Proof that the US Army had plenty going on during the 70s – as you'll hear from this killer set of military-produced grooves from East Of Underground! The set goes way past the previous East Of Underground reissue – to feature work by the groups Soap, Black Seeds, and Sound Trek – all wrapped up in a beautiful package that's as visually pleasing as the music is funky! The cuts here were all recorded by US Army servicemen during the height of the Vietnam war – as Army-issued albums designed to encourage recruitment (as if a few funky grooves could help offset the bad press the war was getting on TV!) But despite that odd origin, the music here is all pretty great – mostly covers of familiar tunes from the time, but recorded with a nicely gritty quality that's mighty nice – and which makes the overall feel of the records like digging into some lost small studio tapes – ala Numero! Now Again have done a great job of putting together the whole package, too – contributing a wealth of notes and photos, and really digging deep into the scene in which these unique records were created. Not only that, but the packaging also replicates the style of the original odd releases too! The set features a CD each of music by East Of Underground and Soap – plus another CD that brings together an unusual double LP by the groups Black Seeds and Sound Trek. Titles include "I Just Want To Celebrate", "Kool & The Gang", "Walking In The Rain", "Backstabbers", "I Love Everything About You", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Go Outside In The Rain", "Black Magic Woman", "Hell Below", "Higher", "Popcorn/Santana", "Walk On By", "Java Girl", and "Get Together". CD

Proof that the US Army had plenty going on during the 70s – as you'll hear from this killer set of military-produced grooves from East Of Underground! The set goes way past the previous East Of Underground reissue – to feature work by the groups Soap, Black Seeds, and Sound Trek – all wrapped up in a beautiful package that's as visually pleasing as the music is funky! The cuts here were all recorded by US Army servicemen during the height of the Vietnam war – as Army-issued albums designed to encourage recruitment (as if a few funky grooves could help offset the bad press the war was getting on TV!) But despite that odd origin, the music here is all pretty great – mostly covers of familiar tunes from the time, but recorded with a nicely gritty quality that's mighty nice – and which makes the overall feel of the records like digging into some lost small studio tapes – ala Numero! Now Again have done a great job of putting together the whole package, too – contributing a wealth of notes and photos, and really digging deep into the scene in which these unique records were created. Not only that, but the packaging also replicates the style of the original odd releases too! The set features a CD each of music by East Of Underground and Soap – plus another CD that brings together an unusual double LP by the groups Black Seeds and Sound Trek. Titles include "I Just Want To Celebrate", "Kool & The Gang", "Walking In The Rain", "Backstabbers", "I Love Everything About You", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Go Outside In The Rain", "Black Magic Woman", "Hell Below", "Higher", "Popcorn/Santana", "Walk On By", "Java Girl", and "Get Together". CD

Featuring Cam'ron. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A dream of a record from the LA spiritual underground of the 70s – and one of the only records we've ever seen from reedman Gary Bias! The date's got a soulful depth that makes it one of the most compelling albums on the legendary Nimbus label – a rhythmic pulse that's often modal, and a sense of spiritualism in the solos that often has Gary stretching out strongly on alto, soprano sax, or flute – yet always with an inherent focus, and strong sense of direction! Other players are equally great too – David Tillman on piano, Rickey Kelly on vibes, Roberto Miranda and John Heard on bass, and Fritz Wise on drums – and the tunes are wonderful original numbers that mark Bias as an extremely strong voice in jazz – one that should have gotten better exposure over the years. The album's got a great Strata East sort of vibe – and titles include "As Children Play", "East 101", "Asiki", "Arthur's Vamp", and "Dear Violet". CD

A dream of a record from the LA spiritual underground of the 70s – and one of the only records we've ever seen from reedman Gary Bias! The date's got a soulful depth that makes it one of the most compelling albums on the legendary Nimbus label – a rhythmic pulse that's often modal, and a sense of spiritualism in the solos that often has Gary stretching out strongly on alto, soprano sax, or flute – yet always with an inherent focus, and strong sense of direction! Other players are equally great too – David Tillman on piano, Rickey Kelly on vibes, Roberto Miranda and John Heard on bass, and Fritz Wise on drums – and the tunes are wonderful original numbers that mark Bias as an extremely strong voice in jazz – one that should have gotten better exposure over the years. The album's got a great Strata East sort of vibe – and titles include "As Children Play", "East 101", "Asiki", "Arthur's Vamp", and "Dear Violet". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic work from the legendary P&P Records label – created by one of the "P" talents who gave them their name – studio genius Patrick Adams, who mostly works here on his own under the name of Cloud One! Adams already had great success working with east coast soul groups in the first half of the 70s – and as Cloud One, he really finds his way around the more cutting-edge styles of the time – mixing bits of funk with bits of disco, and often adding in these cool electronic elements that really helped define the P&P sound! Many cuts have cool moogy keyboards, and some spacey elements along the edges – done with a lot more soul than some of the Euro space disco recordings of the same time – with much more of a tie to the New York underground that was Adams' main milieu. Titles include the classics "Spaced Out" and "Atmosphere Strut" – plus "Jump Jump Jump", "Stomp Your Feet & Dance", "Disco Juice", "Don't Let My Rainbow Pass Me By", "Patty Duke", "Happy Music", "Doin It All Night", and "Flyin High". CD

