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... LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal collection of some of the group's best! CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Land Ho", "Maggie M'Gill", "Roadhouse Blues", "Waiting For The Sun", "Peace Frog", "Ship Of Fools", and "Blue Sunday". Features the original 1970 stereo mix on CD and LP – plus a second CD of outtakes! CD

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... CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of the great early Merle Haggard records with The Strangers – and a classic that swung open all kinds of doors for Hag and all honky tonk legends to follow! The barroom laments come into full bloom on this record, with the unvarnished honky tonk style that Hag helped define, though done with just enough Capitol polish, courtesy of the great and legendary producers Ken Nelson and Fuzzy Owen. It contains uber-classic "The Bottle Let Me Down" plus the equally great title track, plus comparably overlooked album classics like "I'll Look You Over", "The Girl Turned Ripe", "No More You & Me", "I Can't Stand Me", "No More You And Me" a great version of the Tommy Collins classic and Bakersfield Sound bedrock "High On A Hilltop","Shade Tree (Fix-It Man)". CD

Collection of 12 tracks produced by Domingo. A couple of nice posse cuts anchor the LP – "Line of Fire" featuring KRS, MC Shan, God Suns, Ras Kass, FT, Bamboo, Feell-X, Sinz of Realty (so we're guessing the KRS-Shan feud is finally past) and "Got You Too Hot" with Ras Kass, Hurricane G, Diesel Don. What separates this one from some of the other recent underground all-star compilations is that the whole 'very serious underground' feel doesn't way this one down. Other standout tracks include Feel X & Eminem "Hustlers and Hardcore", Bamboo "Not the Ones To Sleep", Sins of Reality "Sins of Reality" LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent dip into the wild catalog of Perception Records! The label was home to some of the most compelling soul and funk of the early 70s – and it operated in a boundary-less territory that mixed up fuzzy guitars with heavy beats with soaring sax and sweet harmony vocals. Some of the artists who recorded for the label are best known for their work there – like Black Ivory or Wanda Robinson – and others made rare sessions for Perception – like Dizzy Gillespie and Shirley Horn – that really stand out from the rest of their work! This 20 track set offers a perfect sampling of the work on the label – and it includes a wild variety of tracks like "Alive" by Larry Young, "Get Some Of This" by Madhouse, "I Can't Get No Higher" by The 8 Minutes, "Consequences Of A Drug Addict Role" by Shirley Horn, "Too Sad To Tell" by Debbie Taylor, "Life Love & Peace" by The Exciters, "Alligator" by Dizzy Gillespie, "Rock Steady" by Julius Brockington, "Naturally Good" by Bartel, "Stop Me" by Benny Johnson, and the main theme to "Brother On The Run" by Johnny Pate & Adam Wade! CD

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Merle's debut album, and a benchmark in the history of country and popular music! Hag's role as country's most mournful outlaw hadn't fully evolved at this early point in his career but the seeds are planted, with the single "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers" and "The Worst Is Yet To Come" as the most obvious sign posts for what would come in subsequent years. Other tracks include "Sing A Sad Song", "I'd Trade All Of My Tomorrows", "You Don't Even Try", and "Walking The Floor Over You". Next up is Swinging Doors – a classic that swung open all kinds of doors for Hag and all honky tonk legends to follow! The barroom laments come into full bloom on this record, with the unvarnished honky tonk style that Hag helped define, though done with just enough Capitol polish, courtesy of the great and legendary producers Ken Nelson and Fuzzy Owen. It contains uber-classic "The Bottle Let Me Down" plus the equally great title track, plus comparably overlooked album classics like "I'll Look You Over", "The Girl Turned Ripe", "No More You & Me", "I Can't Stand Me", "No More You And Me" a great version of the Tommy Collins classic and Bakersfield Sound bedrock "High On A Hilltop", and "Shade Tree (Fix-It Man)". CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A tremendous look at one of the coolest jazz labels of all time – and one that has an especially strong focus on the more spiritual side of its music! The paired Black Saint and Soul Note labels came along from the Italian scene right at a time when so many other American companies were shutting their doors – former spiritual jazz powerhouses like Strata East, Impulse, and Black Jazz were moving beyond the music, or disappearing entirely – which made the role of Black Saint/Soul Note such a crucial one! The company came into the game at a time of boundless creativity in American jazz – and really captured a post-Coltrane generation that was brimming over with fire and new ideas, but just needed a place to find expression – which it did at the label, who recorded dozens of albums in the space of less than a decade, nearly all of which have gone onto become classics over the years. And while there's a side of the label that's much more free jazz and avant garde, the cuts here reflect a Black Saint/Soul Note that's just slightly inside – tunes that are still freewheeling, but also have a rhythmic core – and the kinds of open, soaring solos that were first inspired in the 60s generation of Coltrane and Shepp. The choice of cuts is great – similar to the others in the If Music series – and titles include "Mr Seven" by M'Booom, "Joycie Girl" by Don Pullen with Sam Rivers, "Il Giro Del Giorno In 80 Mondi" by Enrico Rava, "Oasis" by Hamiet Bluiett, "Confessin" by John Stubblefield, "Joobubie" by George Adams & Dannie Richmond, "Verde Que Eu Te Quero Ver" by Rava String Band, "Down Home In New York" by Archie Shepp, "BK" by Air, and "The Nagual Julian" by Billy Bang Sextet. LP, Vinyl record album

