a lot hipper than those we remember him using with other singers from the time. Monica handles herself like a big girl in front of all those Marines – all-woman, but clearly not giving it away to the first man in blue who walks down the street. Titles include "Blues In The Night", "Miss You", "Rough Ridin", "All Alone", "The Song Is You", "Undecided", and "I'll Be Seeing You". CD

The kind of record that has Mint Condition really standing out as one of the key acts who helped to redefine the sound of group soul in the 90s – really embracing some of the funkier touches that had come into the rhythms at the time, and wrapping their vocals around the groove in all sorts of very sharp styles! The record percolates and bumps along with new jack funk and the kind of fuller soul modes you'd expect from the Jam & Lewis relationship to their label, Perspective – but the group can also deliver a more traditional harmony cut when they want to as well. Titles include "Nobody Does It Betta", "If The Feeling's Right", "Back To Your Lovin", "Gumbo", "My High", "So Fine", "Harmony", "Always", "U Send Me Swingin", and "Devotion". CD

A really unique little record – one that's a revelation both to lovers of the music of Ennio Morricone, and fans of the sci-fi TV classic Space 1999! The program was famously scored by Barry Gray – in a sweet 70s variation of the best Brit TV modes – but here, the music is provided by Ennio Morricone – who created his own music for a special cinematic release in Italy – sounds that didn't get any global circulation at the time, and which are quite unknown to longtime devotees of the program, too! Morricone's music is extremely moody – an unusual blend of avant jazz, electronics, and other offbeat touches that are lifted from his horror work, but then abstracted in a very different way – and used here in some of his most striking sounds since his performances with the Gruppo D'Improvvisazione Nuova. CD features 70 minutes of music in all – a great discovery – and titles include "Eletronica #1", "Parallasse", "Suoni Di Una Nuova Civilita", "Interposione", "Studio", "Follia Nello Spazio", "Fasi", and "Elettronica #4". CD

A great little album – a lot better than you might think from the concept! After the death of JFK, Oliver Nelson penned this extremely strong tribute to the man – featuring snippets of speeches made by Kennedy during his time in office as president, used as bridges between jazz based backings by Nelson that are filled with some of his strongest writing of the time. The notes are more devoted to Kennedy's memory and Nelson's genius than the usual liner notes – so we're not sure who the players are – but the overall style is right up there with some of Nelson's best serious work from the time, and features a striking use of strings against jazz solo instrumentation, almost in a manner that recalls Ralph Burns' best styles of the 50s. Titles include "The Artists Rightful Place", "Jacqueline", "Day In Dallas", "Let The Word Go Forth", and "John Kennedy Memory Waltz". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the rare sides from the legendary LA-based Mode label! The great Marty Paich plays an uncommon small group session, with trio backing by Red Mitchell on bass and Mel Lewis on drums. Paich was one of LA's best jazz pianists, but he's rarely ever heard in this format because he devoted much of his work to handling larger arrangements for singers and pop stars – which makes the set an extra-special treat, and one of the real standout sessions in the Mode catalog. The set's packaged in the usual oil-painting Mode style of cover – and tracks include "El Dorado Blues", "A Dandy Line", "The Facts About Max", and "Dusk Light". CD

A legendary concert – recorded at Massey Hall in Toronto, with a previously-unmatched quintet of superstar bop players: Charlie Parker on alto, Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet, Bud Powell on piano, Charles Mingus on bass, and Max Roach on drums. This reissue set also includes the Bud Powell trio sides which were issued separately as Jazz At Massey Hall Vol 2. The quintet runs down "Perdido", "Salt Peanuts", "All The Things You Are", "Wee", "Hot House" and "A Night In Tunisia" and the trio sides are "Embraceable You", "Sure Thing", "My Devotion", "Polka Dots & Moon Beams", "Cherokee", "Jubilee", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "My Heart Stood Still", "I Want To Be Happy" and "Lullaby Of Birdland". LP, Vinyl record album

We never get tired of these Lee Perry reissues! The first of several compilations put together by the fine folks at Pressure Sounds documenting Perry's tremendous output from his Black Ark studio, at the peak of his powers in the mid 70s. Mostly drawn from 45s of cuts that attained legendary status because of their small press runs, this superb collection brings together the vocal and dub versions of tracks originally released on the Black Art & Upsetter labels. 13 tracks in all including "Psalms 20" by James Boom, "African Style" by the Black Notes, "Wolf Out Deh" by Lloyd & Devon, "Voodooism" by Leo Graham & "Better Future" by Errol Walker, along with their dubs by the Upsetters. LP, Vinyl record album

