A holy grail of funky music – and a rare gem from the DC scene of the 70s! Keyboardist Hilton Felton cut this wicked killer for his own tiny label – Hilton's Concept – and it's a very unique blend of jazz and funk modes, done with help from members of The Blackbyrds and Three Pieces! Felton plays Fender Rhodes, vibes, organ, and even some percussion on the record – grooving in this stretched-out, easygoing way that's unlike anyone else we can think of – often with fuller backings that might be at home on a soundtrack, but which have a much more open flow overall. Most tracks are nice and long, with plenty of sweet electric solo space – and titles include the classic "Bee Bop Boogie", a 9 minute groover with a monster break on the intro – plus "The Light Of Mankind", "Man For All Reasons", "Tell Her Love Has Felt The Need", "Love's Losers", and "Blues For a Weary Man". CD

One of the grooviest albums of the 60s – a sublime blend of jazz, bossa, and easy – and a set that definitely lives up to its title! The album's probably the most perfect realization of the unique groove that Gary McFarland was going for back in the day – a mix of vibes, whistling, and wordless vocals, supported by some gently funky rhythms that use a fair bit of electric bass to underscore the groove! The lineup here is wonderful – with Bob Brookmeyer on trombone, Gabor Szabo on guitar, Grady Tate on drums, and Sadao Watanabe making a rare 60s US appearance on flute and tenor sax. Gary blends these instrumental elements perfectly for the record – and comes up with a completely unique sound that can only be described as "McFarlandy"! Amazing cuts include "Fried Bananas", "Bloop Bleep", and "Over Easy" – but the whole album's incredible, and other tracks include "The Sting Of The Bee", "Wine & Bread", "Here I Am", "The Hills Of Verdugo", and "The Moment Of Truth". LP, Vinyl record album

The final album from Nirvana, and a set that marked a surprising turn away from the easy mainstream pop presence they could have easily embraced – a shift that comes in large part from the work of Steve Albini, who recorded the set with a raw edge that really has the group at their noisiest! While the approach was controversial at the time – especially to the band's record label – it turned out to be perfect for the mood of these songs, which have been the subject of plenty of analysis over the years, given that the whole thing is the final cohesive message that Kurt Cobain gave the world before departing this planet! Titles include "Serve The Servants", "Scentless Apprentice", "Heart-Shaped Box", "Rape Me", "Dumb", "Very Ape", "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter", and "All Apologies". CD

The final album from Nirvana, and a set that marked a surprising turn away from the easy mainstream pop presence they could have easily embraced – a shift that comes in large part from the work of Steve Albini, who recorded the set with a raw edge that really has the group at their noisiest! While the approach was controversial at the time – especially to the band's record label – it turned out to be perfect for the mood of these songs, which have been the subject of plenty of analysis over the years, given that the whole thing is the final cohesive message that Kurt Cobain gave the world before departing this planet! Titles include "Serve The Servants", "Scentless Apprentice", "Heart-Shaped Box", "Rape Me", "Dumb", "Very Ape", "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter", and "All Apologies". Newly remastered 30th anniversary edition – with a bonus 10" album that includes b-sides and bonus tracks! LP, Vinyl record album

A nicely done compilation that couldn't have been easy to put together – probably as solid of an anthology of the long-running, legendary anti-establishment Czech underground rock collective Plastic People Of The Universe – with material from as early as 1969 up to 1985! A lot bands from a lot of places can be described as "underground", but few as aptly as Plastic People. The group was once jailed by the Czechoslovak communist regime and part of the movement leading up the Velvet Revolution. Astounding stuff in a social/cultural/political frame, but the music is incredible! Influences of benchmark western style underground heavies of their time, from Beefheart to Zappa and well beyond, but Plastic People Of The Universe evolved into an amazing entity all their own! 31 tracks on 2CDs: "MGM (Metro Goldwyn Mayer)", "Magicke Noci (On Magical Night)", "Apokalyptickej Ptak (Apocalyptic Bird)", "Francovka", "Okolo Okna (Along The Window)", "Pf (Happy New Year)", "Podel Zdi A Doleva (Along The Wall And To The Left)", "Jednou Nohou (With One Leg)" and many more. CD