An extremely righteous bit of soul jazz – originally issued in a very small pressing by Folkway Records, at a time when the label was doing some great underground recordings! The sound is loose and free – spiritually building in a manner that recalls the work of Ahmed Abdul Malik, Phil Cohran, and some of the AACM – and the album has a style that's exploratory, but never goes too far out, or loses its sense of rhythm and swing. Tracks are longish, and the core group features soprano sax and Korean reeds by Bilal Abdurahman and vibes by Ameen Nuraldeen – plus guest work on bass by James Smith, and appearances by a lot of different world percussion players. There's a nice Eastern feel to some of the tracks, and titles include "Mevlana", "Ti Ti", "Sun Flower", and "Bent El Jerusalem". CD

Great early work from Yusef Lateef – one of his key early albums for the Savoy label – all of which are pivotal albums in an early spiritual jazz tradition, and are as noteworthy for mixing instrumentation and styles as are later recordings on labels like Tribe and Strata East! Yusef's playing here with a core of players from the Detroit jazz underground – Oliver Jackson, Hugh Lawson, and Ernie Farrow – and the album features the added presence of Wilbur Hardin on fleugelhorn. The tracks are long, with a spiritual groove, even when the band is playing standards. Titles include "Prayer To The East", "Love Dance", "Endura", and "Night In Tunisia". CD

One of a few large group sessions recorded by Charles Tolliver during his years on Strata East – and an amazingly spiritual effort that really brings together the best strands of sounds running through the underground at the time! The format's a bit similar to Tolliver's previous Music Inc big band album for Strata, released 5 years before – with lots of strong lead action from Charles on trumpet, and Stanley Cowell on piano. But this time around, the larger group seems to be more fully integrated into the tunes – there not just to support the soloists, but to rise up with a full, proud sense of majesty that's really amazing. Other players include Cecil McBee and Reggie Workman on basses, Billy Parker and Warren Smith on percussion, Jon Faddis and Jimmy Owens on trumpets, John Gordon and Garnet Brown on trombones, and Charles McPherson, George Coleman, Harold Vick, and Charles Davis on saxes! Titles include great versions of the Tolliver classics "Plight" and "Impact" – plus "Mother Wit", "Lynnsome", and "Grand Max". LP, Vinyl record album

One of a few large group sessions recorded by Charles Tolliver during his years on Strata East – and an amazingly spiritual effort that really brings together the best strands of sounds running through the underground at the time! The format's a bit similar to Tolliver's previous Music Inc big band album for Strata, released 5 years before – with lots of strong lead action from Charles on trumpet, and Stanley Cowell on piano. But this time around, the larger group seems to be more fully integrated into the tunes – there not just to support the soloists, but to rise up with a full, proud sense of majesty that's really amazing. Other players include Cecil McBee and Reggie Workman on basses, Billy Parker and Warren Smith on percussion, Jon Faddis and Jimmy Owens on trumpets, John Gordon and Garnet Brown on trombones, and Charles McPherson, George Coleman, Harold Vick, and Charles Davis on saxes! Titles include great versions of the Tolliver classics "Plight" and "Impact" – plus "Mother Wit", "Lynnsome", and "Grand Max". LP, Vinyl record album

We have never been sure if this comp was to be derided for not including some more interesting punk bands from the lower east side, or if all the really great ones already had contracts with other labels anyway. Besides, now that the venerable punk landmark is long gone, this early document provides an interesting perspective on a remarkable time. The music here runs the gamut from seminal new wave, to pretty dumb bar rock, but there's more than a few nuggets of great 70s guitar swagger too. 8 groups in all, with 16 tracks, including "Head Over Heels", "Slash" and "All For The Love Of Rock And Roll" by the Tuff Darts, "Operetico", "AVM" and "Poe" by the Shirts, "Cadillac Moon", "Change It Comes" and "Let Me Dream If I Want To" by Mink Deville, "Over, Under, Sideways, Down" and "I'm Rellay Not this Way" by Manster, "We Deliver" by the Miamis, "I Need A Million" and "It Feels Alright Tonight" by the Laughing Dogs, "Romance" by Sun, and "Everybody's Depraved" by Stuart's Hammer. CD

Classic work from the legendary P&P Records label – created by one of the "P" talents who gave them their name – studio genius Patrick Adams, who mostly works here on his own under the name of Cloud One! Adams already had great success working with east coast soul groups in the first half of the 70s – and as Cloud One, he really finds his way around the more cutting-edge styles of the time – mixing bits of funk with bits of disco, and often adding in these cool electronic elements that really helped define the P&P sound! Many cuts have cool moogy keyboards, and some spacey elements along the edges – done with a lot more soul than some of the Euro space disco recordings of the same time – with much more of a tie to the New York underground that was Adams' main milieu. Titles include the classics "Spaced Out" and "Atmosphere Strut" – plus "Jump Jump Jump", "Stomp Your Feet & Dance", "Disco Juice", "Don't Let My Rainbow Pass Me By", "Patty Duke", "Happy Music", "Doin It All Night", and "Flyin High". LP, Vinyl record album

