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A pretty great record from singer Jennie Smith – not just for her own vocals, but for the unusual batch of tunes on the set! Jennie sang regularly on the Steve Allen show – and Steve penned every tune on the set – giving Smith a batch of music that goes way past overdone standards or pop numbers from other artists – a great fit to match the fresh voice that Jennie brings to the music! The arrangements are lush, but compact too – handled by Bob Enevoldsen, with a quality that acknowledges his roots in west coast jazz – but served up with a bit more conventional swing. Titles include "Never Had This Feeling Before", "With You", "After You", "I Love You Today", "Spring In Maine", "After Awhile", "When I'm In Love", and "Life Is But A Dream". CD

A mighty deep look at one of the hippest labels on the rockabilly scene – and one that was quite a surprise, too – given that Dot Records not only served up a fair bit of instrumental pop, but also recorded some of the "fake" rockers of the time as well! Yet all the work here is the real deal – tracks from the farther reaches of the Dot catalog, and related Hamilton imprint – work that was only ever issued as 7" singles, and quickly lost in the shuffle – only to be rediscovered in later generations by the kind of cats who were always digging for the coolest, rawest tracks from back in the day! As with other volumes in this groundbreaking series, the package presents a heck of a lot of music with very detailed notes – 37 titles that include "When The Sin Stops" by The Nighthawks, "Bad Boy" by robin Luke, "Honky Tonk Song" by Leroy Van Dyke, "Cool It Baby" by Dick Lory, "Mail Train" by Billy Joe Tucker, "My Babe" by Ronnie Smith, "Nancy Lynne" by Dick D'Agostin & the Swingers, "Love Charms" by Sanford Clark, "Jeopardy" by Ned Costner, "Whatcha Gonna Do" by Earl Henry, "I'm Hypnotized" by Don Johnson, and "Steelworker Blues" by Keith Courvale. CD

A pretty great record from singer Jennie Smith – not just for her own vocals, but for the unusual batch of tunes on the set! Jennie sang regularly on the Steve Allen show – and Steve penned every tune on the set – giving Smith a batch of music that goes way past overdone standards or pop numbers from other artists – a great fit to match the fresh voice that Jennie brings to the music! The arrangements are lush, but compact too – handled by Bob Enevoldsen, with a quality that acknowledges his roots in west coast jazz – but served up with a bit more conventional swing. Titles include "Never Had This Feeling Before", "With You", "After You", "I Love You Today", "Spring In Maine", "After Awhile", "When I'm In Love", and "Life Is But A Dream". CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Includes tracks by Sanford Clark, Gene Brown, The Phantom, Pat Flowers, Mickey Gilley, Billy Adams, Jim Ringo, Keith Courvale, Dicky Lory, and Ray Campi. CD

With Russell Malone on guitar, Reggie McBride on bass, and Harvey Mason on drums – plus guest vocals from Etta James and Dr. John, as well as guitar and vocals from BB King and Taj Mahal. CD

A rare American outing from Swedish singer Alice Babs – working here in a wonderfully unique format with guitarist Ulrik Neumann! The set has a mellow grooving, late nite feel that's very much in keeping with the title and the cover – mature, laidback tunes sung mostly by Babs, with some occasional added vocals from Ulrik – set to instrumentation that's heavy on acoustic lines from Neumann's guitar, but also includes some light percussion as well. Neumann whistles a bit, and scats some too – as does Alice, who's never just content to perform the lyrics in a straight way, and usually embellishes them with some charming additional touches. The album's a rare treat, and unlike anything else we can think of from the time – with titles that include "I May Be Wrong", "When The Children Are Asleep", "I'm The Words You're The Music", "I'm For You", "Two Sleepy People", "Let's Put Out The Lights", and "The Old Scat Skiffle". LP, Vinyl record album

