... LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Don't Blame Me", "Dark Eyes", "Tut Strut", "Anitra's Dance", "Song Of India", "La Cucaracha" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A really wonderful collection of work from the legendary Ruth Brown – one of the strongest female singers of the 50s R&B generation, and an undeniable influence on 60s rock and soul! The package brings together loads of gems from Ruth's years on Atlantic Records – a really well-chosen track list that focuses on the kind of upbeat, storming numbers that Ruth did so well – and which really demonstrate why her approach was so different than the blues and jazz singers of the generation before! The vocals are a strong precursor for deep soul modes to come, but always have a powerful presence that maybe makes Brown an early feminist too – as you'll hear on titles that include "Smooth Operator", "Jim Dandy", "Mambo Baby", "Lucky Lips", "This Little Girl's Gone Rockin", "As Long As I'm Moving", "I Can't Hear A Word You Say", "I Don't Know", "I Gotta Have You", "I'm Just A Lucky So & So", "Papa Daddy", "I Want To Do More", and live cuts that include "Teardrops From My Eyes", "Tears Come Tumbling Down", and "Oh What A Dream". 31 tracks in all – and a great set of notes. CD

Tenorist Ellery Eskelin really sounds great here – carving out these soulful, angular lines in the kind of format that seems to make him shine the most – a trio, with Christian Weber on bass and Michael Grenier on drums! Some of the tunes are of older origin, which brings out some roots in the players we might not expect – while others are originals composed by the three, and presented in a style that mixes the modern and traditional in a very captivating way. Titles include "Magnetic Rag", "ABC", "Black Drop", "Jive At Five", "The Pearls", "La Fee Verte", "Ru Jardiniere", and "Il Gatto". CD

The first Reprise album from Pearls Before Swine – a bit more straight ahead and folksy than their work for ESP – but in a really great way, one that lets you hear the best of Tom Rapp's amazing songs and vocals! The album follows in a tradition that includes Tim Buckley, Tim Hardin, Leonard Cohen, and Fred Neil – but it's also got a really unique style that's the unique province of Tom Rapp – the main force behind the group, and the voice on all of the tunes. Rapp's vision was quite unique for the time – not nearly as revolutionary or personally preoccupied – more sad at the fading world, and granted with a unique ability to paint any subject in shades of blue. Titles include "Wizard Of Is", "Frog In The Window", "Footnote", "Look Into Her Eyes", "These Things Too", and "Mon Amour". LP, Vinyl record album

You may know Dinah Washington as a jazz singer – but at her start, she was also a hell of an R&B vocalist too – a side of her talents that's focused on very strongly in this set! If you love the jazz side of Dinah, don't worry – there's plenty of that here too – but the package also brings together some of the more upbeat, jumping numbers that Washington recorded in the late 40s and throughout the 50s – definitely the sort of material that made her a key figure in the pre-soul years, and which also helped break down a lot of cultural barriers too! The package is done in the same beautiful way as other Bear Family titles in this series – deep notes, lots of vintage images, and a set list of 29 titles that includes "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby", "New Blowtop Blues", "Bad Lucky", "Honky Tonky", "Baby You've Got What It Takes", "Early Every Morning", "Come On Home", "TV Is The Thing", "Such A Night", "Relax Max", "Lingering", "Mean & Evil Blues", and "Ask A Woman Who Knows". CD

A 2CD overview of work from the years of Guinea's cultural revolution – a time when the government sought to unify and direct the newly independent nation through a host of regional and national musical programs! Although potentially domineering, the rare effort was actually somewhat liberating – and allowed Guinean musicians to hit a whole new level of expression during this time – modes that weren't necessarily bound towards commercial aims, and which are filled with sophisticated rhythms, melodies, and horn passages that go far beyond some of their African contemporaries. There's many echoes of jazz amidst the tunes – and in a way, some of these numbers remind us of the more free-thinking moments in work by artists like Mulatu or Salah Ragab – especially in the way the horns interact. 2CD set features notes in both English and French – and a total of 25 tracks that include "Sassilon" by Horoya Band, "Armee Guineenne" by Bembeya Jazz National, "Tam Tam Sax" by Momo Wandel, "Bele Bele" by Kade Diawara, "Koulandian" by Ensemble Instrumental De Guinee, "Kadia Blues" by Ochestre De La Paillote, "Diere Lele" by Bah Sadio, "N'Fa" by Virtuoses Diabate, "Massani Cisse" by Quintete Sextete, and "Andree" by Sily Authentic. CD