Easy to dance your ass off with music this great – a fast, firey form of funk that's very much in the best Bohannon mode – that unique groove that was unlike anything else to hit the American scene for years to come! The record's a locomotive right from the start – a completely tight union of guitar, bass, drums, and just about anything else that gets into the mix – served up at a fast chugging groove that's very different than either typical funk or 70s disco! A few tracks add in a bit of extra strings, but these are always subsumed by the strong strong rhythms – and titles include the cut "Zulu", which has always been a favorite here in Chitown – plus "Party People", "Dance Your Ass Off", and "Bohannon's Theme". LP, Vinyl record album

You know, over the years, you get exposed to so many cliches about Ray Charles that it's easy to forget how great he is – but you won't after hearing this set! This totally essential box pushes way past any other collection to pull together the raw early R&B sides by Ray – much harder stuff than any of his later country soul work, and way more rockin than even his instrumental sides that show up more as "jazz" efforts. No, this stuff kicks ass – and is right up there with the best 50s R&B work by artists like Tiny Bradshaw, Wynonie Harris, or Ray Brown. Plus, a huge amount of the cuts on here never really appeared on full LPs, so it's not like you'll be able to track them down that easily on other reissues. There's a wealth of excellent material here that will open up a whole new side of Ray for you – and which will fill in loads of holes if you've already got some of his work. There's a total of 53 tracks in all, plus a great set of notes and a very handsome box – and titles include "What Kind Of Man Are You", "Get On The Right Track", "Leave My Woman Alone", "Roll With My Baby", "Jumpin In The Morning", "It Should Have Been Me", "Feelin Sad", "Mess Around", "I Wonder Who", "Blackjack", "Greenbacks", "A Fool For You", "Hard Times", "A Bit Of Soul", "I Want To Know", "It's Alright", "Ain't That Love", and "That's Enough". All cuts are vocal – and this is some of the most satisfying Ray Charles you could ever buy! CD

The final album from Nirvana, and a set that marked a surprising turn away from the easy mainstream pop presence they could have easily embraced – a shift that comes in large part from the work of Steve Albini, who recorded the set with a raw edge that really has the group at their noisiest! While the approach was controversial at the time – especially to the band's record label – it turned out to be perfect for the mood of these songs, which have been the subject of plenty of analysis over the years, given that the whole thing is the final cohesive message that Kurt Cobain gave the world before departing this planet! Titles include "Serve The Servants", "Scentless Apprentice", "Heart-Shaped Box", "Rape Me", "Dumb", "Very Ape", "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter", and "All Apologies". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of fantastic albums from vibes master and genius arranger Gary McFarland – back to back on a single CD! First up is The In Sound – one of the grooviest albums of the 60s – a sublime blend of jazz, bossa, and easy – and a set that definitely lives up to its title! The album's probably the most perfect realization of the unique groove that Gary McFarland was going for back in the day – a mix of vibes, whistling, and wordless vocals, supported by some gently funky rhythms that use a fair bit of electric bass to underscore the groove! The lineup here is wonderful – with Bob Brookmeyer on trombone, Gabor Szabo on guitar, Grady Tate on drums, and Sadao Watanabe making a rare 60s US appearance on flute and tenor sax. Gary blends these instrumental elements perfectly for the record – and comes up with a completely unique sound that can only be described as "McFarlandy"! Amazing cuts include "Fried Bananas", "Bloop Bleep", and "Over Easy" – but the whole album's incredible, and other tracks include "The Sting Of The Bee", "Wine & Bread", "Here I Am", "The Hills Of Verdugo", and "The Moment Of Truth". Soft Samba is a dream of a record from Gary McFarland – lightly jazzy instrumentals with a warm bossa nova undercurrent! The style is incredible – a sweet blend of vibes, guitar, and even some light whistling – often also featuring wordless jazz vocals – scatting along with the groove in a melodic and lovely kind of way! The whole thing's incredibly charming, and even familiar tunes come across sounding quite different in McFarlands hands. Titles include "From Russia With Love", "More", "Emily", "La Vie En Rose", "The Love Goddess", and even a groovy take on "I Want To Hold Your Hand". For you true swingers, the cover includes directions for mixing a "Soft Samba Cocktail" (courtesy Spanish Sherry Institute)! CD