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Southern hillbilly soul from Fern Jones – a minister, church singer and songwriter with a real feel for the secular shake of 50s Sun Records, honky tonk, and shout blues – a pure evangelical with a worldly groove! Fern worked the gospel circuit of tent and church shows for many, many years – but only recorded two albums, this one for Dot/Paramount. Fern sings in the torch country style of Patsy Cline, often with spare rockabilly-styled guitar and drums backbeat. This album is probably most noteworthy for the classic song "I Was There When It Happened" – co-written by Fern Jones and made famous by Johnny Cash. It's especially legendary because it was the only gospel number Sam Phillips allowed Cash to include on his first LP. But Fern's album is more than worthy of a late discovery – she's a true pioneer, fearlessly blending the Lord's work with the Devil's music – at a time when such poles were anathema for most artists, fans, and record labels alike! Original album tracks include "You Ain't Got Nuthin'", "I Do Believe", "Be Thankful You're You", "I Ain't Got Time", "Let Tomorrow Be" – plus the bonus tracks "When I Meet You", "By And By", "I Don't Care What The World May Do" and "This World Is Not My Home". CD

Southern hillbilly soul from Fern Jones – a minister, church singer and songwriter with a real feel for the secular shake of 50s Sun Records, honky tonk, and shout blues – a pure evangelical with a worldly groove! Fern worked the gospel circuit of tent and church shows for many, many years – but only recorded two albums, this one for Dot/Paramount. Fern sings in the torch country style of Patsy Cline, often with spare rockabilly-styled guitar and drums backbeat. This album is probably most noteworthy for the classic song "I Was There When It Happened" – co-written by Fern Jones and made famous by Johnny Cash. It's especially legendary because it was the only gospel number Sam Phillips allowed Cash to include on his first LP. But Fern's album is more than worthy of a late discovery – she's a true pioneer, fearlessly blending the Lord's work with the Devil's music – at a time when such poles were anathema for most artists, fans, and record labels alike! Original album tracks include "You Ain't Got Nuthin'", "I Do Believe", "Be Thankful You're You", "I Ain't Got Time", "Let Tomorrow Be" – plus the bonus tracks "When I Meet You", "By And By", "I Don't Care What The World May Do" and "This World Is Not My Home". CD

A great set of spy spoof tunes – written by Pete King for this schlocky comedy that starred the team of Marty Allen and Steve Rossi! The feel of the material is very much in the best spirit of Hugo Montenegro's work in the same vein – a blend of jazz, mod styles, and some nice orchestral numbers that are done with a slight bit of whimsy. Steve sings vocals on the nice bossa number "Don Jose Ole", and other tracks include "The Height Of The Spy Season", "Paris Street", "The Big Ball", "Zorba A Go Go", "Of Mace & Men", "The Villa", and "Hi Jack". LP, Vinyl record album

A compelling set from Bugsy Maugh – a singer who started out in the band of Paul Butterfield, but who emerges here as a vocalist with a really great range, and a mix of jazz, soul, and rootsy elements – almost a Blood Sweat & Tears sort of vibe, but more personal overall! James Burton plays guitar, and the set features other great work from John Guerin on drums, Plas Johnson on alto, and Jim Horn on tenor and flute. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best-remembered albums from the moog pop generation – a record that's definitely a cut above the rest, thanks to the top-shelf talents of pianist Mike Melvoin! Melvoin is a name you'll recognize from countless other great LA sessions of the 60s – and Mike was always able to shift and move into the best sorts of styles when he wanted – jazz, soul, funk, and here, the new world of moogy instrumentals – served up here with some nice electronic effects that really keep things interesting! The record also features groovy help from Paul Humphrey and Earl Palmer on drums, and Dennis Budimir on guitar – and Beaver and Kraus were the "moog consultants" on the record too. There's some nice originals – including "One Man One Volt", "Plastic Cow", and "Medicine Man" – plus covers of "Born To Be Wild", "Sunshine Of Your Love", "Spinning Wheel", and "Ballad Of John & Yoko". LP, Vinyl record album

Great stuff from Nimoy – and proof that his committment to being more than just a sci-fi actor was real, if not successful! The record features groovy pop and vocal tracks with arrangements by George Tipton, and a nice mod-ish feel that works well with Nimoy's Scott Walker-ish vocals and seriousness. The record features a number of very nice original tracks like "Contact", "Piece Of Hope", "The Man I Would Like To Be", and "Maiden Wine" – plus covers like "Cycles", "Nature Boy", and "A Trip To Nowhere". Very groovy! LP, Vinyl record album