A completely righteous mix of jazz and African percussion – put together by drummer Art Blakey at a time when he was riding high with the Jazz Messengers, but also was willing to work on great experiments like this! The album's years ahead of its time – and arguably opens the door for countless spiritual jazz projects like this in the 70s, more proof that Blakey was a groundbreaking artist who was always opening doors for others! Blakey's own work on drums is joined by percussion from Montego Joe, Chief Bey, Garvin Masseux, James Ola, Folami, Robert Crowder, and Solomon Ilori – the last of whom would record his own record for Blue Note – and the rest of the group features Yusef Lateef on flute and tenor, Curtis Fuller on trombone, and the great Ahmed Abdul-Malik on bass – a great choice for the record, given that he was mixing together similar modes on his own records of the time. Titles include "Tobi Ilu", "Love, The Mystery Of", and "Obirin African". CD

One of the greatest Kool & The Gang albums ever – a monster live session that almost blows away their studio classics! The groove here is far more freewheeling and complex than some of their singles from the 70s – longer, tripped-out tunes with a definite undercurrent of jazz amidst the funk – loads of wicked horn bits from Ronnie Bell and Dennis Thomas that complicate things up nicely, while still staying soulfully in the groove. There's no vocals at all on the record – which further enforces the Kool Jazz sound of the set – and the album's even harder-hitting than their previous Sex Machine live album, so much so, the PJ's club had to close its doors shortly after the Gang's performance! Titles include the all-time killer sample cut "Duji" – plus "NT", "Ronnie's Groove", "Ricksonata", "Lucky For Me", "Sombrero Sam", and a medley of "Ike's Groove/You've Lost That Lovin Feeling". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest Kool & The Gang albums ever – a monster live session that almost blows away their studio classics! The groove here is far more freewheeling and complex than some of their singles from the 70s – longer, tripped-out tunes with a definite undercurrent of jazz amidst the funk – loads of wicked horn bits from Ronnie Bell and Dennis Thomas that complicate things up nicely, while still staying soulfully in the groove. There's no vocals at all on the record – which further enforces the Kool Jazz sound of the set – and the album's even harder-hitting than their previous Sex Machine live album, so much so, the PJ's club had to close its doors shortly after the Gang's performance! Titles include the all-time killer sample cut "Duji" – plus "NT", "Ronnie's Groove", "Ricksonata", "Lucky For Me", "Sombrero Sam", and a medley of "Ike's Groove/You've Lost That Lovin Feeling". CD also features a rare bonus cut – "The Penguin" – recorded at the time, but not issued on the original album! CD

Landmark material from the farther reaches of jazz in the mid 60s – one of two albums that trombonist Grachan Moncur recorded for Blue Note – and a session that ranks as one of the best examples of the "new thing" moment in 60s jazz! Grachan's leading a sextet here that includes a number of players that he cut his teeth with in Jackie McLean's great mid 60's group, including McLean himself on alto, Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, and Tony Williams on drums – all players who were opening up their own doors in the avant jazz world of the time – joined by trumpeter Lee Morgan, who really rises to the occasion, and opens up with a modern tone that's different than some of his own albums! The set features four stunning Moncur compositions – "Air Raid", "Evolution", "The Coaster", and "Monk In Wonderland". It's hard to describe the power of these recordings – but thankfully, we don't have to, as one listen to the album will blow you away! CD

The fantastic solo debut of Pharoahe Monch – served up after a few years of guest appearances that were really raising our ears to his mighty talents! The Pharoahe returns the favor here – inviting in guest versions from Common, Talib Kweli, Canibus, Apani B Fly, Busta Rhymes, MOP, and others – all rolled into that crisply perfect production style that made Rawkus albums like this so essential at the time – and so great over the years to come. Titles include "Behind Closed Doors", "Queens", "Simon Says", "Official", "God Send", "The Next Sh*t", "Right Here", and "The Truth" – plus the great remix version of "Simon Says", with work from Method Man, Redman, and Shabaam Sahdeeq. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most tripped-out albums of funk you'll ever buy – a rare treasure with a very unusual history! The Stark Reality were a cool little combo formed to work on public television in Boston in the late 60s – and the combo featured some heavy guitars, fuzzed-up vibes, and some monster percussion laid out in tight bass and drum rhythms that were years ahead of their time! The group recorded one rare album – ostensibly a children's record, but based around old compositions by Hoagy Carmichael, completely pulled apart, sliced up, overly harmonized, and spat out into wild funky tunes that bear no resemblance to their originals! John Abercrombie handles the guitar, Monty Stark delivers the vibes and vocals – and titles include "Rocket Ship", "Shooting Star", "Bustin Out Of Doors", "Comrades", "Swing High", "Cooking", "Grandfather Clock", "The Old Prospector", "The Whale", "Junkman's Song", and "Merry Go Round". LP, Vinyl record album