It's easy to get Beaver Fever when things sound this great – a wonderful modern soul take on the sound of Little Beaver from the 70s – serve up with plenty of warm tones, and a nicely matured version of Beaver's styles! All the bluesy bits from the start are gone, and some of the funkier edges have been smoothed down – but in their place are some great grooves that move along with a cool jazzy vibe that often makes great use of Beaver's guitar – a style that's almost like some of the more mature modern soul from up north, instead of the usual 70s Miami groove. A few tunes echo the earlier years – like the great remakes of "Party Times" and "Katie Pearl" – and other tracks include "Thank You For My Life", "Don't Get Tired Of Me", "I Feel Like Crying", and the groovy "Groove-On". CD

An explosive session from an expanded edition of the Jazz Messengers – recorded at a key point when Art Blakey moved the group up to six members instead of five! Although bigger than the group on most Jazz Messenger Blue Notes, the sextet have an energy that's almost tighter – a sense of poise, focus, and vision that's not just driven by Blakey's drum kit alone – but by the kind of unique magic that only happens during rare groupings in classic jazz. A key part of the energy here comes from pianist Cedar Walton – who's replacing the Bobby Timmons soul jazz mode with a sound that's a bit more expansive and visionary. But equally important is the three horn lineup of Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, and Wayne Shorter on tenor – a two-brass frontline that's used far differently than other groups – bold one minute, but personal and sensitive the next. There's a mixture of warmth and driving energy here that's simply incredible – a prime example of Blakey taking things to the next level, when it would have been easy enough for him to sit on his laurels and keep doing the same thing over and over again! Includes classic readings of Cedar Walton's "Mosaic", Freddie Hubbard's "Crisis", and Curtis Fuller's "Arabia" – as well as Shorter's excellent "Children Of The Night". CD

An explosive session from an expanded edition of the Jazz Messengers – recorded at a key point when Art Blakey moved the group up to six members instead of five! Although bigger than the group on most Jazz Messenger Blue Notes, the sextet have an energy that's almost tighter – a sense of poise, focus, and vision that's not just driven by Blakey's drum kit alone – but by the kind of unique magic that only happens during rare groupings in classic jazz. A key part of the energy here comes from pianist Cedar Walton – who's replacing the Bobby Timmons soul jazz mode with a sound that's a bit more expansive and visionary. But equally important is the three horn lineup of Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, and Wayne Shorter on tenor – a two-brass frontline that's used far differently than other groups – bold one minute, but personal and sensitive the next. There's a mixture of warmth and driving energy here that's simply incredible – a prime example of Blakey taking things to the next level, when it would have been easy enough for him to sit on his laurels and keep doing the same thing over and over again! Includes classic readings of Cedar Walton's "Mosaic", Freddie Hubbard's "Crisis", and Curtis Fuller's "Arabia" – as well as Shorter's excellent "Children Of The Night". LP, Vinyl record album

An explosive session from an expanded edition of the Jazz Messengers – recorded at a key point when Art Blakey moved the group up to six members instead of five! Although bigger than the group on most Jazz Messenger Blue Notes, the sextet have an energy that's almost tighter – a sense of poise, focus, and vision that's not just driven by Blakey's drum kit alone – but by the kind of unique magic that only happens during rare groupings in classic jazz. A key part of the energy here comes from pianist Cedar Walton – who's replacing the Bobby Timmons soul jazz mode with a sound that's a bit more expansive and visionary. But equally important is the three horn lineup of Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, and Wayne Shorter on tenor – a two-brass frontline that's used far differently than other groups – bold one minute, but personal and sensitive the next. There's a mixture of warmth and driving energy here that's simply incredible – a prime example of Blakey taking things to the next level, when it would have been easy enough for him to sit on his laurels and keep doing the same thing over and over again! Includes classic readings of Cedar Walton's "Mosaic", Freddie Hubbard's "Crisis", and Curtis Fuller's "Arabia" – as well as Shorter's excellent "Children Of The Night". LP, Vinyl record album