An extremely righteous bit of soul jazz – originally issued in a very small pressing by Folkway Records, at a time when the label was doing some great underground recordings! The sound is loose and free – spiritually building in a manner that recalls the work of Ahmed Abdul Malik, Phil Cohran, and some of the AACM – and the album has a style that's exploratory, but never goes too far out, or loses its sense of rhythm and swing. Tracks are longish, and the core group features soprano sax and Korean reeds by Bilal Abdurahman and vibes by Ameen Nuraldeen – plus guest work on bass by James Smith, and appearances by a lot of different world percussion players. There's a nice Eastern feel to some of the tracks, and titles include "Mevlana", "Ti Ti", "Sun Flower", and "Bent El Jerusalem". CD

An amazing album that has Art Blakey completely reinventing himself for the 70s! Blakey shifts from straight hardbop to kind of a modal soul jazz groove, touched with some of the electric playing of the younger jazz generation, but not enough to qualify as fusion or funk. Instead, he's working with some great younger players – like Carter Jefferson, Woody Shaw, and Michael Howell – hitting a groove that reminds us of some of the best underground soul jazz on labels like Muse or Strata East. Includes the amazing long groovers "Mission Eternal" and "Chant For Bu", a famous Tribe Called Quest sample – plus new electric piano versions of "Moanin" and "Along Came Betty", both of which feature vocals by Jon Hendricks. LP, Vinyl record album

Three never-issued albums from Brother Ah – the enigmatic musician who may be known best for his work with Sun Ra, and his rare album on Strata East! Both of those moments date from earlier years, though – and past that time, Brother Ah was still working strongly on some amazing musical ideas of his own – work that includes the three albums presented in this package, which together really mark a shift for both Ah and some of his spiritual jazz contemporaries as the 70s moved on! The set begins with the beautiful set The Sea – recorded in 1978, with a long-flowing sound that's quite hypnotic, and very much in the spiritual territory of post-Coltrane material – including work by Trane's wife Alice. Brother Ah plays flute, in these fantastic lines that spin out slowly and echo strongly – amidst a mix of percussion, violin, mbira, bass, and drums – often used in ways that build beautifully, and which provide a great introduction to both the sung and spoken passages – presented by Abena Walker, Jeanean Gibbs, and Nataska Hassan Youssef. Titles include "Nuba", "Far Away", "The Village Drum", "Visoins", and "Africa We Are Your Children". Meditation is from a few years later, and has a different makeup – a sound that's much more spare overall, and which just features Brother Ah on flute, zither, and "nature sounds" – with help from Cleo Jomo Faulks on mbira and gong! The tunes have an earthier feel than you might guess from the album's title – still somewhat meditative, but also more open to the vibes of nature than the space of the studio – with moments that feel more more like the organic sounds of the young Moondog, or maybe some of Alice Coltrane's more home-made moments. Titles include "Stillness", "Spirit World", "Close Your Eyes & See", and "Song Of The Unseen". Last up is Searching – a record from 1985 that maybe moves the spiritual agenda from the political to the personal – that shift towards more interior solutions that some musicians took in the 80s, especially as funding for some kinds of spiritual jazz albums fell by the wayside, and some artists had to adapt to the new age underground. Yet although that shift might be in place here, Brother Ah is still as righteous as ever – just equipped with a slightly different voice – as he works alongside some electronics and percussion from Richard Ashman, and blows trumpet and a variety of flutes, while also handling percussion and harmonica in very spacious ways. The record is more about extended sound textures than individual instrumentation – and titles include "I Am", "Going Within", "Inner Voice", and "Know Thyself". First time release for all three records – presented in a really great package! CD

The first full and official album from Peven Everett – a professional release that pulls together the strands from his underground, self-released albums of the past few years! After knocking around as a young up and comer on the east coast scene, Peven went underground in Chicago a while back, and only issued titles in handmade format, on CD-R releases with little or no artwork. This album's the first one that he's issued with professional packaging, formatting, and recording quality – and it's the culmination of a number of years of woodshedding in the studio. The set's great – and builds off of tracks that Peven recorded for his previous self-issued Speed Of Light CD, plus new tracks – all produced and presented to perfection, in a setting that's sure to rise Peven's star as much as we've been hoping. The whole thing's wonderful – smooth, soulful, and classic – in a mode that we haven't heard since D'Angelo or Omar first came onto the scene. Titles include "World Love", "Everyday Girl", "They So Cold", "I Can Give It", "Sankofa", "Say It Back", and "I Wanna Make Love". CD

The first full and official album from Peven Everett – a professional release that pulls together the strands from his underground, self-released albums of the past few years! After knocking around as a young up and comer on the east coast scene, Peven went underground in Chicago a while back, and only issued titles in handmade format, on CD-R releases with little or no artwork. This album's the first one that he's issued with professional packaging, formatting, and recording quality – and it's the culmination of a number of years of woodshedding in the studio. The set's great – and builds off of tracks that Peven recorded for his previous self-issued Speed Of Light CD, plus new tracks – all produced and presented to perfection, in a setting that's sure to rise Peven's star as much as we've been hoping. The whole thing's wonderful – smooth, soulful, and classic – in a mode that we haven't heard since D'Angelo or Omar first came onto the scene. Titles include "World Love", "Everyday Girl", "They So Cold", "I Can Give It", "Sankofa", "Say It Back", and "I Wanna Make Love". CD