A smooth smooth classic from Grover Washington Jr – a set that has a classy image on the cover, and a classic groove within – a completely sublime blend of jazz, soul, and funk, all given the sort of masterful finish that you might have found on the best records by The Crusaders at the time! The difference, though, is that Washington's the lead soloist throughout – crafting some especially nice lines on his trademark soprano sax – which he used in ways that made him one of the most important mainstream jazz artists of his time – and one of the few to really open the doors of the music to folks who might not have been listening otherwise. Grover's sense of space and timing is wonderful throughout – and titles include the classic debut with Bill Withers on "Just The Two Of Us" –plus "Winelight", "Let It Flow", "In The Name Of Love", "Take Me There", and "Make Me A Memory (Sad Samba)". LP, Vinyl record album

The long-gestated follow up to the breakout Lord Willin' record by Clipse! Hell Hath No Fury may have been on ice for years, but it appeared as an instant classic, WAY up at the top of the list of greatest hip hop LPs of the mid 00s. The Neptunes beats are very spare and chilly, despite the fiery title – while the Pusha T & Malice style of precise storytelling and detached deliveries probably make them one of the most natural duos in the game. A gritty rap masterpiece. Tracks include "We Got It For Cheap", "Momma I'm So Sorry", the masterful "Mr Me Too" feat Pharrell, "Wamp Wamp (What It Do)" feat Slim Thug, "Dirty Money", "Ride Around Shining" feat the Re-Up Gang, "Key's Open Doors", "Chinese New Year" feat Rosco P Coldchain, "Nightmares" feat Pharrell & Bilal and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A monstrous assortment of work from Iron Butterfly – one of the key groups in helping the American scene move from psych to hard rock at the end of the 60s! First up are mono and stereo mixes of Heavy – a record that's not nearly as well known as their classic In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida – but which has a very similar vibe all the way through! The songs are a bit shorter, but these guys really manage to do a lot with a little – using lots of brooding bass right up from the bottom, to create a blueprint for hard rock imitators in years to come – none of whom were able to match these guys' simple, direct approach – and their optimistic sense of power in their music. Many numbers often have this vocal interplay that really works wonderful with the fuzzy guitar lines – and titles include "Possession", "Unconscious Power", "So Lo", "Look For The Sun", "Stamped Ideas", "Fields Of The Sun", and a nice fuzzy funk version of "Get Out Of My Life Woman". Next is the stereo mix of In A Gadda Da Vida – the album that rocked a million dorm rooms back in the 60s – and for good reason, too – given that the title track is a side-long, totally jamming monster – the kind of track that was really revolutionary at the time, and which still has a hell of an impact all these many years later! "In A Gadda Da Vida" was shortened to a single – with the big hook intact – but this classic album version runs for 17 minutes in length, and has the group doing all these cool jams with their instruments – all the animals in the garden of Eden talking to each other (or at least that's what our addled teenaged minds always thought!) Shorter tracks are mighty nice too – a heady, heavy brew of Hammond and fierce guitar from Erik Brann, on cuts all penned by group leader Doug Ingle. Titles include "Termination", "My Mirage", "Flowers & Roses", and "Most Anything You Want". Next is the stereo mix of Ball – a killer classic from Iron Butterfly – a group who always had way more to offer than their hits, as you'll find out when dipping into this full length set! The album's worth it alone for the organ lines – which kind of take off from the territory of The Doors, but are often more unusual – and mixed with vocals that can have an eerie sensibility, but without ever sounding indulgent! The music's not pop psych, but it's also never too full of itself – and titles include "In The Crowds", "In The Time Of Our Lives", "Soul Experience", "Lonely Boy", "Belda Beast", and "Filled With Fear". Next are mono and stereo mixes of Live – great live document of the heady power of Iron Butterfly – with titles that include "You Can't Win", "Are You Happy", "In A Gadda Da Vida", "Filled With Fear", and "In The Time Of Our Lives". Next is Metamorphosis – a record that's not a complete metamorphosis for Iron Butterfly, but one that definitely has the group stretching out with even more force and confidence than before! The group were maybe one of the few to come to hard rock via psych, instead of the blues rock path that so many others took at the time – and that difference is key here, as the songs really resonate with the potential for trippiness, but have this great sense of focus – one that makes the vocals sound even more potent than ever. There's still plenty of great organ work too – and titles include "Free Flight", "Shady Lady", "Best Years Of Our Life", "Slower Than Guns", and "Stone Believer". The set also features the 2CD 1968 Fillmore East set – an unreleased live performance from Iron Butterfly – one that captures the group at their late 60s height, in front of a very heady crowd at The Fillmore East! The recording quality is great – very clear, and different than the group's studio albums – with maybe even a bit more focus on the vocals of Doug Ingle, and the guitar lines of Erik Brann – in a way that lifts them out of the bottom sound a bit more, and presents the group in a whole new sort of focus! Plus, the brief patter from the stage also really helps us get an idea of how a trippy band like this could hold such great sway over a crowd at the time – energy that doesn't seem to stop at all, through the 2CD set's presentation of material from four different shows, on two nights of recording. Titles include "Are You Happy", "Stamped Ideas", "Fields Of Sun", "You Can't Win", "Unconscious Power", "My Mirage", "Her Favorite Style", "Possession", "Iron Butterfly Theme", and the mighty "In A Gadda Da Vida". CD set also features more tracks from singles, new remastering, a poster, and a big booklet of notes! CD