A crazy album of funky tracks from Lalo Schifrin – very different than most of his other jazz and bossa work! This set's got some very tripped out styles that mix together funky backings, jazzy riffing, and even some nice electronics – a sweet little groove that's even more wild and hip than even the best of Schifrin's soundtrack work from the 60s! Some tunes certainly show the deft talent for arranging woodwinds and rhythms that first caught the ears of so many listeners on famous soundtracks – but in the setting of this record, away from any directorial needs, Lalo's also free to explore some groovier music ideas – and he really lets loose tremendously as the set rolls on! The titles alone should tell you the feel of the record – with names like "Secret Code", "Dissolving", "Vaccinated Mushrooms", "Wheat Germ Landscapes", and "How To Open at Will The Most Beautiful Window". LP, Vinyl record album

A definite criss-crossing of Detroit and Memphis modes – as the funky soul of Mitch Ryder gets some hip backings here from Booker T & The MGs! Mitch always had a lot of soul-charged energy in his best early work anyway – but here, he really puts it all on the table – recording with Booker and crew to back him up, with production from Steve Cropper that really maintains the Stax-like quality of the set! Given the date of the record, it's almost a precursor to some of Stax's early 70s rock experiments – but given the core Booker T sound, the album's actually way better than any of those – and is more like a lost MGs set, with added vocals. Titles include "Liberty", "I Believe", "Direct Me", "Raise Your Hand", "Long Long Time", "Meat", "Wear & Tear On My Heart", "Sugar Bee", and "I Get Hot". LP, Vinyl record album

Duets with Lenny Popkin on saxophone, Connie Crothers on piano, and Roger Mancuso on drums. CD

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Louis Armstrong on trumpet and vocals, Jack Teagarden on trombone and vocals, Lyle Johnson on clarinet, Clancy Hayes on guitar, and Earl "Fatha" Hines on piano. CD

With Marshall Royal and Bobby Plater on alto, Eric Dixon and Eddie Davis on tenor, Charles Fowlkes on baritone, Gene Goe, George Cohn, Oscar Brashear, and Al Aarons on trumpet, Grover Mitchell, Richard Boone, Bill Hughes, and Steve Galloway on trombone, Freddie Green on guitar, Harold Jones on drums, and Norman Keenan on bass. LP, Vinyl record album

Chris Minh Doky on bass, Larry Goldings on piano, and Peter Erskine on drums – backed by the Metropole Orkest! CD

Gritty live work from twin tenor giants Gene Ammons and Dexter Gordon – recorded in an open-ended style that's a bit like some of Gordon's famous early work on the Central Avenue scene in LA, or Ammons' famous live "battles" with Sonny Stitt! The date was recorded in Chicago at the North Park Hotel – with sound that's a bit more "live" than some of the other Prestige sessions at the time – and an unusual lineup that features local players Jodie Christian and John Young on piano, Cleveland Eaton on bass, and Steve McCall on drums. The lovely Vi Redd makes a vocal appearance on the track "Lonesome Lover Blues" – and other titles include "The Chase", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", and "The Happy Blues" – all nice and long! CD also features 2 extra tracks, both long – "Wee Dot" and an extended "Ballad Medley". CD

A definite jackpot for any fan of organ jazz – as contemporary Hammond hero Brian Charette delivers a host of new songs that pay tribute to the keyboard giants of the 60s soul jazz generation! The sound is as lean and clean as some older set by Jack McDuff or Don Patterson – and Charette's got the tenor work of Cory Weeds on hand to provide a nice match to his fluid work on the keys and bass pedal – while Ed Cherry creates all sort of cool and groovy colors on guitar, and Bill Stewart handles the drums! Titles include "Vague Reply", "Tight Connection", "Triple Threat", "Polka Dot Pinup", "Jackpot", "High Ball", and "Upstairs". CD