A second turn in the Movements series on the Perfect Toy label – some of the most blazingly funky 45s you'll hear – put together by the Tobias Kirmayer of Tramp Records! Once again we're floored by how great all of this stuff sounds – some of the deepest, tightest funk material we've ever heard – with snapping drums, perfectly timed horn blasts – and some hard psychedelic soul touches of organ and wailing vocals – while never falling short of unfailingly funky! 15 great tracks: "If It Feels Good" by Phil Flowers, "There's A Wrinkle In Our Time" by 1984, "Don't Chain My Soul" by Carlton Basco, "My Mind Set Me Free Pt 1" by House Guests, "Now Is The Time" by Sisters Love, "Southern Fried Chicken Pts 1 & 2" by Bill Thomas & The Fendells, "Warm Daddy's Choice" by River Front Band, "Bring Out Yourself" by Emperors Soul 69, "Bahama Soul Stew" by Funky Nassau, "Motherless Child" by Harmonica Paul, "Arabian Funk" by Ray Anthony and more! CD

One of the greatest albums ever from the Globe Unity Orchestra – and that's saying a heck of a lot, given the quality of the group's work in the 70s! The ensemble were key in helping to develop the concept of an improvising orchestra – not the older model of a group where the players might get some short solo space – but a setting of many musicians, all improvising together as they make their way through loose compositional ideas – really opening new doors in music along the way! The remarkable thing here is that the lineup is all heavy hitters, but they all find space to respect and encourage each other as they create on the spot – a large lineup that includes Enrico Rava, Manfred Schoof, and Kenny Wheeler on trumpets; Anthony Braxton, Peter Brotzmann, Ruiger Carl, Evan Parker, Michel Pilz, and Gerd Dudek on reeds; Albert Mangelsdorff, Paul Rutherford, and Gunter Christmann on trombones; Alexander Von Schlippenbach on piano; Peter Kowald and Buschi Niebergall on basses; and Paul Lovens on drums. Titles include the side-long "Every Single One Of Us Is A Pearl" – with more than enough space to allow individual musical expression, and really live up to its title – plus a version of Monk's "Ruby My Dear", with arrangements by Schlippenbach, and the tracks "Kunstmusik II" and "The Onliest The Loneliest". LP, Vinyl record album

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Wartime recordings from Glenn Miller and the Band Of The Army Air Forces Training Command. Tracks include "There Are Yanks", "Take It Easy", "Blue Hawaii", "Guns In The Sky", "Speak Low", "Goin' Home", "Now I Know", "Snafu Jump", "Oh What A Beautiful Morning", and "Pearls On Velvet". CD

Excellent work from Oscar Pettiford – his last sessions, in case you couldn't tell by the title, recorded in Copenhagen in 1959 and 1960, with players that include Allan Botchinsky on trumpet, Jan Johansson on piano, Erik Nordstrom on tenor, and Luis Hjulmand on vibes. Despite the introduction of European ringers to the set, and despite the posthumous collection of sessions, the album's actually one of Pettiford's strongest, and certainly one of the best to show his ever-growing commitment as a modernist during the 50s. The album includes loads of original tunes – including "Blue Brothers", "Two Little Pearls", "Laverne Walk", "Why Not? That's What!", and "My Little Cello". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest classics from the glory days of the Italian soundtrack scene – a set that perfectly brings together all the funky, jazz, and mod-styled touches of the great Piero Piccioni – on a record that's maybe had more life over the years than the film did on the screen! The mix of instruments here is completely sublime – with some especially wonderful use of Hammond, but with very offbeat sounds – next to flute, warmer woodwinds, and some wicked basslines that hit the hippest sort of funk soundtrack modes. The recording quality is amazing, too – with unusual isolation and shading used on the instruments, to further make the sound magic – and titles include "Funky Lovers", "Pearls", "Slow Flute Beat", "Charms", "Brasil 2000", "Tears In Brasil", "Camille 2000", and "Tears In Rome". One of our all-time favorites – with 28 tracks in all, including some great alternate takes! CD

Wonderful live work from Prince – the only official concert album ever issued by the man during his life, and a great testament to the way that his genius kept on burning bright on stage – even when he wasn't always knocking it out of the park in the studio! There's a fair bit of material here from later years, but also some classics mixed into the set – and the work often emphasizes the jazzier side of Prince's style – partly through his evolved musicianship, but also in the way the tunes come together with an even more sophisticated vibe than the early years. Titles include "Rainbow Children", "Muse 2 The Pharoah", "Extraordinary", "One Nite Alone", "Wanna B Ur Lover", "Do Me Baby", "Diamonds & Pearls", "When U Were Mine", "Mellow", "1+1+1 Is 3", "Nothing Compares 2 U", and "Sometimes It Snows In April". CD