One of the greatest Kool & The Gang albums ever – a monster live session that almost blows away their studio classics! The groove here is far more freewheeling and complex than some of their singles from the 70s – longer, tripped-out tunes with a definite undercurrent of jazz amidst the funk – loads of wicked horn bits from Ronnie Bell and Dennis Thomas that complicate things up nicely, while still staying soulfully in the groove. There's no vocals at all on the record – which further enforces the Kool Jazz sound of the set – and the album's even harder-hitting than their previous Sex Machine live album, so much so, the PJ's club had to close its doors shortly after the Gang's performance! Titles include the all-time killer sample cut "Duji" – plus "NT", "Ronnie's Groove", "Ricksonata", "Lucky For Me", "Sombrero Sam", and a medley of "Ike's Groove/You've Lost That Lovin Feeling". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible record that really helped define a unique genre in soul – the "soul country" movement of the 60s! Joe's working here in a style that was founded by artists that included Solomon Burke, Ray Charles, Ivory Joe Hunter, and others – blending together the two great genres of the postwar south, into a unique sound that had all the best aspects of both! The set's never hokey – and instead features Joe being honest, open, and expressive on a variety of adult themes – sung in a style that was clearly opening doors around the south – and recorded in Memphis with some great Chips Moman studio work! The album includes great versions of "Dark End Of The Street", "Funny How Time Slips Away", and "Ode To Billie Joe", plus Joe's own "I'll Never Do You Wrong". LP, Vinyl record album

Reedman Joe Thomas is wrapped up here in some very warm grooves – a mix of electric jazz and clubby modes – all of which takes Thomas' usual sound right to the discos! Most cuts have a backup vocal group – with contributions from Gwen Guthrie and Jocelyn Brown – but these vocals soon step aside to make room for Joe's solos on both tenor and flute – every bit as soulful as before, maybe a bit like Stanley Turrentine or John Handy in such a setting! The album's also got some great keyboards from Pat Rebillot – and titles include "Plato's Retreat", "Mr Mumbles", "Get In The Wind", "Two Doors Down", and "Low Down". LP, Vinyl record album

In pretty much any bio of the pioneering art punk band Wire you'll read about how between 1977 and 1979, the group made three of the best, most forward looking rock albums of the era. First they perfected punk rock (Pink Flag), a year later they opened the doors to the more melodic new wave (Chairs Missing), and followed that up by introducing experimental electronics and metronomic beats (154), clearing the way for the aggro-post-punk-dance music of the early 80s. 10 years from now, there will probably be an addendum to all of those bios, stating that in 2002/2003 Wire finally returned to form – and they were as great as they ever were! We love our hyperbole around here, there's no denying that, but we really can't overstate how amazing Send is for Wire fans. As much as they've been around in various forms, Colin Newman and co. have not sounded this vital since 1979. None of the million billion indie rock kids emulating the old boys are even in the same universe, despite what your local hipster papers and zines might say. The album is basically a collection of the comeback EPs Wire self-released in 2002 – Read And Burn 1 & 2 – plus four newer, equally ferocious tracks. The first half kind of serves as the logical 2002/3 equivalent of their razor melody guitar sound of the late 70s, and the second half adds the aggro/electro beat-driven stuff that was bastardized by others (and at times by Wire themselves) all through the 80s and 90s. The whole thing is consistent, aggressive as all-get-out, and a stunningly loud comeback that we never saw coming. It's all the more rewarding because of it. "In The Art Of Stopping", "Mr. Marx's Table", "Being Watched", "The Agfers Of Kodack", "Nice Streets Above", "Spent", "Read And Burn", "You Can't Leave Now", "Half Eaten", "99.9." CD