An explosive session from an expanded edition of the Jazz Messengers – recorded at a key point when Art Blakey moved the group up to six members instead of five! Although bigger than the group on most Jazz Messenger Blue Notes, the sextet have an energy that's almost tighter – a sense of poise, focus, and vision that's not just driven by Blakey's drum kit alone – but by the kind of unique magic that only happens during rare groupings in classic jazz. A key part of the energy here comes from pianist Cedar Walton – who's replacing the Bobby Timmons soul jazz mode with a sound that's a bit more expansive and visionary. But equally important is the three horn lineup of Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, and Wayne Shorter on tenor – a two-brass frontline that's used far differently than other groups – bold one minute, but personal and sensitive the next. There's a mixture of warmth and driving energy here that's simply incredible – a prime example of Blakey taking things to the next level, when it would have been easy enough for him to sit on his laurels and keep doing the same thing over and over again! Includes classic readings of Cedar Walton's "Mosaic", Freddie Hubbard's "Crisis", and Curtis Fuller's "Arabia" – as well as Shorter's excellent "Children Of The Night". CD

Both classic albums from Luther Ingram – issued back to back on a single CD! I've Been Here All The Time is a tremendous little set from Luther Ingram – proof that the singer had way more to offer than just his famous southern soul singles! The record's got a really deep feel from the start – kind of a slow-burning sound that moves way past easy soul music styles, and offers up Ingram as one of the most mature singers of his generation. The Bar-Kays handle some of the backings, and they're also quite good here too – much rootsier at times than on their own records, but still with a hint of funk as well. Titles include "Ghetto Train", "I'll Just Call You Honey", "Since You Don't Want Me", "I'll Love You Until The End", "Be Good To Me Baby", "Ain't That Loving You", and "You Were Made For Me". The second album is wonderful mellow soul from Luther Ingram – and a record that gave the south one of its greatest soul anthems of the 70s! "If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Want To Be Right" is one of those genre-defining tunes – a slow-burning track that shows a new level of maturity for southern soul in the 70s – sweetly sad vocals from Luther right out front of the mix, supported with bubbling backings that ooze sex throughout – and a message of pride in the face of love that had an undeniable impact on a whole generation. The rest of the album's equally great – done with slightly fuller backings at times, and a more familiar Memphis soul groove at others – a perfect showcase for the mighty talents of Ingram at this high point of his career. In addition to "If Loving You Is Wrong", other titles include "Dying & Crying", "I Remember", "I Can't Stop", "Love Ain't Gonna Run Me Away", and "I'll Be Your Shelter". 21 tracks in all – and 14 pages of detailed notes and photos! CD

An ultra-hip batch of vocal tracks – and one of the few full albums recorded by singer Barbara Moore – a UK jazz artist at the start, but then an important studio talent often working behind the scenes! Barbara's got a very groovy style that's part jazz, part easy, part sunshine pop – all wrapped up into one super-warm blend! Her tracks have been showing up on playlists of beatheads for years – especially cuts from this album, which is a tight blend of jazz dance, dreamy pop, and even a few funky numbers. Most tracks are sung in a bright and breezy scat style – and titles include "Hot Heels", "His Name Was", "Swing Over", "Fly Away", "I'm Feather", and "Shades Tones". LP, Vinyl record album

Some choice soundtrack work from Jack Nitzsche's prime 70s period, with a handful other tracks by Howlin' Wolf, Captain Beefhaeart and Ike & Tina Turner. For the most part the soundtrack is bluesy rootsy stuff, to go along with the slant of the film, but there is a great funky break on the intro to "Zeke, Jerry & Smokie". Also includes "Coke Machine", "FBI", "Party", and "Easy Listening". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the truly great albums from The Soft Boys – a masterpiece that skirts easy categorization, strolling from the post psych blues stomp, to angular post punk and skronky guitar pop – held together brilliantly by Robyn Hitchcock's wry, brainy and on this record, cynically humorous lyricism. Titles include "Human Music", the should be classic, snarky riff on late era Beatles "The Pigworker", "The Rats Prayer", "Do The Chisel", "School Dinner Blues", "Wading Through A Ventilator", "Return Of The Sacred Crab" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the truly great albums from The Soft Boys – a masterpiece that skirts easy categorization, strolling from the post psych blues stomp, to angular post punk and skronky guitar pop – held together brilliantly by Robyn Hitchcock's wry, brainy and on this record, cynically humorous lyricism. Titles include "Human Music", the should be classic, snarky riff on late era Beatles "The Pigworker", "The Rats Prayer", "Do The Chisel", "School Dinner Blues", "Wading Through A Ventilator", "Return Of The Sacred Crab" and more. CD