A really unusual set of recordings from pianist Bud Powell – tracks recorded in his overseas home, solo – a setting that puts the keyboard magic of Powell in a similar sound to that of Art Tatum, who'd recorded in such a way the decade before! At some level, these might be the most compelling recordings that Bud made at the time – as there's an intimacy that's wonderful, and an inherent swing that makes you realize how much Powell was always driving the group – even when he was working with top-shelf drummers and bassists. Plus, the solo mode maybe also opens up a current of humanity past the Bud's skills on the keys – which makes the whole record all that much more powerful. Titles include "Deep Night", "Strictly Confidental", "Wahoo", "Deep Inside", "My Devotion", "Conception", and "Ruby My Dear". CD

A pair of rare late albums from Bud Powell – back to back in a single set! Strictly Confidential is a really unusual set of recordings from pianist Bud Powell – tracks recorded in his overseas home, solo – a setting that puts the keyboard magic of Powell in a similar sound to that of Art Tatum, who'd recorded in such a way the decade before! At some level, these might be the most compelling recordings that Bud made at the time – as there's an intimacy that's wonderful, and an inherent swing that makes you realize how much Powell was always driving the group – even when he was working with top-shelf drummers and bassists. Plus, the solo mode maybe also opens up a current of humanity past the Bud's skills on the keys – which makes the whole record all that much more powerful. Titles include "Deep Night", "Strictly Confidental", "Wahoo", "Deep Inside", "My Devotion", "Conception", and "Ruby My Dear". Essen Jazz Festival All Stars is a great recording from the 1960 Essen Jazz Festival in Germany – one that has bassist Oscar Pettiford playing with Bud Powell and drummer Kenny Clarke (all of whom were living abroad at the time), and being joined by Coleman Hawkins on a few tracks. On the trio sides, although Powell's strong piano is out front, Pettiford still gets a lot of room to solo in warm round swells. The Hawk sides are our favorites, though, because we love the great tenor player at this point in his career, when he was playing in a way that was deceptively easy, but which was filled with all of these incredible surprises. The tracks on this LP are no exception, and the Hawk flies high high high on "All The Things You Are", "Yesterdays", and "Stuffy". CD

One of the hippest projects we've heard from drummer Ben Riley in awhile – a big band project devoted to the music of Thelonious Monk, and one that gets most of its angular changes from the saxophone section! There's a great post-Monk quality to this one that makes it way more than just a copycat of the old days – a re-interpolation of the music and inspirations of Monk for a slightly different jazz idiom, presented with 4 saxophones, 1 trumpet, guitar, bass, and drums – and no piano at all! Riley's on drums, and saxophones include Bruce Williams on alto and soprano, Wayne Escoffery and Jimmy Greene on tenor, and Jay Brandford on baritone – working alongside guitar from Freddie Bryant, bass from either Kiyashi Kitagawa or Peter Washington, and trumpet from Don Sickler, who sometimes blasts out in the lead. Titles include "Gallop's Gallop", "Green Chimneys", "Shuffle Boil", "Straight No Chaser", "Rhythm-A-Ning", and "Let's Call This". CD

A soaring, spacey set from the mighty David Sancious – one of his 70s albums that's almost a genre unto itself, given the many different elements that David mixes into the music – touches of jazz, fusion, funk, and soul – but also delivered with the proficiency you might find in a record by a prog player too! No surprise, Sancious has backgrounds in all of those scenes, and wraps that experience together wonderfully here – playing keyboards, guitar, and handling lead vocals – with some added vocal support by female singers who emphasize some of the more soulful aspects of the music when the other musicians step out to solo and jam! Titles include "Dance Of The Glory & Playfulness", "The Dawn", "Dance Of Serenity & Strength", "Gone Is The Veil Of Illusion", "Dance Of Gratitude & Devotion", and "Dance Of Purification". CD

Two CDs worth of Wayne Shorter's Blue Note recordings – what more could a jazz fan ask for? Without a doubt, Shorter ranks among the most significant jazz composers for small ensembles of the modern era, and it's easy to see why on these recordings, where his vision was fully formed, but that doesn't take away from appreciation of his skill as a soloist, weaving beautiful, intricate lines. As you might imagine, the sidemen here reads like a roster of the most important jazzmen of the age, and their playing here is stellar, including Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Elvin Jones and Tony Williams, with the tracks pulled from LPs like Speak No Evil, Night Dreamer and Adam's Apple among others. The second disc of the set focuses on his playing as a in others' groups, with a nice chunk devoted to the Jazz Messengers. 22 trcks in all, including 'Black Nile", "Yes Or No", "Speak No Evil", "Infant Eyes", "Angola", "Etcetera", "Adam's Apple", "Footprints", "The Chess Players", "Ping Pong", "Children Of The Night" and "Nefertiti". CD

Richard Thompson's strictly instrumentals set from 1981 – not just folk guitar – Thompson plays acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin and and more, only accompanied on the percussion – and the stylistic breadth is as wide as his musicianship is strong! Thompson utilizes modern recording innovations to to faithfully present a variety timeless folk instrumentalism here – remarkably strong material that covers many folk styles. Thompson's such a great songwriter, you'd think we'd miss his voice to much, but he's such a devoted musician, it's actually a great joy to simply listen to him play. Includes "New-Fangled Reel-Kerry Reel", "Vaillance Polka Militia-Belfast Polka", "Do It For My Sake", "Rockin' In Rhythm", "The Random Jig-The Grinder", "Andalus-Radio Marakesh", "The Knife-Edge" and more. CD