A great look at the sounds of the legendary SAR Records label – an imprint formed by Sam Cooke as his solo star was rising – and home to a small but superb batch of recordings in the early 60s! SAR shut its doors shortly after Sam's untimely death, but during its short run it really captured some top-shelf talent – much of it with the sophisticated sensibilities that made Cooke's own music so wonderful, with some great gospel elements in the mix too – especially on the way the groups were recorded. Some artists here would go onto greater fame in later years, but sound really wonderful here at the start – and titles include "Somebody" by RH Harris, "Soothe Me" and "That's Where It's At" by The Simms Twins, "Rome" by Johnny Taylor, "Time Brings A Change" and "Stand By Me Father" by The Soul Stirrers, "Looking For A Love" by The Valentinos, and "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray" by The Womack Brothers – plus "That's Heaven To Me" by Sam Cooke himself. LP, Vinyl record album

Ambassador Satch is a key statement of Armstrong's global power in the postwar years, a time when the State Department was using his talents to mend fences and open doors after WWII. The material is Armstrong at his best comeback stretch – and most of these recall the classic sound of his early years, without any of the pop inflections of other later recordings. Titles include "Muskrat Ramble", "All Of Me", "West End Blues", and "Tiger Rag". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Mirror In The Bathroom", "Doors Of Your Heart", "Twist & Crawl", "Tears Of A Clown", "Save It For Later", "Best Friends", "I Confess", and "Stand Down Margaret". LP, Vinyl record album

Wild work from the LA scene of the early 70s – a soulful jamming group that features work by ex-Doors Robby Krieger and John Densmore, plus keyboards by Roy Davies, and some great vocals by Jess Roden, who went onto record some great jazzy work on his own. The album's got the compressed and soulful feel you'd expect from work on the Blue Thumb label – and Roden's vocals, while a bit cliched at times, are still pretty great overall. The standout cut is the break classic "Sweet Danger", but if you don't mind a bit of rock in your soul, you might dig the whole thing. Titles include "New Ways", "Baja Bus", "I Won't Be Alone Anymore", and "Love Your Brother". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most compelling albums ever recorded by guitarist Eugene Chadbourne – a set billed as "free improvised country and western bebop" – and which features Chadbourne serving up these wild variations on tunes by Carl Perkins, Roger Miller, David Allen Coe, Bobby Bare, Merle Haggard, and other country music legends! The album's much more Eugene than Nashville – although Chadbourne does sing lyrics on all of the tunes, but in a way that's very offbeat and hardly unlike the originals at all – as is his guitar work, which is acoustic and all twisted and turned up in all the offbeat phrasings you might expect! Much of the record is Chadbourne on vocals and electric dobro – but the set also features some drums by David Licht, saxes from John Zorn, and cello from Tom Cora. Titles include "The Last Word In Lonesome Is Me", "I'm The Only Hell My Mama Ever Raised", "Georgia In A Jug", "Motel Time Again", "Dang Me", "Window Shopping", "Jealous Loving Heart", "Mr Record Man", and "Swingin Doors". LP, Vinyl record album

We'll be honest with you – we love this stuff! Sure, Ornette made some great recordings for a number of other labels – but as a whole, his Atlantic stuff is some of the greatest modern jazz ever recorded, and no other period of an artist is more worth collecting and having in a complete format than this one! The package is unbelievably thorough – and includes not only all the tracks from classic albums like Change Of The Century, This Is Our Music, Free Jazz, Shape Of Jazz To Come, Ornette!, Ornette On Tenor, The Art Of The Improvisors and Twins – but also 6 previously unreleased tracks, and rare material like Ornette's Japanese-only LP To Whom Who Keeps A Record plus 2 selections from Gunther Schuller's Jazz Abstractions featuring Ornette! There's 6CDs in all – packaged in a great case with a well annotated booklet. Titles include "Proof Readers", "Revolving Doors", "Joy Of A Toy", "Cross Breeding", "Variants On A Theme Of Thelonious Monk", "Eos", "Focus On Sanity", "Una Muy Bonita", "Lomely Woman", "Little Symphony", "The Circle With The Hole In The Middle", "Beauty Is A Rare Thing", "Folk Tale", "The Face Of The Bass", "Brings Goodness", "Rise & Shine", and lots and lots more! CD

Titles include "Mirror In The Bathroom", "Doors Of Your Heart", "Twist & Crawl", "Tears Of A Clown", "Save It For Later", "Best Friends", "I Confess", and "Stand Down Margaret". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest Kool & The Gang albums ever – a monster live session that almost blows away their studio classics! The groove here is far more freewheeling and complex than some of their singles from the 70s – longer, tripped-out tunes with a definite undercurrent of jazz amidst the funk – loads of wicked horn bits from Ronnie Bell and Dennis Thomas that complicate things up nicely, while still staying soulfully in the groove. There's no vocals at all on the record – which further enforces the Kool Jazz sound of the set – and the album's even harder-hitting than their previous Sex Machine live album, so much so, the PJ's club had to close its doors shortly after the Gang's performance! Titles include the all-time killer sample cut "Duji" – plus "NT", "Ronnie's Groove", "Ricksonata", "Lucky For Me", "Sombrero Sam", and a medley of "Ike's Groove/You've Lost That Lovin Feeling". CD also features a rare bonus cut – "The Penguin" – recorded at the time, but not issued on the original album! Plus, this reissue is even better than the previous one – packaged with a full-color booklet of notes and rare images. CD