Soaring and soulful work from the legendary John Coltrane – a tremendous live set that's one of his best early 60s albums! The groove is open and free – filled with pulsating modal rhythms, and handled with a slightly more relaxed feeling than some of Trane's studio work from the same time. The quartet features McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – and Coltrane himself plays both tenor and soprano sax, the latter with an especially beautiful sound. The set kicks off with a beautifully firey reading of "Afro-Blue" – one that really opens up, and remakes the tune into one of Coltrane's most legendary recordings – and other titles include a classic reading of "Alabama", plus the titles "Your Lady" and "The Promise". CD features a bonus track "Vilia". CD

A standout 70s set from Dexter Gordon – one that's a bit tighter than some of his longer-blown dates from overseas – and which almost sparkles with the same power as his 60s albums on Blue Note! The group here is nice and tight – with Kenny Drew on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Albert Heath on drums – all grooving in a style that's sharply focused, and which really sets the stage for Dex's wonderful tone on the solos. Pedersen's bass is great too – sometimes stepping out with a presence not usually heard on a set like this – and titles include the Gordon originals "The Apartment", "Antabus", and "Candlelight Lady" – plus "Wee Dot" and "Old Folks". LP, Vinyl record album

A great one from Hammond giant Don Patterson – served up in that lean trio style that made his 60s work so great! The group features very fluid drums from Billy James, guitar from Vincent Corrao, and plenty of deft work on the keys from Don himself – on titles that include "Uptight", "Wade In The Water", "La Bamba", "Love Letters", "Wee Dot", and a surprisingly nice version of "Strangers In the Night" – one that grooves for over seven minutes! LP, Vinyl record album

A new year's always a new way to fall in love with contemporary soul music – thanks to the annual gems we always get in this great series from Expansion Records! For decades, the UK label has been one of the best outlets for new music from the neo soul underground – and in recent years, as so many releases are digital-only, their efforts with this collection series is even more important – as provides a massive overview of great contemporary soul cuts that may never make it to any sort of physical format at all! There's other cuts from album released mixed in with singles and more obscure cuts – and as always, the set list is superb – a batch of 35 tracks that include "Dot Dot Dot" by Marquel Jordan, "Something Like This (breakdown rmx)" by Tristan, "Don't Throw Our Love Away" by Ashley Scott, "Love Can Make You Feel So Happy" by Ipso Facto, "Slow Motion" by Kenya with Noel Gourdin, "This Is Worth It" by Blue Soul Ten, "While I'm Alone" by Alton McClain Scarborough, "Such A Good Feelin (Don-E chuffed mix)" by Rich Beggar, "Alone Again" by Ernie & The Family McKone, "Light Up My World" by Victor Haynes, "Soul Steppin (Soul Syndicate rmx)" by Shirley Jones, "Move Me No Mountain" by Lisa Dietrich, "I Believe" by Khari Cabral & Jiva, "Moods" by The R&R Soul Orchestra, "Here We Got Again" by Output/Input, "Now's The Time For Us" by Julian Joseph, and "If It Feels Good" by We Are One X-Perience. CD

An excellent collection of rare Northern Soul material – featuring winners from Universal-related labels, like MCA, ABC, Dot, and other long-gone imprints! There's some really classic material on here – the kind of tunes that shaped the scene, and which always come up again and again in discussions of the music – and titles include "Tainted Love" by Gloria Jones, "Thanks For A Little Lovin" by The Trends, "Self Soul Satisfaction" by Earl Jackson, "Lend A Hand" by Bobby Hutton, "I Thought You Were Mine" by Natural Four, "What Good Am I" by Jaibi, "Love Runs Out" by Willie Hutch, "Cracked Up Over You" by Danny White, "You're Falling In Love" by Betty Everett, "One Wonderful Moment" by The Shakers, "Take Away The Pain Stain" by Patti Austin, "I'm Gonna Love You A Long Time" by Patti & The Emblems, and "The Larue" by Lada Edmund Jr. CD