One of THE landmark hip hop albums – and the full length debut of great Tribe Called Quest! We hardly need to tell you about this classic – but it will always bear repeating. De La Soul might have kicked the door open on leftfield, anything goes artistry about a year or so earlier, but their friends and fellow Native Tongues Tribe's debut was a crucial reminder that the east coast was spinning out of one of the greatest creative growth spurts in hip hop history at the time. Pure excellence. Tracks include "Luck Of Lucien", "Footprints", "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo", "Bonita Applebaum", "Can I Kick It?", "Rhythm (Devoted To The Art Of Moving Butts)", "Mr Muhammad", "Description Of A Fool" andmore seminal, jazzy middle school tracks! LP, Vinyl record album

Although this set was issued in the 70s, it features some excellent rare early work by Tristano, originally recorded for Capitol in 1949. The material features a core of his early devotees – Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh, and Billy Bauer – and the selection of tracks includes 2 especially amazing tracks – "Intuition" and "Digression" – both of which were freely improvised in the studio during recording! Along with the other material in the set – "Yesterdays", "Wow", "Sax Of A Kind", and "Maironette" – the record's an essential one for any Tristano fan. The other side of the record features some slightly modernist stuff by Buddy DeFranco, and titles on that stuff include "Bird In Igor's Yard", "Extrovert", and "Aishie". LP, Vinyl record album

Soul stirring rocksteady and deeply moving melodies from unfailingly great singer Slim Smith and the Uniques – just a beautiful compilation of late 60s material that's provides ample evidence for those of us that contend that Slim Smith and the Uniques are among the greatest and most soulful combos in the history of reggae vocals! Includes nice early production by Bunny Striker Lee throughout – and backing musicians including Lynn Taitt & The Jets and Bobby Aitken & The Carib Beats. Nice steady rockers and lover's tunes, with sweet harmony vocals. 14 tracks on the LP version: "Give Me A Love", "You Lied To Me", "People Rock Steady", "Facts Of Life", "This Feeling", "Trying Hard To Find A Home", "You Don't Care (You'll Want Me Back)", "I'm Lost", "Love & Devotion", "Where Do I Turn" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

This is an LP issue of some of her early recordings, originally released on 78. Songs include "Record Ban Blues", "What's The Matter With Baby", "I'm Crying", "Shuckin' And Jivin'", When The Sun Goes Down", "Set Me Free", "My Devotion", "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", "Go Pretty Daddy", "I Ain't Gonna Cry No More", "Old Man's Darlin'", and "One Arabian Night". LP, Vinyl record album

One of a few rare gems issued on the 70s Mustevic label run by drummer Steve Reid – a player on the session here, but as a sideman working under the leadership of bassist David Wertman – who really delivers this amazing blend of larger concept and freewheeling improvisations from all the members of the group! The great Charles Tyler blows alto alongside searing tenor and soprano from Ken Simon – a player we don't know much at all, but who really stands out here – and the group also features French horn work from Richard Schatzberg, who provides a good balance in the sound. Most tracks have a wonderful vibe that starts out rhythmic, then gets free, then comes back to a stronger pulse – and the album features four long tracks, "Sharatarr", "Devotion", "Sunshine", and "Kara". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic 80s funk from Xavier – a group led by bassist Ernest Smith, who'd already had plenty of practice working with Isaac Hayes, The Midnight Movers, and The Coasters during their funky late 60s years! The groove here is similar to some of the other tight funk groups on Liberty at the time – especially Dayton – but Xavier's groove is a bit leaner, too – very nicely turned towards a modern dancefloor with its emphasis on bass upfront in the mix, in a mode that's often nicely placed between boogie and rollerskating jams! Ayanna Little sings lead vocals with Xavier – and the set also features some wicked keyboard work from Rahni Harris – on tracks that include "What Goes Around", "Truly Devoted", "Work That Sucker To Death", and "Love Is On The One". CD

A lost legacy of work from Black Jazz Records – the important 70s imprint that's best known for its groundbreaking albums of spiritual and funky jazz – and a company who also issued some rare 45s back in the day! The cuts here represent some of the coolest, funkiest tracks these artists recorded for Black Jazz – all originally issued as 7" singles, some with a two-part approach that has both parts of a longer track spread out over both sides of the wax. The presentation here is as top-shelf as the other Black Jazz reissues handled by Real Gone – complete with notes by Pat Thomas – and titles include "Little B's Poem" and "Peace" by Doug & Jean Carn, "Chi Town Theme" by Cleveland Eaton, "Soul Daddy" and "Be All Your Own" by Kellee Patterson, "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" and "Me & Mrs Jones" by Gene Russell, "Coral Keys (parts 1 & 2)" by Walter Bishop, "Moon Child (parts 1 & 2)" by Doug Carn, "Mr TJ (single edit)" and "Devon Jean" by Rudolph Johnson, "Gee Gee (parts 1 & 2)" by Calvin Keys, and "Powerhouse (parts 1 & 2)" by Chester Thompson. CD