Ce Ce Peniston has got to be one of the catchiest singers in early 90s R&B – an artist with a great way with a hook, especially when she's working with help from Chicago house legend Steve Silk Hurley! Hurley's on this second album, as he helped out on Peniston's debut – and the music has a great way of shaking past some of the more familiar modes of the new jack generation – still plenty of beats, but tuned with this warmth that really seems to unlock Ce Ce's vocals and let them flow! The approach is also different than it might be if Peniston were singing over a club or house track – especially as the midtempo funky range really seems to bring out her best – as you'll hear on tracks that include "I'm Not Over You", "I'm In The Mood", "Hit By Love", "Searchin", "Any Way You Wanna Go", "Give What I'm Givin", and "Through Those Doors". CD features bonus tracks – "I'm In The Mood (old school mix)" and "I'm Not Over You (old school mix)". CD

Heady instrumental work from Tetragon – a German group who can really play their instruments with great virtuoso tendencies, but who work here in a more home-grown setting that's quite different from overblown classic rock of the time! The record features loads of great keyboards – including organ and clavinet – clearly trained in jazz and classical music, but turned towards a much more rock-based style of jamming – layered in with guitar, bass, and drums – and all delivered with an edge that's much rougher than you might expect – kind of the small label production you'd find for a psych record, which really keeps this one away from the ELP side of the spectrum. Titles include "Irgendwas", "A Short Story", "Nature", "Fugue", and "Jokus". CD features full notes, and the bonus track "Doors In Between". CD

A great run of music from Grover Washington Jr – five full albums, plus lots of bonus tracks too! First up is Paradise – one of those records you see so much it's easy to forget how great it is! Grover's a real genius with the sax on this record – taking a "less is more" cue from Stanley Turrentine's 70s work, and toning down his playing to an even tighter style than on the Kudu albums of earlier years, to a level of ultimate economy that really leaves us breathless. Grover hits a rarified level here that we'd only reserve for a small few – like Steely Dan or The Crusaders, both groups who teeter on the same brink, and make it work perfectly. Titles include "Asia's Theme", "Tell Me About It Now", "Feel It Comin", "Icey", and "The Answer In Your Eyes". Winelight is a smooth smooth classic from Grover Washington Jr – a set that has a classy image on the cover, and a classic groove within – a completely sublime blend of jazz, soul, and funk, all given the sort of masterful finish that you might have found on the best records by The Crusaders at the time! The difference, though, is that Washington's the lead soloist throughout – crafting some especially nice lines on his trademark soprano sax – which he used in ways that made him one of the most important mainstream jazz artists of his time – and one of the few to really open the doors of the music to folks who might not have been listening otherwise. Grover's sense of space and timing is wonderful throughout – and titles include the classic debut with Bill Withers on "Just The Two Of Us" –plus "Winelight", "Let It Flow", "In The Name Of Love", "Take Me There", and "Make Me A Memory (Sad Samba)". On Come Morning, Grover Washington blows over some great arrangements from William Eaton – full, but lean too – and with the same sort of slinky groove that always worked best for Grover back at Kudu Records! The sound is tight, but never too slick – that magically soulful approach that always made Grover a real standout from his contemporaries – one of the few cats who could smooth out jazz without ever losing its soul – thanks to lots of well-crafted lead lines on soprano sax! Titles include "East River Drive", "Jamming", "Little Black Samba", "Be Mine", and "Reaching Out". Best Is Yet To Come is a set that strongly continues the special spirit that Grover Washington brought to his music during the Elektra Records years – as one of the few artists who really found a way to move forward from the style of 70s jazz funk, but not fall into some of the smoother jazz cliches that were about to envelop his contemporaries! Part of the strength of the record lies in Grover's strongly soul-based sense of timing – allowing for just the right amount of space between the notes to remind you that you're listening to a jazz soloist first and foremost, even when a guest like Patti Labelle might step in for a bit of vocals. Titles include "Brazilian Memories", "Mixty Motions", "Can You Dig It", "I'll Be With You", "Things Are Getting Better", and "The Best Is Yet To Come". Inside Moves has Washington soaring to the skies on soprano sax – as expressive a voice on the record as any soul singer might be – and maybe even more so on the few spots that do include vocals. Jon Lucien sings a bit on the record – and if you read these pages, you know how much we love him – but Grover's still the giant here, with a sense of timing and phrasing that few of his contemporaries could ever hope to match in a setting like this. Titles include "Jet Stream", "Sassy Stew", "Dawn Song", "Inside Moves", "Watching You Watching Me", and "Secret Stew". 5CD set features 19 more bonus tracks – all the single edits of songs from the albums! CD