Mindblowing work from an artist we totally totally love – a really unique British singer and guitarist, and one who can effortlessly channel together so many different strands of music, and make them all come together like nobody else at all! Davy Graham draws here from Indian music, American blues, and even some up and coming styles in the folk underground – but the sound here is completely his own, and has a vibe that's as unique, and groundbreaking as some of the better-known British acoustic talents of his generation! Tremendous work throughout – on titles that include "Sunshine Raga", "Both Sides Now", "Electric Chair", "Blue Raga", "Beautiful City", "Tristano", "Bad Boy Blues", and "Bruton Town". LP, Vinyl record album

An underground set from early 70s Stax Records – the only set cut back in the day by Ernie Hines – a really great singer who works here with a blend of southern soul and sweet harmony modes! The album's got a pretty laidback vibe, which is great – almost in the same space as The Temprees, with an undercurrent of super-dope arrangements, and Ernie's lead vocals right up front in the mix! There's a bit of strings on the set, and most tracks have some sort of harmony support behind Hines' lead – a vibe that's a bit different, and maybe almost more east coast than the usual Stax set. Arrangements are by Wardell Quezquerque, Dale Warren, Lester Snell, and Tom Nixon – and both The Bar Kays and The MGs play on the record. Titles include the sample classic "Our Generation" – plus "Electrified Love", "Sugar Plum", "Change Is Gonna Come", "Your Love (Is All I Need)", and "Come On Y'All". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic set from 70s South Africa – and a record that maybe has a lot more of an American funk vibe than you'd expect! The style is nice and lean, and is often in a mode that echoes some of the cooler underground disco of the late 70s on the east coast – almost as if these cuts could have come from one of the P&P family of labels, instead of South Africa's big Gallo imprint – save for some especially nice moments that almost recall the early 70s electric funk of Hugh Masekela! All tunes are nice and long, all instrumentals – and the "disco specials" are original tunes that mix clubby rhythms with a variety of different sounds and styles – really cool, very fresh, and not even in the same territory as some of the West African/Paris hybrids of the time. Titles include the ten minute classic "Disco Stomp" – plus "We Did It", "Barney's Moaning", and "GG Is Talking". CD

A Chicago group who never hit the big time during their short run at the start of the 80s – but one who definitely know how to groove! There's a vibe here that really lives up to the "togetherness" in the group's name – a way of coming together with a tight, sharp sound throughout – but one that's never too slick, just surprisingly strong for such an underground funk group from the Windy City! And although the music is upbeat, the style is less disco than it is the kind of faster funk that percolated strongly in the underground scene in the pre-house years – almost more akin to some of the best indie club work coming out of the east coast, but with a very unique vibe too. As usual with Numero, the set does way more than just bring this lost music to light – it also tells the tale of the Universal Togetherness Band, and their never-flagging sense of energy and inspiration during their short but important run. Titles include "Ain't Gonna Cry", "Try Try Try", "My Sentiment", "Real Thrill", "Once In A Lifetime", "Call For Love", "I Want You", and "Taken By Love". CD

Rare soul galore – a pair of totally rare albums, plus bonus tracks too! First up is Willie & West At Their Best – a killer of a soul album from the New Jersey underground! This is the same Willie from Willie & The Mighty Magnificents – working here with singer West, who he supposedly started out with. The pair have a style that's a bit like some of the sock-soul duos of the 60s – but they're also willing to let each other take the lead from time to time, singing in a deep soul style that belies their Augusta, Georgia roots! The album's nice and raw – a rare soul gem with a rough and ready heart that keeps it strong over the years. Titles include "Can You Hear The Voices", "The Will", "Beautiful Party", "Deep Down In Your Soul", "You & Me", "Key To My Happiness", and "Watch Yourself". The next album by The New Sounds is some of the deepest soul ever cut by the All Platinum family of labels – done by a vocal group who were contemporaries of The Moments and Whatnauts, but who sang with an even grittier sound overall! There's definitely some sweet New Jersey touches on the set, but some tracks also bring in a bit of a southern soul element too – a nice sense of raspiness on the vocals that's a completely charming combination with the spare instrumentation and rough-edged production! The album's exactly the kind we keep digging rare soul for – and it's a lost treasure from the early 70s east coast group scene – with cuts that include "Don't Take Your Love From Me", "Two Of A Kind", "Sweet Memories", "Having You Around", "Moving", "Tell Me Your Name", and "Just As I Am". CD also features 2 bonus tracks from Willie & West – "Attica Massacre" and "Nobody's Fault But Mine" – and one more bonus track from Robert Tanner, "Sweet Memories". CD

One of the landmark albums of 70s mellow soul! Bobby Wilson hasn't left behind much of a recorded legacy, but he did come up with this godlike album that should be in any collection of classic soul. The record is a perfect blending of the styles of soul that were running through the east coast underground of the early 70s – with some elements of the burgeoning club scene on the more uptempo numbers, and a sweet warm vocal style on the album's super-strong mellow cuts. Vernon Bullock arranged, produced, and wrote most of the songs with Bobby – and the record takes the best elements of Vernon's own music, and pushes it to the next level. Titles include "Deeper & Deeper", "Here Is Where The Love Is", "I'll Take Good Care Of You", "Hey, Girl (Tell Me)", "All I Need (I've Got)", "You Make Me Feel Good All Over", "Let Me (Put Love Back In Your Life)" and "I'll Be Your Rainbow". CD