American grooves go Kingston – as the set features a wonderful assortment of funk and soul classics, all delivered here in reggae-styled versions! The approach is similar to the material featured in the older Reggae Disco collection from Soul Jazz – but the mix of modes here is much more expansive – so that you'll get some cuts that are very heavy in a New York clubby groove, while others are much more Jamaican in approach – and have an American soul tune bending down towards more reggae-oriented territory. As always with Soul Jazz, the choice of cuts is wonderful – and includes "Move On Up" by Devon Russell, "Caught You In A Lie" by Derrick Harriott, "Young Hearts Run Free" by Hortense Ellis, "Wanna Be Startin Somethin" by Ed Watson & Brass Circle, "For The Love Of You" by Bill Campbell, "Flight To Jamaica" by Crashers, "Fool's Paradise" by Valerie Harrison, "Reasons" by Seventh Extension, "Don't Let Love Get You Down" by Pete Campbell & The Sunshine Girls, "In The Rain" by Webby Jay, and "Just A Groove" by Glen Adams Affair. LP, Vinyl record album

A heady collection of funky soul from one of the labels we'd trust the most with music like this – the mighty Tuff City, a hip hop label from the old school years, but one that also had a great ear to the ground for vintage funky 45s! Given that Mark The 45 King recorded for Tuff City, and that the label actually bought some of the key cuts sampled by its artists, you know the label's got a devotion to music like this that goes way past the casual listener – which you can definitely hear in this superb collection of 20 cuts that all come from the glory days of the funky 45 underground! Tracks include "Sweet Thing" by Willie Tee, "Get Your Point Over" by Sebastian Williams, "Please Heart Don't Break" by TSU Toronados, "Ho Happy Day" by Flame N King & The Bold Ones, "You've Blown My Mind" by The Versatile Gents, "Make The Most Of It" by Starfire, "Crazy" by Carl Marshall & The SDs, "Many Moods Of A Man" by Cynthia & The Imaginary Three, "This Old Shack" by Frankie Freeman, "Running Back To You" by Las Vegas Connection, "Today's Man" by Mark Putney, "Walking In The Park" by Herman Hitson & Eruption, and "Plaid Stamps" by The Monticellos. LP, Vinyl record album

A Philly soul legend finally gets his time in the spotlight – as drummer Earl Young played on countless classic sessions back in the day, but rarely even got his name in the liner notes! That lack of recognition is corrected here – in a great package that puts Young's face on the cover, details his genius on the drums in the notes, and then presents a motherlode of killer soul tunes from the late 60s through the 70s! Young's maybe best known for his work at Sigma Sound Studios, and on famous sessions for the Philadelphia International label – but here, he's heard on an even wider range of cuts – including late 60s Northern Soul numbers, and great album work by artists you might not normally associate with Philly. Titles include "Storm Warning" by The Volcanos, "Silly Silly Fool" by Dusty Springfield, "Hit & Run" by Loleatta Holloway, "I Just Can't Say Goodbye" by Philly Devotions, "Please Give Me One More Chance" by Clyde McPhatter, "Do The Hand Jive" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "Penguin At The Big Apple/Zing" by The Trammps, "I Can't Fight Your Love" by The Modulations, "Touch & Go (12" mix)" by Ecstasy Passion & Pain, "I Like To Live The Love" by BB King, "I'm Doin Fine Now" by New York City, "Ain't Got The Love Of One Girl" by The Ambassadors, "Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind" by The Spinners, "Do It Again" by Charles Mann, and "Be Truthful To Me" by Billy Paul. CD

Rare dancefloor soul on King Records – and another crucial look at a side of the label that's beloved by the most devoted of 60s & 70s soul seekers – but it's deeply overlooked by the mainstream! Volume 3 is the best yet in the series – partly because they're found some stellar proto-funk treasures that work just as strongly with the Northern Soul community – and also because there's some really great stuff here that paves the way for some of our favorite 70s soul! It's heavy with singles released from 1968 to 1971 – by Marva Whitney, Mill Evans, Charles Spurling, Mary Johnson, Royal Flush, The Presidents, Willie Hatcher, The Brownettes and many more! 24 tracks in all: "Unwind Yourself" by Marva Whitney, "Right Now" by Mill Evans, "Popcorn Charlie" by Charles Spurling, "Thunder" by Lord Thunder, "Name In Lights" by Freddie Williams, "You Have My Blessings" by Mary Johnson, "Mama's Baby" by Royal Flush, "Something You Didn't Done" by Mike Williams, "When We Get Together" by Otis Williams & His Charms and many more. CD