A wonderfully hard-storming set – and a record that not only firmly put the Jazz Messengers on the map, but also set a whole new standard for live jazz recording! The group here is the early version of the Messengers – almost co-led by drummer Art Blakey with pianist Horace Silver – and featuring Clifford Brown on trumpet, just a few months before his early death – plus Lou Donaldson on alto and Curley Russell on bass. The presence of alto instead of tenor makes the sound slightly different than later incarnations of the group – and the overall approach is one that virtually defines the shift from straight bop to hardbop in the 50s – a mode that both Blakey and Silver were key in creating. Tracks include "Wee Dot", "Quicksilver" (alternate), "Now's The Time", and "Confirmation". LP, Vinyl record album

A standout 70s set from Dexter Gordon – one that's a bit tighter than some of his longer-blown dates from overseas – and which almost sparkles with the same power as his 60s albums on Blue Note! The group here is nice and tight – with Kenny Drew on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Albert Heath on drums – all grooving in a style that's sharply focused, and which really sets the stage for Dex's wonderful tone on the solos. Pedersen's bass is great too – sometimes stepping out with a presence not usually heard on a set like this – and titles include the Gordon originals "The Apartment", "Antabus", and "Candlelight Lady" – plus "Wee Dot" and "Old Folks". CD also features the bonus track "Stablemates" – from the same session, but previously unissued. CD

A wonderful pairing of this German pianist and American tenor star Zoot Sims – and an album that may well be the greatest that Jutta Hipp ever cut! Hipp was one of the rising stars of the German postwar jazz scene in the 50s – and although she issued other American albums in the decade for Blue Note and Decca, this side's probably the best-remembered of the bunch – thanks to the presence of Zoot, and support from a great rhythm section that includes Ahmed Abdul-Malik on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums – both of whom match the modern tones of Jutta's piano, but also give a solidly soulful Blue Note feel to the set. The group's completed by trumpeter Jerry Lloyd, who helps bring a nice sparkle to the frontline – and titles include "Just Blues", "Wee Dot", "Almost Like Being In Love", and "Down Home". CD

Another fine outing from Sam Prekop – his second solo album in five years – and well worth the wait! We hardly need to describe the vibe after all these years of swimming the Sea & Cake. Prekop's vocals are as breathy and breezy as ever, and he still pulls it all off in a way that manages to feel warm and austere at the same time. The arrangements are one step jazzier than that last album's – with plenty of room for his great group find a playful groove. Tracks include "Something", "Magic Step", "Dot Eye", "Two Dedications", "Chicago People", "Little Bridges", "A Splendid Hollow", "C+F", "Neighbor To Neighbor", "Density", and "Between Outside". CD

A wonderfully hard-storming set – and a record that not only firmly put the Jazz Messengers on the map, but also set a whole new standard for live jazz recording! The group here is the early version of the Messengers – almost co-led by drummer Art Blakey with pianist Horace Silver – and featuring Clifford Brown on trumpet, just a few months before his early death – plus Lou Donaldson on alto and Curley Russell on bass. The presence of alto instead of tenor makes the sound slightly different than later incarnations of the group – and the overall approach is one that virtually defines the shift from straight bop to hardbop in the 50s – a mode that both Blakey and Silver were key in creating. Tracks include "Wee Dot", "Quicksilver" (alternate), "Now's The Time", and "Confirmation". CD

A definite jackpot for any fan of organ jazz – as contemporary Hammond hero Brian Charette delivers a host of new songs that pay tribute to the keyboard giants of the 60s soul jazz generation! The sound is as lean and clean as some older set by Jack McDuff or Don Patterson – and Charette's got the tenor work of Cory Weeds on hand to provide a nice match to his fluid work on the keys and bass pedal – while Ed Cherry creates all sort of cool and groovy colors on guitar, and Bill Stewart handles the drums! Titles include "Vague Reply", "Tight Connection", "Triple Threat", "Polka Dot Pinup", "Jackpot", "High Ball", and "Upstairs". CD