The Beasties' masterpiece – and one of the original nightmares for sampling opponents everywhere – the cut & paste hip hop classic Paul's Boutique! The Dust Brothers unapologetic way of weaving very famous samples with soul, funk and film score obscurities would steal the show if not for the infectious, boisterous rhymes of the Beastie Boys – they couldn't possibly have cared less about alienating the massive frat boy fan base built with License To Ill, and it's a joy to behold. It's one of those mindblowing pop transformations on par with the Beatles (who the Beasties and Dust Brothers were so brazen to sample several times on this album) and the Beach Boys on the pop maturation scale from earlier hits to later artistry – even if the wild lyrics and deft back & forth rhymes by the Beasties aim to be the goofy antithesis of maturity. From classic rock dinosaurs to soul and disco classics, from the Jaws score to "Dueling Banjos", it all finds it's way into the beatcraft – and both mainstream pop and underground hip hop are better now because of this record. Tracks include "Hey Ladies", "Shake Your Rump", "High Plains Drifter", "Shadrach", "Johnny Ryall", "Eggman", "Car Thief", "What Comes Around", the "B-Boy Bouillabaisse" suite and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Funky and psych-rock-soul instrumentals from the Beastie Boys – essentially working as a quintet for much of the set – with Money Mark on Rhodes and Farfisa, and Alfredo Ortiz on percussion! The Beasties manage to blend 70s soul, jazz, Latin and sound library style grooves with a catchy aplomb on the best tracks – with Mike D on drums, Ad Rock on guitar, and Yauch on the bass. The Beasties still have enough cache in the pop spectrum to do whatever the heck they want – something that's very hardly accomplished in the 2007 major label environment – and this record stands up pretty well against much of what you'll find in the deep funk underground. Titles include "B For My Name", "14th Street Break", "Suco De Tangerina", "Gala Event", "Electric Worm", "Freaky Hijacki", "Off The Grid", "The Rat Cage", "The Melee", "Dramastically Different", "The Cousin Of Death", and "The Kangaroo Rat". CD

Raw early genius from the 13th Floor Elevators – cut back at a time when the Texas combo were one of the hippest things going in the late 60s American underground! There's lots of sounds here that other cats would copy over the decades – but the record has a gritty brilliance that's way better than any of its many imitators – that kind of unique burst of new ideas and young energy that made psych so wonderful when it first emerged in remarkable moments like this! Roky Erickson is wonderful – and the record will definitely illustrate his genius way better than any later efforts to bear his own name in the lead – and the production is just the right blend of studio tricks and homegrown oddness to make the whole thing electrified throughout. Tracks include "Slip Inside This House", "Slide Machine", "Dust", "Earthquake", "Levitation", "Postures", "Baby Blue", and "Nobody To Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Three full albums from heavy rocker Bob "Catfish" Hodge – a great underground talent on the Detroit scene of the late 60s and early 70s – and one who recorded for the same Westbound label as Funkadelic! Hodge shares a lot with some of the best Detroit talents of the time – namely a real genre-crossing sound that's very color blind – one that mixes in equal parts blues, rock, and soul – and which sometimes hits some funkier edges too – no surprise, given the Westbound recording style at the time. The guitar is great – often fuzzy, but never too freaky – and nicely focused on the rhythms on most tunes, until it takes off in some sweetly expressive solos. Hodge's vocals have a nice degree of grit, and a quality that's a bit like Dr John – in which he's referencing older modes and styles, but manages to come off without any hoke at all. The 2CD set features all three albums recorded for the Westbound/Eastbound label – Soap Operas, Dinosaurs & Alleycats, and Boogie Man Gonna Get Ya – plus b-sides and a few unreleased tracks too. Titles include "Train To Detroit", "Boogie Man", "Different Strokes", "Ghetto", "Hungry Love", "Big Boss Man", "Oscar Teo", "For Free", "Des Woman", "Sweet Cocaine", and "We Got Love In Our House". CD

Beautiful sounds from the Entourage ensemble – a record that's got a really meditative blend of acoustic elements with a few electric touches – used in ways that start in jazz, then move way beyond! Instrumentation includes guitar, flute, keyboards, violin, and mbira – coming together with really unusual inflections that are partly borrowed from Eastern sources – like Noh theater, or Balinese music – but which unfurl with a more freewheeling, American underground vibe as well! No sounds are ever too sharp, and there's almost a hint of the instrumental experiments in the 80s underground – such as work by Penguin Cafe Orchestra or Soft Verdict – but with an earthier feel overall. Titles include "Jattle Boxes", "Giraffes", "Solo For Electric Viola", "Michael's Song", "Silver Drum", and "Percussion Dance". CD