The Mr Bongo Record Club seems to get more and more diverse with each new release – which is maybe no surprise, given the ever-expanding universe of music we've come to expect from the label! This volume mixes all the classic rare global cuts you might expect, but adds in a few contemporary tracks that resonate wonderfully with the others – new creations that crackle with the same sort of energy as the vintage ones – reminding us that Bongo's also always got its ear open for new music too! Titles include "Spring Has Sprung" by Soyuz with Asha Puthli and Sven Wunder, "Bless My Soul" by Truth & Devotion, "O Espaco" by Os Panteras, "Eloia" by Dudu Moraes, "Hangin Out In Space (dub)" by Tony Wilson, "Come Inside" by Shades Of Love", "Africa" by Willy Chirino, "Everybody Push & Pull" by Judson Moore, "Noite De Temporal" by Conjunto De Percussao Dora Pinto, "Captain's Sword" by Roman Andren, "In Between The Sheets" by JC Lodge, and "Lovely Day (Studio Rio version)" by Bill Withers & Studio Rio. CD

An ultra-groovy record label celebrates its 15th anniversary – in a hip selection of 15 tracks that features a fair bit of previously-unreleased tracks! For over a dozen years, Record Kicks has been serving up global funk from its homebase in Milan – spanning the planet to uncover some great contemporary acts with a sound that hearkens back to the glory days of 60s and 70s soul – and occasionally reissuing some lost classics from that period, too. The set's got plenty of deep funk and retro soul that really live up to the Record Kicks legacy – and titles include "Top Dog" by Hook & Slingers, "Come Back" by The Devonns, "This Strange Effect" by The Tibbs, "Love You Back" by Third Coast Kings, "The Sort" by Crabs Corporation, "One More Time" by The Faithful Brothers, "You Don't Know Me" by Dojo Cuts with Roxie Ray, "Money" by Tanika Charles, and "Hurt Me So" by Diplomats Of Solid Sound. CD

An ultra-groovy record label celebrates its 15th anniversary – in a hip selection of 15 tracks that features a fair bit of previously-unreleased tracks! For over a dozen years, Record Kicks has been serving up global funk from its homebase in Milan – spanning the planet to uncover some great contemporary acts with a sound that hearkens back to the glory days of 60s and 70s soul – and occasionally reissuing some lost classics from that period, too. The set's got plenty of deep funk and retro soul that really live up to the Record Kicks legacy – and titles include "Top Dog" by Hook & Slingers, "Come Back" by The Devonns, "This Strange Effect" by The Tibbs, "Love You Back" by Third Coast Kings, "The Sort" by Crabs Corporation, "One More Time" by The Faithful Brothers, "You Don't Know Me" by Dojo Cuts with Roxie Ray, "Money" by Tanika Charles, and "Hurt Me So" by Diplomats Of Solid Sound. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest sessions we've ever heard from pianist Toshiko Akioshi – a great US session that features Charles McPherson on alto sax! The album definitely lives up to its bebop title, but it's also far more than that too – and really shows the depth in Akioshi's playing in the years since she first cracked the US scene in the 50s as a big devotee of Bud Powell's style. Although some tunes are boppish, there's a nice degree of sensitivity in the music too – and McPherson's alto sax really helps bring this side in strongly – as the album's almost that same mix of modes that he was showing in his great late 60s work as a leader for Prestige. Toshiko produced the session herself, and other players include Steven Huffsteter on trumpet and flugelhorn, Gene Cherico or Bob Bowman on bass, and Roy McCurdy on drums. Titles include "Serpent's Tooth", "Mobius Trip", "Con Alma", "Joy Spring", "Kelo", and "I Thought About You". LP, Vinyl record album

Genius, pure genius from a young David Bowie – an album that we've always treasured as much as Ziggy Stardust! This set's pre-Hunky Dory, pre-Space Oddity – and it's an amazing little record that's almost completely devoid of guitars – instead using weird woodwinds (lots of oboe!), soaring strings, and offbeat orchestrations to carry off the tunes – all of which are as weird, mad, and wonderful as anything Bowie wrote in later years! The subject matter of the songs is almost a dark reflection of the picture postcard England that you'd find in work by The Kinks – the local pederast, weird guy who lives with his mum, old military geezer who can't get out of the past, cross-dressing soldiers, a gravedigger about to meet his death, and hip Londoners gallivanting all over town – all delivered with a sharpness that's stunning. We honestly think the record is flawless – incredibly complicated instrumentally, but incredibly groovy too – with all the edge you'll always love in Bowie, but in a fresh young flavor too. Years back, as young Bowie-heads, we always passed this one by – assuming it was unformed early roughness – but it's not, and is an incredible album that would have been more than enough for any other artist to build a career on. Includes "Uncle Arthur", "Sell Me A Coat", "Rubber Band", "Love You Till Tuesday", "There Is A Happy Land", "She's God Medals", "Maid Of Bond Street", "Join The Gang", and "When I Live My Dream". This loaded 2CD deluxe edition includes both the stereo and mono album mixes in full, plus a slew or singles, unreleased stereo mixes and unreleased tracks like the bootleg classic "London Bye Ta-Ta" and 5 tracks recorded for a '67 John Peel show. CD