One of Curtis Fuller's best albums, and a record that's always darn tough to find in the original! Curtis' soulful horn is matched by a tight group that includes Zoot Sims on tenor, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Dave Bailey on drums – who's playing here in tip top form. All tracks have a nice Latinish groove, but the main vibe is straight soul jazz hard bop, with tight changes, and great long drawn-out solos. Titles include "One Note Samba", "Besame Mucho", and "Wee Dot". LP, Vinyl record album

Alive, and plenty lively – one of our favorite albums ever to feature the team of Al Cohn and Zoot Sims – and one that has them really stretching out a lot more than usual! The album's got a format that's quite different than the tightly-reigned sound of Sims and Cohn on other dates – as all the four tracks here run for longer than nine minutes – really allowing lots of room for solo space – and some great interplay between the reedmen too! Phil Woods joins the twin tenors on alto for two tracks – and the rest of the group features Mose Allison on piano, Nabil Totah on bass, and Paul Motian on drums. Titles include "Lover Come Back To Me", "It Had To Be You", and "Wee Dot". CD

Wow, this is SO not the Tortoise that first set the underground aflame in the early 90s – the group has evolved and opened up in ways we never would have expected. With It's All Around You it's emerged with an airy, open, stargazing set of tracks that resemble the languid atmosphere of Tangerine Dream as much as they do early post rock! Gone, for the most part from early Tortoise is that strong, rubbery electric bass groove and tightly thudding live drum sound. It's All Around You retains the bright vibes and sputtering electronics of the TNT album, and the out front, almost rock & roll guitar lines of the Standards album – and adds an ever present, ambient synthesizer bubble of sound to surround the thing. It's all so catchy, too, and almost sunny. If Tortoise hasn't really broken any new ground this time, it's only because they're the ones who broke it in the first place. Tracks include "It's All Around You", The Lithium Shifts", "Crest", "Stretch", "Dot/Eyes", "By Dawn", "Five Too Many" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderfully hard-storming set – and a record that not only firmly put the Jazz Messengers on the map, but also set a whole new standard for live jazz recording! The group here is the early version of the Messengers – almost co-led by drummer Art Blakey with pianist Horace Silver – and featuring Clifford Brown on trumpet, just a few months before his early death – plus Lou Donaldson on alto and Curley Russell on bass. The presence of alto instead of tenor makes the sound slightly different than later incarnations of the group – and the overall approach is one that virtually defines the shift from straight bop to hardbop in the 50s – a mode that both Blakey and Silver were key in creating. Tracks include "Wee-Dot", "Quicksilver", "Confirmation", and the bonus tracks "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Lou's Blues". CD

Satoko Fujii on piano, Briggan Krauss and Oscar Noriega on alto saxophone, Andy Laster on baritone saxophone, Ellery Eskelin and Tony Malaby on tenor saxophone, Curtis Hasselbring, Joe Fiedler, and Joey Sellers on trombone, Dave Ballou, Herb Robertson, and Laurie Frink, Natsuki Tamura, and Steven Bernstein on trumpet, Stomu Takeishi on bass, and Aaron Alexander on drums. CD

A nice range of work from Larry Hall – a singer who's best known as a one-hit wonder, with a small hit at that – but who steps out here with a groovy batch of material that only ever saw release as a string of indie label 45s at the end of the 50s and start of the 60s! Larry's got a great way of dipping and warbling his voice – never too much, but this unique inflection that can make simple lyrics catchier than they might otherwise sound – captured here with backings that mix rock and roll with gentler pop production, a mode that's maybe like some of the Cadence or Dot Records material of the period. Titles include Larry's hit "Sandy" – plus "Kool Luv", "The Stranger", "Rebel Heart", "Lips Of Wine", "Ladder Of Love", "I Didn't Ask To Be Born", "I'll Stay Single", "For Every Boy", "A Girl Like You", "Lovin Tree", and "I Sit Alone". CD