The only full length set issued by this underground Ohio group of the 80s – a group who've clearly learned some of the riffing metal ways of the LA bands of the period, but who make the whole thing come across with a much more homegrown vibe! The lead guitar of Ted George would have been right at home on some early Relativity release, but the rest of the group are more in a Homestead Records vibe – sonically, at least – given that singer Ace Matthews hits some lyrical modes that are right in keeping with the cover image. The mix of modes is really compelling – midwest kids caught between the two poles of the underground – and a reminder that for many folks at the time, metal and punk were often taken in equal doses. Titles include "Salem's Rise", "Hear The Thunder", "Teen Of Darkness", "Poison", "Beckon", "Lady Medusa", and "Will I See You Again". LP, Vinyl record album

A heavy helping of Detroit Love – and one that will also make you love Detroit too – or, at least, completely respect the city for having such a continually rewarding underground over the last few decades – long after the possibility of chart hits or bigger fame have passed! Detroit's electronic scene first got notice at the end of the 80s – when its own grooves were rising to rival the house music coming from Chicago – and while that moment sparked some big international fame, the decades have continued to see the city working to improve, refine, and mature their initial impulses – with the sorts of fantastic sounds that you'll hear in this set! Not all the music is new, but most of it is – and the set combines some wonderfully fresh tracks from the Carl Craig side of the universe – both his own music, and work by key contemporaries too – with titles that include "It Is What It Is" by Rhythim Is Rhythim, "Rosalie" by Green Velvet & Carl Craig, "Do It All Night (C2 edit)" by DJ Minx, "Credit Card (Gay Marvine rmx)" by BMG & Sal P, "Satori" by Ectomorph, "Formulaic Mode" by Mirko Loko & Stacey Pullen, "My Love Check" by Claude Vonstroke, and "Alleys Of Your Mind" by The Dirtbombs. LP, Vinyl record album

The never-issued follow-up to Jim Ford's classic Capitol album Harlan County – the kind of set that could have made him another Kris Kristofferson, or at least a Billy Joe Shaver – had the record company thought to release this gem at the time! The music is very different than standard Capitol country of the time – much more LA indie underground, with a strong singer-songwriter spirit – yet a record that's also decidedly country through and through, both in the themes of the songs and Jim's presentation of the lyrics – which are wonderful, and backed by a nicely subtle blend of steel and acoustic guitar. Titles include "Harry Hippy", "The Sounds Of Our Time", "Wonder What They'll Do With Today", "Rising Sign", "Big Mouth USA", "Go Through Sunday", and "Point Of No Return". CD

A stunning little session – and every bit as wonderful as you'd expect from a lineup that includes Dollar Brand, Don Cherry, and Carlos Ward! The three players work together here in open, spiritual styles – with really long-flowing lines from Brand on piano, in a more modal style that's different from some of his other records – balanced out with bold trumpet lines from Cherry, and soaring alto sax from Ward – a player who doesn't always get the chance to step out this much! All three players vocalize a bit, but more in some sort of rootsy way that echoes the music – and the album's a really unique outing from all three players – and a set we'd rank with their best from the time. Titles include "Don's Song", "Cherry", "Bra Joe From Kilimanjaro", "Swazi", and "Jabulani Easter Joy". CD

One of the most far-out, freaked-out albums ever from the Velvet Underground – easily the most experimental set the group ever recorded! The album's awash in really unusual sounds and styles – from the sonic blast of the title cut "White Light/White Heat", to the 17 minute garage/psych jam of "Sister Ray" to the very odd "The Gift" – which is a creepy story about cuckolding, told with voice and instrumentation split over different stereo channels! Other tunes offset the darkness with an eerie touch of sweet – and include "Here She Comes Now", "Lady Godiva's Operation", and "I Heard Her Call My Name". Arguably one of the Velvets' most influential moments – even if it's also one of their least commercially successful! This great 2LP package features loads of sweet extra bits – including "I Heard Her Call My Name (alternate)", "Hey Mr Rain (version one)", "Temptation Inside Your Heart (original mix)", "Stephanie Says (orig mix)", "Beginning To See The Light (early version)", "Hey Mr Rain (version two)", and "Guess I'm Falling In Love (instrumental)". LP, Vinyl record album

A really beautiful record from the Ambiance ensemble – a group led by reedman Daoud Abubakar Balewa – a musician with the same underground prominence as Plunky Nakabinde and Idris Ackamoor during the same generation! Like both of those artists, Daoud has a way of moving effortlessly between spiritual jazz and more soul-based styles – heard here on one of his standout records from the early 80s, which blends his own work on a variety of saxes with nicely flowing accompaniment on piano, percussion, guitars, and a slight touch of Fender Rhodes – mostly instrumental, but with a few vocal moments from time to time! The vibe is late spiritual jazz – not as tightly tied to Coltrane-based modes, and nicely finding its own space in the universe – on titles that include "Eastwind", "Something Better", "Into A New Journey", and "The Arrival" – plus versions of "Black Narcissus", "500 Miles", and "Windows". CD