Genius, pure genius from a young David Bowie – an album that we've always treasured as much as Ziggy Stardust! This set's pre-Hunky Dory, pre-Space Oddity – and it's an amazing little record that's almost completely devoid of guitars – instead using weird woodwinds (lots of oboe!), soaring strings, and offbeat orchestrations to carry off the tunes – all of which are as weird, mad, and wonderful as anything Bowie wrote in later years! The subject matter of the songs is almost a dark reflection of the picture postcard England that you'd find in work by The Kinks – the local pederast, weird guy who lives with his mum, old military geezer who can't get out of the past, cross-dressing soldiers, a gravedigger about to meet his death, and hip Londoners gallivanting all over town – all delivered with a sharpness that's stunning. We honestly think the record is flawless – incredibly complicated instrumentally, but incredibly groovy too – with all the edge you'll always love in Bowie, but in a fresh young flavor too. Years back, as young Bowie-heads, we always passed this one by – assuming it was unformed early roughness – but it's not, and is an incredible album that would have been more than enough for any other artist to build a career on. Includes "Uncle Arthur", "Sell Me A Coat", "Rubber Band", "Love You Till Tuesday", "There Is A Happy Land", "When I Live My Dream", and more. CD

An essential Blue Note album by the great vibist Bobby Hutcherson, and a record that's split into 2 different sides, each of which display different aspects of Hutcherson's talents. The first four tracks are mellow and lyrical, with the kind of lovely melodic writing that is best illustrated by the cut "Little B's Poem" – included here, and still one of Hutcherson's most enduring works. The next four tracks show Hutcherson more as the accomplished modernist, working with edgey talents like James Spaulding on alto and flute, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and the great Joe Chambers on drums – who also wrote all 4 of the tracks in this segment. The work is a key example of Hutcherson's devotion to the Blue Note "new thing" sound, and titles include "Air", "Juba Dance", and "Pastoral". LP, Vinyl record album

The Mr Bongo Record Club seems to get more and more diverse with each new release – which is maybe no surprise, given the ever-expanding universe of music we've come to expect from the label! This volume mixes all the classic rare global cuts you might expect, but adds in a few contemporary tracks that resonate wonderfully with the others – new creations that crackle with the same sort of energy as the vintage ones – reminding us that Bongo's also always got its ear open for new music too! Titles include "Spring Has Sprung" by Soyuz with Asha Puthli and Sven Wunder, "Bless My Soul" by Truth & Devotion, "O Espaco" by Os Panteras, "Eloia" by Dudu Moraes, "Hangin Out In Space (dub)" by Tony Wilson, "Come Inside" by Shades Of Love", "Africa" by Willy Chirino, "Everybody Push & Pull" by Judson Moore, "Noite De Temporal" by Conjunto De Percussao Dora Pinto, "Captain's Sword" by Roman Andren, "In Between The Sheets" by JC Lodge, and "Lovely Day (Studio Rio version)" by Bill Withers & Studio Rio. LP, Vinyl record album

The title gets it right – as the set features some of the coolest, hippest British jazz of the late 60s and early 70s – served up here in a special package that features nine never-issued tracks! The work here is all by giants who really helped open doors and let British jazz musicians find their own voice at the time – moving past familiar hardbop modes that dominated the UK scene in the earlier part of the decade, and stretching out with styles that would also have a big impact on the rock and prog generations too. It's fantastic to hear so many gems in one set, all fresh to our ears and a great complement to some of our classic recordings by these artists – in a set list that includes "Old Established Bradford Mill Owners" by Graham Collier, "Hstzwch" by Tony Coe & Kenny Wheeler, "Devon Dance" by Don Rendell & Barbara Thompson, "Samba Six" by John Dankworth, "What Time Is It" by Brian Miller, "British Rail (Paris version)" by Pat Smythe, "Marco" by Dudu Pukwana, "Skid & Badger" by John Surman, and "Sixes & Nines" by John Stevens. CD