A groundbreaking array of material from the first in a legendary series of festivals – the important Womad concerts of the 80s, which were a crucial effort in opening the doors to a globe's amount of music! Womad was famously helmed by Peter Gabriel, who was drawing on many currents of cultures in his own recordings of the time – and the initial weekend concert in England was the start of a huge tradition that would impact countless audiences for many years to come. This package restores some lost recordings from that initial festival, and is a great mix of global styles and more groundbreaking work of the time – with titles that include "Gahu" by Ekome, "Kama Kiwacu" by Drummers Of Burundi, "Womad II" by Robert Fripp, "Tabla Iqae" by Musicians Of The Nile, "Zimbo" by Echo & The Bunnymen with Royal Burundi Drummers, "Raindrops Pattering On Banana Leaves" by Tian Jin Music & Dance Ensemble, "Salsa De Hoy" by Salsa De Joy, "You're My Kind Of Climate" by Rip Rig & Panic, "A Ritual Mask" by Peter Hammill, and "Biko" by Peter Gabriel with Ekome. 2CD set features bonus tracks "Sasono Mulyo" by Gamelan Gong Kebyar, and "Wayo In Law" by The Ivory Coasters with Prince Nico Mbarga. CD

A completely righteous mix of jazz and African percussion – put together by drummer Art Blakey at a time when he was riding high with the Jazz Messengers, but also was willing to work on great experiments like this! The album's years ahead of its time – and arguably opens the door for countless spiritual jazz projects like this in the 70s, more proof that Blakey was a groundbreaking artist who was always opening doors for others! Blakey's own work on drums is joined by percussion from Montego Joe, Chief Bey, Garvin Masseux, James Ola, Folami, Robert Crowder, and Solomon Ilori – the last of whom would record his own record for Blue Note – and the rest of the group features Yusef Lateef on flute and tenor, Curtis Fuller on trombone, and the great Ahmed Abdul-Malik on bass – a great choice for the record, given that he was mixing together similar modes on his own records of the time. Titles include "Tobi Ilu", "Love, The Mystery Of", and "Obirin African". LP, Vinyl record album

A trio of early classics from the great Merle Haggard – served up here in a single set! Branded Man is a key early album in the career of the legendary Merle Haggard – a set that's open about his time behind bars, and which resonates beautifully with all the themes of loss and loneliness that haunted his music for years! Even at this early stage, Haggard is head and shoulders above the rest – contributing his own fantastic work to the record, and also taking on a few tunes by others – almost making the whole thing feel like a concept album – not a unified suite of tracks, but more one that's unified with a sense of emotion and persona that few other country singers were bringing to the format at the time. While Johnny Cash may have learned to boost his career by recording in prisons, Merle used his time in one to create the sort of deep emotional well that you'll hear on classics that include "Branded Man", "I Threw Away The Rose", and "I Made The Prison Band" – next to other gems that include "Loneliness Is Eating Me Alive", "Long Black Limousine", "Go Home", "My Hands Are Tied", "Gone Crazy", and "Don't Get Married". Sing Me Back Home is a fantastic album from Merle Haggard – one that signals its sense of longing and wandering with its title and cover – then really delivers the goods in a package that's overflowing with strong original material by the man himself! While so many other country singers were singing about drinking and loving with a nod and wink, Haggard was able to set a whole new tone with a record like this – really digging deep both in spirit and lyrical presentation – and making the kind of music that raised the bar for generations to come! Every song on the record is a gem - and titles include "Where Does The Good Times Go", "Sing Me Back Home", "Look Over Me", "Wine Take Me Away", "If You See My Baby", "I'll Leave The Bottle At The Bar", "Home Is Where A Kid Grows Up", "My Past Is Present", "Good Times", and "Seeing Eye Dog". Okie From Muskogee is one of the most legendary albums in the long career of the mighty Merle Haggard – a live set that's capped with the famous title tune – recorded down in Oklahoma, as a nod to the roots of Merle's heritage – and one that was really able to carefully play both sides of the fence at the end of the 60s! So while Hag is singing the anthemic title tune – a proud statement against hippies and the radical underground while most of America is standing strong – he's still also reaching out with a palette of emotional expression that shows that the man himself is deeply complex, and able to rise up a bit of Okie pride, while also letting the world know that the same spirit was also fanning the flames of the musical revolutions out on the west coast too. The set's overflowing with classics – not just the new "Okie From Muskogee" – but also killer versions of "Mama Tried", "No Hard Times", "In the Arms Of Love", "If I Had Left It Up To You", "White Line Fever", "Blue Rock", and a medley of "Swinging Doors", "I'm A Lonesome Fugitive", "Sing Me Back Home", and "Branded Man". CD