Dreamy pop from Dotti Holmberg – Curt Bottecher's partner in the GoldeBriars vocal group, working here on her own, with a number of tracks produced by Curt himself! The set's got a definite California sunshine pop sound to it – sweet arrangements mixed with Dotti's great vocals – and as the tracks progress across the collection, things get a bit darker, as Dotti takes over more of the writing and production on her own, mixing in some rootsy elements with really wonderful effects. Most of the material got top-shelf production in the Columbia studios, handled by Bottecher or Holmberg – and this expanded version of the original set features a number of rare demo tracks too. Titles include "Let You Know", "Sea Of Tears", "Foolish Times", "I Sing My Song", "The Essence", "Love Is", and "It's Not Worth It At All". LP, Vinyl record album

Les Petroleuses has a nice variety of sounds – some of the slinky, sexy, Euro-styled numbers you'd expect from Lai in the early 70s, and from a film starring Brigitte Bardot – mixed with other tracks that seem to foreground a version of the old west that's a bit playful – using barrelhouse piano or guitar to set a mood in time and place. There's a few vocal numbers – "La Ballade De Frenchie King" sung by Little Sammy Gaha, "La Vie Parisienne" sung by Micheline Presle, and "Prairie Woman" by Claudia Cardinale – and other tunes include "Merry Making", "Seduction", "Piano Saloon", "L'Attaque Du Train", "Le Noel Des Sarrazin", and "Bougival Junction". LP, Vinyl record album

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An incredible collaboration between Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot – one of Serge's first duet albums ever – and a gem all the way through! In the year before he cut "Je T'aime Moi Non Plus" with Jane Birkin, Serge recorded this great album with Brigitte Bardot in which he worked out many of the same ideas. The album is probably best known for the track "Bonnie & Clyde" – which has been sampled to great fame over the years – but there's loads of other great tracks on here, with a mix of styles that joins Serge's jazzy years with his softcore 70s work – very cool, very groovy, and years ahead of its time. Some tracks are duets, and some are sung individually by Serge or Brigitte, but they're all great, and titles include "Intoxicated Man", "L'eau A La Bouche", "Un Jour Comme Un Autre", "Comic Strip", and more! Arrangements by Alain Gourager, Michel Colombier, and Claude Bolling – and the cover's got a great shot of Serge & BB as Bonnie & Clyde! LP, Vinyl record album

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Dreamy pop from Dotti Holmberg – Curt Bottecher's partner in the GoldeBriars vocal group, working here on her own, with a number of tracks produced by Curt himself! The set's got a definite California sunshine pop sound to it – sweet arrangements mixed with Dotti's great vocals – and as the tracks progress across the collection, things get a bit darker, as Dotti takes over more of the writing and production on her own, mixing in some rootsy elements with really wonderful effects. Most of the material got top-shelf production in the Columbia studios, handled by Bottecher or Holmberg – and this expanded version of the original set features a number of rare demo tracks too. Titles include "Let You Know", "Sea Of Tears", "Foolish Times", "I Sing My Song", "The Essence", "Love Is", and "It's Not Worth It At All". CD

Includes music from the Living End, Changing Times, and previously unreleased live tracks from the 13th Floor Elevators. CD

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A very hip set from Bill Evans' second trio – the legendary lineup that featured Chuck Israels on bass and Paul Motian on drums! Both players bring Evans' sound to an even greater level of spaciousness – allowing for lyrical interplay that's completely amazing, and even furthers the promise of genius made by Bill on his first few albums – a bold step forward that really makes this album one of Evans' standout sets of the early 60s! Titles include an early reading of Evans' wonderful tune "Re: Person I Knew", plus "Very Early", "In Love In Vain", "Stairway To The Stars", "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "If You Could See Me Now", "It Might As Well Be Spring", and "Polka Dots & Moonbeams". LP, Vinyl record album

There's plenty to love in the music of Jaspects – a groove that's fresh, instrumentation that's real, and a solid, soulful sound all the way through! The group have a wonderful way of mixing jazz with heavier rhythms – a dose of hip hop production, yet never in ways that kill the instrumental sensitivity of the group, nor the warmer soul of their lyrics. Keyboards figure heavily on most numbers – bumping along with the beats, but always keeping things cool – and there's kind of a slow-bubbling groove to the record that makes for a real change from other sets of this nature. Things are somewhat more cosmic than before, yet never too spacey – and the set marks a great leap forward for the group, who should hopefully reach a big new audience with this release. Titles include "1963", "Polkadotted Stripes", "Play On", "Like A Drum", "Be Your Man", "Find My Way To Love", "Fallin", "2012", "Chuck Jones", and "Liquid Sounds". CD