A really cool little album from the Beach Boys – a set that definitely takes its "party" title seriously, in a way that has the group singing in a somewhat live and spontaneous manner! There's sort of a "live in studio" feel here – with production that's less polished than on other records, and instrumentation that's heavy on acoustic guitar and percussion – almost like the group are hanging out at the beach, riffing on some of their favorite tunes. The album features the group's famous take on "Barbara Ann" – plus versions of a number of other 60s classics, like "The Times They Are A Changin", "Papa Oom Mow Mow", "Mountain Of Love", "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away", "Devoted To You", "Alley Oop", and "I Should Have Known Better". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Sonny Criss' classic albums for Imperial – a brilliant batch of LA bop from the 50s, with an impeccable sound throughout! Criss had a tone like nobody else on the alto – and here, he's at the height of his early powers – neither blowing too hard, nor going for boppish tricks – and instead settling into an amazing groove with a sense of power, confidence, and extreme "rightness" as to his choice of notes! The album's right on the money throughout – exactly the kind of set that lives up to our lifetime devotion to Sonny's music – and the whole thing's great, with tracks that include "West Coast Blues", "Criss Cross", "Ham's Blues", and "Blue Friday". LP, Vinyl record album

Not the first "best of" set devoted to Humpty, Shock G & co., but certainly the best one. It's a 14 track anthology of the best sounds laid down by the Underground, with nice notes and a rarity or two. Includes "Same Song (edit)", "The Way We Swing", "Underwater Rimes (remix)", "Humpty Dance", "Sex Packets", "No Nose Job", "We Got More" feeaturing the Luniz, and more. CD

The gothic darkness-tinged, though still soaring soundtrack to Clive Barker's Nightbreed – one of Danny Elfman's greatest soundtracks, which has been a longtime secret kept by the films small, though devoted cult fanbase! Elfman's grand orchestral score serves the film incredibly well, as it's one of the more defiantly disturbing horror romances ever filmed at a major studio – with lots of lighter, eerier touches, too. Includes "Main Titles/Dream", "Carnival Underground", "Into Midian/Meat For The Beast", "Rachel's Oratory/Party In The Past", "Boone Gets A Taste", "Breed Love", "Baphomet's Chamber", "Country Skin" and more. CD

Arrangements by Nelson Riddle, Russ Garcia, and Frank DeVol! Titles include "Moonlight Becomes You", "Cheerful Little Earful", "You Make Me Feel So Young", "Like Young", "You Turned The Tables On Me", and "Beat Me Daddy Eight To The Bar". CD

If there's anyone who ever deserved to have "house master" on the title of one of his records, it's the great Marshall Jefferson – one of the godfathers of house music in Chicago, and an artist who continued to lend his magical fingers to a whole host of different projects over the years! The set features a well-chosen batch of tracks that showcase both Marshall's own creations, and his work with others – eight killer cuts that include "Open Our Eyes (celestial mix)" by Marshall Jefferson presents Truth, "Time Marches On (re-recorded mix)" by Jungle Wonz, "Someday (club mix)" by CeCe Rogers, "7 Ways To Jack (voc)" by Hercules, "Mushrooms (Salt City Orchestra out there mix)" by Marshall Jefferson Vs Noosa Heads, "Devotion (club mix)" by Ten City, "It's All Right (house mix)" by Sterling Void with Paris Brightledge, and "I've Lost Control (re-recorded mix)" by Sleezy D. LP, Vinyl record album

A quartet of albums from Johnny Mathis – served up here in a special 2CD set! Up Up & Away is Mathis' first set back at Columbia after a brief hiatus – a record that shows a newly mature style that's wonderfully suited for Johnny's amazing voice! Mathis tones are every bit as perfect as before – but he's also got a maturing approach to the lyrics that's really nice – maybe a bit more pause, or thoughtfulness, which only increases the sense of feeling in the tunes. Of course, the great charts by Glenn Osser also help too – lush, but never sleepy, and showing their own sort of maturation too. Titles include "Misty Roses", "Drifting", "When I Look In Your Eyes", "I Thought Of You Last Night", "Far Above Cayuga's Waters", and "Where Are The Words". Love Is Blue is a late 60s set that furthers the maturing Mathis modes of his return to Columbia Records – a set that's filled with great adult pop numbers from the time, recast by Johnny Mathis in his trademark vocal mode! There's a fair bit of Bacharach in the mix – which makes for a meeting of two pop vocal generations in one sweet album – and the rest of the tunes are pretty hip too, with work by Henry Mancini, Jimmy Webb, and others. Strings figure into most of the arrangements – but never in a sleepy way – and titles include "Walk On By", "Venus", "Love Is Blue", "Never My Love", "Moon River", "I Say A Little Prayer", "The Look Of Love", and "Don't Go Breakin My Heart". Those Were The Days is a title tune sung famously by Mathis as a single – but even better are the rest of the tracks on the set – a cool batch of 60s numbers that really show Johnny stretching out comfortably with some new material, but never in ways that mess with his amazing vocal approach at all! Backings often have a gentle dip underneath the strings – letting Mathis pick up some slight groovy rhythms at points, on titles that include "Light My Fire", "59th Street Bridge Song", "This Guy's In Love With You", "You Make Me Think About You", "The World I Used To Know", and "Turn Around Look At Me". Last up is Sings The Music Of Bert Kaempfert – a special record devoted to the songs of German maestro Bert, best known as an instrumental star on record, but also a key songwriter for many classics of the 60s. Johnny's vocals are a great fit for the gentle flow and slow-stepping rhythms of the Kaempfert tunes – and titles include "Strangers In The Night", "Danke Schon", "Wonderland By Night", "Spanish Eyes", "Lady", "LOVE", and "Remember When". CD