A really beautiful record from the Ambiance ensemble – a group led by reedman Daoud Abubakar Balewa – a musician with the same underground prominence as Plunky Nakabinde and Idris Ackamoor during the same generation! Like both of those artists, Daoud has a way of moving effortlessly between spiritual jazz and more soul-based styles – heard here on one of his standout records from the early 80s, which blends his own work on a variety of saxes with nicely flowing accompaniment on piano, percussion, guitars, and a slight touch of Fender Rhodes – mostly instrumental, but with a few vocal moments from time to time! The vibe is late spiritual jazz – not as tightly tied to Coltrane-based modes, and nicely finding its own space in the universe – on titles that include "Eastwind", "Something Better", "Into A New Journey", and "The Arrival" – plus versions of "Black Narcissus", "500 Miles", and "Windows". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most righteous 70s sessions to come from the hands of Dollar Brand – a New York recording that's filled with work by a host of players from the spiritual jazz underground – all of whom soar strongly on the album's long tracks, and give the set a fire and righteous energy you're not likely to hear on other Brand albums of the time! The leader is especially bold and free on piano – and provides these long lines that set fire to work from Cecil Bridgewater and Charles Sullivan on trumpets, Kiani Zawadi on trombone, Cecil McBee on bass, Roy Brooks on drums, and the massive talents Sonny Fortune, Carlos Ward, Hamiet Bluiette, Roland Alexander, and John Stubblefield on reeds! The record has a much fuller feel than most of Brand's other work from the time, and it's great to hear his angular, rhythmic piano juxtaposed with the warm spiritualism of the players in the group – wonderful energy that takes flight on the two-part "Titiana", and the longer "Jabulani Easter Joy". CD

Although this one's the bane to Clarence's earlier reputation, it's also the album that has him earning waaaaay more money than most of his late 60s southern soul contemporaries! The record snuck onto the market in 1986, one of the many so-so releases of bluesy southern soul on the Ichiban label from Atlanta. The spirit of the record is still in that of Clarence's earlier work, although the execution's got a really tinny quality. However, that didn't stop the song "Strokin" from becoming a huge underground hit – almost in the mode of early 50s R&B, in which the track's off-color sexuality was popularized by word-of-mouth, and spread from underground soul and blues audiences to frat boys, party crowds, and Saturday night beer drinkers, who seemed to play the track endlessly on jukeboxes throughout the 90s. We've got no real documentation, but we'd guess that Clarence probably made at least a million off the cut over the past 15 years – and more power to him for that, too! Other titles include "Let's Funk", "Dr CC", "I Stayed Away Too Long", and "If You Let Me Take You Home". LP, Vinyl record album

Massive issue with a great interview (with amazing photos) with Chicago 60s and 70s behind-the-scenes soul music queen Helen Saffold, another ridiculous Nardwuar interview with Snoop Dogg, the story of British Invasion pin-up boy Ian Whitcomb, Metal graphic designer Dennis Dread's visit to Frank Frazetta's art collection, the tragic tale of underground comix rebel Jim Osborne, Cleveland 70s punk legends Easter Monkeys, Plastic Crimewave salutes the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, an in-the-booth interview with White Sox organist Nancy Faust on the eve of her retirement, an insiders look into the Ramones, and tons of comix, reviews, and obituaries. Magazine

An underground funky gem – one that never made it past the collections of the elite sound library audience in the 70s – but which is well deserving of global acclaim! Yan Tregger works here in this style that's every bit as funky as his contemporaries on bigger library labels, but which also shows a strong love of club music too – not straight disco, at least not in any sort of "easy" way – but a real ear for just the right sort of basslines, keyboard parts, and uptempo rhythms to keep things moving throughout! Given the all-instrumental approach, think of this set as a jazzy take on clubby grooves – or maybe an instrumental funk record for the clubs – with great cuts that include "The Girl In The Gold", "Dawn & Darkness", "Friend Island", "The Last Girl", "Haunting Refrain", "Girls Will Be Girls", and "The Way Of All Flesh". CD