An obscure set, issued on Ismael Miranda's own label – with arrangements by Luis Garcia, and titles that include "Mi Trullita", "Jesus De Pinones", "Por La Ventanita", "Irineo", "Un Asalto Alla En La Guancha", "Cantaleta Navidena", and "Los Ninos De Mi Pais". LP, Vinyl record album

A really great blend of two different sides of the genius Roscoe Mitchell – his ear for composition, and his strong legacy of solo performance too! The "Pieces" in the title of the set might make you think that Roscoe is delivering one of his ensemble creations from more recent years – but the performance on the record is very much a step back to his early work on the late 60s and 70s – those moments when Mitchell was often at his best exploring sonic space on his own – as he does here on a variety of woodwind and percussion instruments, used in varying ways throughout the recording! Titles include "Glide & Run", "Skip", "Hey", "Light Green", "Vast Horizons", "Let's Go There", "Moving Bell", "Click", and "Now The Color Blue". CD

A really great blend of two different sides of the genius Roscoe Mitchell – his ear for composition, and his strong legacy of solo performance too! The "Pieces" in the title of the set might make you think that Roscoe is delivering one of his ensemble creations from more recent years – but the performance on the record is very much a step back to his early work on the late 60s and 70s – those moments when Mitchell was often at his best exploring sonic space on his own – as he does here on a variety of woodwind and percussion instruments, used in varying ways throughout the recording! Titles include "Glide & Run", "Skip", "Hey", "Light Green", "Vast Horizons", "Let's Go There", "Moving Bell", "Click", and "Now The Color Blue". LP, Vinyl record album

JoVia Armstrong on percussion, Leslie DeShazor on violin, Jeff Parker on guitar, Amr Fahmy on piano, Isaiah Sharkey on bass, and Yaw Agyeman and Teh'Ray Hale on vocals – plus special guest Nicole Mitchell on flute! CD

A great presentation of the soundtrack to Roger Vadim's classic film And God Created Woman (Et Dieu Crea La Femme) – one that features spoken narration from Brigitte Bardot, plus the full instrumental soundtrack by Paul Misraki! The album features Misraki's music with Bardot's narration – working almost as an audio portrait of the film, with Brigitte sounding super sexy when she speaks – and Misraki couching her voice amidst swelling strings and larger orchestrations! The album's got an extremely visual feel – almost like a mini-movie you can put on your turntable. LP, Vinyl record album

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Basie and Basie-ites – recorded at Newport in 1957, in a number of varying groupings with players that include Lester Young, Thad Jones, Frank Wess, Joe Newman, and Frank Foster. Jimmy Rushing sings vocals on the track "Sent For You Yesterday & Here You Come Today" – and other tracks include "Lester Leaps In", "Swingin At Newport", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", and "Evenin". Contains 5 bonus tracks: "All Right, Okay, You Win", "The Comeback", "Roll 'Em Pete", "Smack Dab In The Middle" & "One O' Clock In The Morning". CD

One of the greatest albums of material by William S Burroughs – and one of the few to really show his groundbreaking tape techniques! The album compiles a wealth of archival recordings – including obscure performances and experiments from the 60s, as well as Burroughs' own readings on his techniques and theories. The strongest value of the set is that it really gets past the "dottering old man rambling about the world" style of so many other Burroughs records – and gets at his truly revolutionary ideas about sound and language. An essential addition to any collection of sound art – with tracks that include "The Origin & Theory Of Tape Cut Ups", "Recalling All Active Agents", "Working With The Popular Forces", "Silver Smoke Of Dreams", "Junky Relations", "Interview With Mr Martin", "Joujouka", and "Sound Piece". CD