Tracks include "Devotion", "Swerve", "Yeah Baby", "Summer", and "Want A Piece Of This?". CD

A great early 70s effort from Carlos Santana – one that finds him moving in a more jazzy direction, with supple rhythms underpinning his guitar solos! There's even some outright funky moments, with the overall sound leaning towards a more spiritual vibe – no doubt the influence of collaborations with John McLaughlin and Alice Coltrane, who even helped arrange one number. The set's got great work from jazz-based players too – vocals from Flora Purim and Leon Thomas, and some killer reeds from Joe Farrell – on titles that include "Love Devotion & Surrender", "Samba De Sausalito", "When I Look Into Your Eyes", "Yours Is The Light", "Mother Africa","Light Of Life", "Flame Sky", and "Welcome". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Frank Chase on clarinet, with Butch Thompson on piano, Charlie DeVore on cornet, Hal Smith on drums, Bill Evans on bass, John Otto on alto, and John Meilahn on guitar. LP, Vinyl record album

One of THE landmark hip hop albums – and the full length debut of great Tribe Called Quest! We hardly need to tell you about this classic – but it will always bear repeating. De La Soul might have kicked the door open on leftfield, anything goes artistry about a year or so earlier, but their friends and fellow Native Tongues Tribe's debut was a crucial reminder that the east coast was spinning out of one of the greatest creative growth spurts in hip hop history at the time. Pure excellence. Tracks include "Luck Of Lucien", "Footprints", "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo", "Bonita Applebaum", "Can I Kick It?", "Rhythm (Devoted To The Art Of Moving Butts)", "Mr Muhammad", "Description Of A Fool" andmore seminal, jazzy middle school tracks! 25th anniversary edition – remastered, with bonus tracks "Footprints (rmx with Ceelo Green)", "Bonita Applebum (Pharrell Williams rmx)", and "Can I Kick It (J Cole rmx)". New 2015 remaster – beautiful sound! CD

A fantastic celebration of London's legendary Blitz nightclub – a key late 70s spot where punk, art, electronics, and all things groovy came together at once – early home to Boy George, Steve Strange, and other key figures that would shape UK music in the 80s – and a place where the music was maybe more interesting than anywhere else on the scene! The package is put together by the club's legendary DJ Rusty Egan, and is a wonderful blend of krautrock, jazz, glam, post-punk, nd other styles – with a really strong focus on darker-styled cuts, and the sort of work that was really bridging scenes at the time! The 7" book-styled package has a hefty amount of notes and rare photos – and features 66 tracks in all, with work by Mick Ronson, La Dusseldorf, Silicon Teens, Telex, Zaine Griff, The Regents, Throbbing Gristle, The Walker Brothers, Ultravox, Lulu, Wolfgang Reichmann, Eno Moebius Rodelius, Barry DeVorzon, Cowboys International, Iggy Pop, Magazine, Tubeway Army, Rinder & Lewis, Gina X Performance, Lou Reed, and many others. CD

A long-overdue collection – and a rich document of one of our favorite sides of the Chicago soul scene! The package is devoted to the tiny Nickel and Penny labels, but it's also equally a set dedicated to legendary radio DJ Richard Pegue – whose work in both mainstream soul and later dusties formats really helped to shape our understanding of soul music! Pegue produced and wrote nearly every track on the set – which makes the collection one of the most unified the Numero Group has ever produced – a true tribute to Richard's great ear for a groovy soul record, and to all the smaller-name groups he helped support on the Windy City scene. The booklet does a great job of telling Pegue's story – really getting at the unique vision he brought to Chicago soul, and the wit and warmth that made him a favorite of many folks over the space of decades. The music alone is enough – stuff we've been waiting to get reissued for years – but together with the Numero research and booklet, the end result is sublime! Titles include "Just Say The Word" by Jerry Townes, "Fall In Love Again" by The Voices, "Never More" by Little Ben & The Cheers, "Why Do You Want To Make Me Sad" by The Norvells, "Instrumental 1" by Richard Terry & Company, "Shadows" by South Shore Commission, "This Is The Woman" by Sidney Pinchback, "The Ember Song" by Sidney Barnes, "Sign Of The Zodiac" by South Suburban Electric Strings, "This Love Of Mine" by Extensions, "Forever Is A Long Long Time" by The Voices, "Do The Pearl Girl (part 2)" by The Matta Baby, "I've Got To Find A Way" by Hallelujah Chorus, "First Thing I Do In The Morning" by Joyce Williams, and "I'm Gonna Get Even With You" by Little Ben & The Cheers. CD