A dream of a record from Prince – up-close, intimate, and just the voice and piano promised in the title! As you'd guess from the setting, the record presents the mellower side of the man's mighty talents – but the whole thing is no less soulful than any of his previous records – and in fact maybe is even more so in the way that Prince lays down his vocals, with all these amazing inflections, long reaches, and very personal qualities throughout! Titles include "Pearls B4 The Swine", "Have A Heart", "Here On Earth", "One Nite Alone", "U're Gonna C Me", "Young & Beautiful", "Avalanche", "Objects In The Mirror", and "Arboretum". LP, Vinyl record album

Post Pearls Before Swine work from Tom Rapp – a record that has him stepping out as a solo act, but with a feel that's quite similar to his recordings with the group! The mood here is laidback and slightly folksy – but also augmented more by piano than by guitar, and recorded with a watery style that works wonderfully with Rapp's sad-tinged vocals. A number of the songs appear to be remakes of versions from earlier years – and titles include "Snow Queen", "The Jeweler", "Rocket Man", "Sail Away", "Full Phantom Five & I Shall Not Care", "These Things Too", and "Grace Street". LP, Vinyl record album

An overdue look at the lost Lamp Records – a crucially important indie soul label on the Indy scene of the late 60s and early 70s – a company that was never as big as Chess or Motown, but did a similar job of documenting its city's musical scene! Indianapolis was always a very diverse city – and gave the world bigger funk and jazz luminaries like Wes Montgomery or Funk Inc – but like most cities of its size, Indy also sported a rich underground of great singers and bands who were really trying to make it big – all really great artists who were captured in deep detail by the Lamp Records label! Now Again/Stones Throw have given us a slight look at this scene in the past – most notably with their reissues of work by Ebony Rhythm Band – but this is the first really detailed dig into the label, with a huge amount of material that's only ever circulated on very rare original pressings. The work is a great mix of group soul, funky cuts, sweet harmony, and even a bit of gospel – and titles on this 2LP set include "Somebody Please" by The Vanguards, "You Made My Everything" by Words Of Wisdom Truth Revue, "Hum Bug" by Diplomatics, "I Didn't Know" by Funder Cooper, "Go To Work" by Revolution Compared To What, "Everybody Who Wants To Be Free" by Amnesty, "Can I Call You Baby" by The Pearls, "Take Me" by Fabulous Souls, "High On The Hill" by Squidd, "Soul Heart Transplant" by Ebony Rhythm Band, "See The Lord" by Mighty Indiana Travelers, "Huh" by Tony Black & Revolution Compared To What, "I'm Only Human" by Embers, "It Swells My Desire" by The PHDs, and "More Than I Can Stand" by Moonlighters. LP, Vinyl record album

Sade's last LP from the early 90s before she went into her brief recording and performing hiatus. Like the preceding records, the approach is heavy on the jazz side of things, with a crisp, spare touch on the production and a wonderfully soulful feel to the songwriting. At this point she no longer had to work to break into the charts, but that didn't stop her and her band from coming up with a great batch of material that managed to be easily accessible without losing any of the sublime grace that set her apart. Includes "No Ordinary Love", "Cherish The Day", "Feel No Pain", "I Couldn't Love You More", "Like A Tattoo", "Kiss Of Life", "Pearls", "Bullet Proof Soul" and "Mermaid". CD

Maybe the straightest jazz set we've heard to date from Kandace Springs – a record that's got a great old school vibe overall, and the sorts of moody, dark-tinged qualities that takes us back to vintage material by Abbey Lincoln or Nina Simone – something we might not have said about Kandace on previous albums! Springs plays piano, and mostly keeps things in a tight combo mode – with her vocals in the lead, but with occasional guest help from artists who include Chris Potter on tenor, Avishai Cohen on trumpet, David Sanborn on alto, Christian McBride on bass, and Norah Jones on piano and vocals – on tunes penned by artists as diverse as Bob Dorough, Hoagy Carmichael, Lauryn Hill, and Sade. Titles include "Devil May Care", "The Nearness Of You", "Strange Fruit", "Killing Me Softly", "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life", "Ex-Factor", "Pearls", "I Put A Spell On You", and "Gentle Rain". CD

A nice batch of pop soul on Liberty from Timi Yuro – an underappreciated vocalist who walked that fine line between uptown soul and pop vocals! Like so many Liberty recordings of the era, the arrangements are big and polished, courtesty of Bert Keyes. The backing vocals are just as sparking, provided the Johnnny Mann singers and the Gospel Pearls. Includes the title cut, plus "For Your Love", "The Right Time", "That's Right, Walk On By", and "I Waited Too Long". Fragile little girl stuff, with more soul than you'd expect! LP, Vinyl record album