Five full albums from Jerry Jeff Walker – presented here in a box set with original album art too! First up is Mr Bojangles – a fantastic early moment from Jerry Jeff Walker – a set that contains the huge "Mr Bojangles", but also features lots of the other sorts of amazing songs that really set Walker apart from the rest! The work is poised perfectly between folk and country – both worlds that would soon revere the smartness of Jerry Jeff's songwriting skills – and a young David Bromberg is an important part of the sound, on both lead acoustic and electric guitar! The production is great – as stripped-down as a folk record, but with some of the sensitivity and jazzier currents of a singer/songwriter album – and in addition to "Mr Bojangles", other tunes include "Gypsy Songman", "I Keep Changin", "Maybe Mexico", "I Makes Money", "Little Bird", "The Ballad Of The Hulk", nd "Round & Round". Next is Five Years Gone – a set with a cover that almost looks like some 80s indie rock record – which is maybe a good indication of just how far Jerry Jeff Walker has stretched out his sound since his debut! The style here is free of the folksier elements of the past – fuller arrangements that have piano and organ doing as much as guitar – mixed with bits of dobro and vibes that shade things with more subtle country colors – even though Jerry Jeff here is a lot less of a country singer than he'd soon become! Instead, there's a very open, honest presentation – on material that is very post-folk, and in a singer/songwriter mode that should have made Walker huge at this point. Titles include "Tracks Run Through The City", "Dead Men Got No Dreams", "Janet Says", "About Her Eyes", "Seasons Change", "Help Me Now", and "Happiness Is A Good Place To Visit But It Was So Sad In Fayetteville". Bein Free is an overlooked classic from Jerry Jeff Walker – and a set that's very different than his crossover pop of a few years before! Walker here really explodes as both the singer and songwriter that would make him an underground legend in the generation of Kris Kristofferson, Kinky Friedman, and Townes Van Zandt – someone who can touch mainstream country with his styles and sound, but who was also in a very separate space – one that was hip enough to get plenty of nods from the cognoscenti in the worlds of rock, folk, and singer/songwriters. The Dixie Flyers back up Jerry Jeff here, and give the record a nicely unified sound – thanks in part to work on piano and dobro from Jim Dickinson – on titles that include "Vince Triple O Martin", "But For The Time", "A Secret", "Nobody's", "Some Go Home", "Where Is The DAR When You Really Need Them", and "I'm Gonna Tell You". On the cover of Jerry Jeff, Walker looks more like a country singer than on previous records – and he maybe sounds more like one too, but with a richness and sensitivity that maybe echoes some of the Elektra albums of the period by Mickey Newbury – although a bit more upbeat too! As with Newbury, Walker's an artist whose songs earned great money for others – but who's always maybe one of the best interpreters of his tunes – working here with offbeat shifts in styles that are far from common country, and which maybe also echo the range of modes that Kris Kristofferson would evoke on his earliest records too. Titles include "Lone Wolf", "Bad News", "I'm Not Strange", "Comfort & Crazy", "Banks Of The Old Bandera", and "Her Good Lovin Grace". Too Old To Change is a record that's maybe a bit too early in the career of Jerry Jeff Walker to earn the "too old" in the name – it was just a bit over a decade since his debut – but it's also clear that Walker has lived a lot of life in the space of time, which you can definitely her in his choice of material and vocal performance. There's less originals than before, but Jerry Jeff does a great job of moving between up-close and personal songs and a few more rockish moments – opening up the sort of space that made his records like this a key bridge between the worlds of Kris Kristofferson and Steve Earle to come. Titles include "Mountains Of Mexico", "Old Nashville Cowboy", "Hands On The Wheel", "I Ain't Living Long Like This", "Too Old To Change", and "Northeast Texas Women". CD

An amazing compilation – a decade in the making, and filled with wonderful grooves – most of which have never appeared on CD or LP reissues! And while the music itself is already wonderful, the package also includes an amazing 80 page book, too – a rich research project that digs deep into the American underground of the 70s – and features a wealth of photos, images, and historical details on music that never got it's due back in the day! The set's based around the groundbreaking series of Soul Cal 12" reissues put together by Stones Throw about a decade ago – wonderful records that unearthed rare grooves that fall beautifully in a space between funk and club – almost all originally issued on tiny little labels from all over the US, but working together to create a rich vibe in the set. Given the book, there's a Numero-like heft to the whole thing – although the range of grooves is even greater than one of their collections – and titles include "Ecology" by Anubis, "You Can Be A Star" by Luther Davis, "Don't Get Discouraged" by UPC All Stars, "Things Cannot Stop Forever" by Stanton Davis, "Free Your Mind" by Record Player, "Get Down" by Freedom Express, "Keep Running Away" by Clifford Nyren, "Love Is" by Leon Mitchison & The Eastex Freeway Band, "What It Takes To Live" by Key & Cleary, "I'm Gonna Miss You Girl" by Ellis & Cephas, "It's A Bad Feeling" by Mixed Sugar, and "Put A Smile On Time" by Rhythm Machine. CD

A brilliant mix of Afro and deep funk styles – the kind of grooves you'd get if Fela Kuti hung out with The Meters in the late 60s! Budos Band recall the genius of 90s deep funk combo The Daktaris – and have a similar love of older African rhythms touched by a newer indie funk sound – a complexity in the group's well-arranged horn parts, but a simplicity to their rhythms that makes the album cook like some of our favorite classics from years back. Sax and trumpet lines are mixed nicely with heavy percussion and a fair bit of organ at the bottom – creating a murky groove that has a bit of New Orleans in the mix, but also has most of the instruments stepping along with the rhythm – in a very cool take on the Africa 70 sound. Tracks are all instrumental, and all incredible – and the record's one of the freshest we've heard from the deep funk underground in years – a second-generation set that gets way past simple copycat funk and into its own unique groove! Titles include "Budos Theme", "Ghost Walk", "King Charles", "Eastbound", "Across The Atlantic", "Up From The South", "TIBWF", and "Monkey See Monkey Do". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest records ever from Chicago funky soul arranger Willie Henderson – a smoking little set that feels like a stack of funky 45s! Willie did lots of work in the 7" single underground for indie labels – and by this point, he was a key force in the sound of Brunswick Records soul scene – working here with help from collaborators Carl Davis, Eugene Record, Gene Barge, and Tom Tom Washington – all equal Chicago soul studio giants! Includes the classic track "Loose Booty", with the "professor" spoken bit on the intro, which was sampled by the Beastie Boys – plus more gems like "Soulful Football", "Off Into a Black Thing", and "Funky Chicken". Nice hard sound, and the kind of album we love to find! LP, Vinyl record album