Killer solo work from this Yes guitarist – titles that include "Doors Of Sleep", "Beginnings", "Pleasure Stole The Night", "Break Away From It All", "Lost Symphony", and "Nature Of The Sea". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the strongest creative statement to date from tenorist James Brandon Lewis – an album of work inspired by the legacy of George Washington Carver – served up here with a sense of depth that's certain to open even more doors for Lewis in years to come! There's a majesty to the music that's apparent in the very first notes, and which keeps on coming as each song unfurls – that search for truth talked about in Carver's writings, quested here with a quintet that includes William Parker on bass, Chad Taylor on drums, Kirk Knuffke on cornet, and Chris Hoffman on cello! The energy of Parker and Taylor is sublime – and makes for a setting that's different than other recent records we've heard from Knuffke, who also seems to draw new currents of sonic inspiration from the gentle but powerful use of the cello. The tenor has a raw, sharp edge throughout – a personality that would be striking, even without the beautiful setting of Lewis' original material – and titles include "Lowlands Of Sorrow", "Jesup Wagon", "Experiment Station", "Fallen Flowers", "Seer", and "Arachis". CD

A great little album that has McDuff soloing on Hammond, over larger funkier arrangements – very much in the manner of his sublime Moon Rapping set, also recorded for Blue Note. Arrangements are by JJ Jackson and Jerry Long – and McDuff will blow your mind as he navigates the mix of time changes, theme changes, and rhythm changes over the course of the long tracks on the set. Includes the sublime sample cut "Hunk O Funk", plus "Mystic John", "Seven Keys For Seven Doors", and "Yellow Wednesday". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent album from Max Roach – cut at a time when he was rising from the ashes, after the too-soon death of trumpeter Clifford Brown – and began working with really inventive younger players who would drive him into a whole new mode of righteous styles! That's definitely the case here – as Roach leads a group that includes Kenny Dorham on trumpet, filling in the Clifford Brown spot with a very different sound – next to Sonny Rollins on tenor, Ray Bryant on piano, and George Morrow on bass – players who really help open new doors in the music! The tunes are a mixture of the hardbop that Roach forged with Brown, plus a growing sense of the spiritual, slyly sneaking in, and working an agenda that is at once subtle and powerful – on titles that include "Dr Freezee", "Mr X", "Woodyn You", and "Body & Soul". CD

A fantastic debut from Sugarloaf – a group who managed to use the Hammond organ in ways that were just as strong as the guitar in most other groups! The approach here seems to draw a lot from all the best changes taking place in soulful jazz – as Jerry Corbetta manages his keyboards with this lean quality that's wonderful, and balanced with the bass, drums, and guitar in this perfect way – almost funky at many moments, and still pretty damn sharp even if not! You'll probably know that quality from the group's classic hit "Green Eyed Lady" – but it really shines through on the whole album, on titles that include "Bach Doors Man", "Chest Fever", "Things Gonna Change Soon", and "Train Kept A Rollin". CD

Mid 60s magic from a record label that only lasted a few short years – yet one that's gone on to have as much prominence for real soul collectors as the music of Atlantic and Motown! Loma Records was a small offshoot of Warner Brothers on the west coast – yet one that worked far from the hit territory of its parent company, and instead captured all these wonderful groups and singers who might never have gotten exposure otherwise – a few of whom would go on to record later for bigger labels, but most of whom lost the chance for fame once Loma closed its doors! The quality of the music here is incredible – really top-shelf productions, at a level that rivals some of the best Detroit studios of the time, mixed with some of the cool class of Chicago soul as well – served up in a style that works equally well for vocal groups and solo singers. And while Loma recorded some deep soul cuts during this period, this set focuses on the more upbeat numbers – as you'd guess from the "Northern" in the title – served up in a collection that not only features rare singles, but also a few unissued tracks too! CD set features 25 tracks in all – and include "Mean It Baby" by Carl Hall, "You Can't Outsmart A Woman" by Kell Osborne, "I'm Getting Weaker" by The Soul Shakers, "My Heart Needs A Break" by Linda Jones, "Bright Lights" by Delilah Kennebreuw, "Runnin Around" by Tony Amaro & The Chariots, "Baby Don't Look Down" by Billy Storm, "The Big Jerk (part 1)" by Clyde & Teh Blue Jays, "Better Think Of What You're Losing" by Tommy Starr, "The Man With The Golden Touch" by Charles Thomas, "Got A Thing Goin" by The Invincibles, "It's Your Love That I Need" by The Marvellos, "Just A Little Longer" by The Enchanters, "I'll Find A Way" by Bobby Reed, "Go For Yourself" by Larry Lester, "See The Silver Moon" by The Apollas, "Lies" by Bobby Freeman, and "If You Should See Her" by Ben Aiken. CD