Greasy Mike's been making the global rounds on records like this – serving up an imagined landscape of weird and wonderful sounds, all pulled from rare singles of late 50s/early 60s vintage! We're not sure Mike's efforts will ever win him a harem, but he's done a great job here – coming up with tunes that often have some slight exotic or Eastern sort of vibe, mixed with more familiar American sounds of the time – like electric guitar or Latin percussion! Titles include "Ole Tsasa" by Valisas & His Slaves, "Desert Wind" by The Vaqueros, "Cairo Twist" by The Royce McAfee Combo, "Cobra" by The Boys, "Sahara" by The Cotillions, "Port Said" by The Kasuals, "Moroc-Kin" by Arabian Knights, "Snake Charmer" by Torrents, "The Bagdad Fantasy" by Ilo Kay & His Trio, and "Istanbul" by Jol Coyes Boys. LP, Vinyl record album

There have been lots of Lowrider soul compilations on the market over the years – documenting the great of of mellow cuts on the LA scene of the 60s – particularly the kind that could move slow, but with a heavy groove at the bottom – perfect for chilling out in the back of a car on an endless summer night! Yet few have ever done the job as well as this collection – because in the hands of Ace/Kent Records, the music finally gets proper historical context – moved past the jargon of the East LA in crowd, and presented with great sound, and the kind of detailed notes that really get at the special qualities that made the west coast soul scene so different than the east in the 60s! The set list is superb – fantastic mellow soul tracks that are perfect, even if you don't care about this history – and the set features 14 titles that include "Someone" by The Lovers, "Here It Comes" by The Persians, "That's The Way Our Love Is" by The Radiations, "It's Not That Easy" by Reuben Bell & The Casanovas, "No Doubt About It" by The Esquires, "What Am I Going To Do" by the Houston Outlaws, "So Much In Love" by The Exceptions, "Please Say It Isn't So" by Lee Williams & The Cymbals, "Somebody Please" by The Vanguards, "Someone" by The Lovers, "Follow Your Heart" by The Manhattans, and "Settle Down" by Little Ben & The Cheers. LP, Vinyl record album

Jon Batiste steps out of his jazzy comfort zone, and opens the door to a whole host of global elements – and also manages to step into the world of soul as well! The record's almost to Batiste what the Black Radio projects were to Robert Glasper – showing a growing cultural presence past that of a jazz musician – as Batiste works with a host of guests who include Native Soul, Lana Del Rey, Leigh Anne, Lil Wayne, JJID, and others – fusing jazzy solo work, soulful vocals, and contemporary grooves into a tapestry that is bound to get the Jon Batiste name out there in ways his previous records never did. The approach isn't one for jazz purists, but then again, Jon's never really been a purist overall – and we gladly embrace the project as the sort that's opening doors to new ears, then leading them back to jazz! Titles include "Uneasy", "Call Now", "Boom For Real", "Movement 18", "Life Lesson", "White Space", "Running Away", "My Heart", "Drink Water", "Raindance", and "Be Who You Are". CD

Fantastic work by Chicago Iceman soulster Jerry Butler! Jerry's moving past the harmony formula of his earlier years with The Impressions, into a sophisticated style that would forever change the sound of male vocal soul. Jerry's a wonder with this material – delivering heartfelt tearjerkers in a mature style that had hardly ever been explored in the R&B market, yet still swinging with a good raw quality wherever the nature of the material called for it. Titles include "How Beautifully You Lie", "Such A Feeling", "Isle Of Sirens", "You Can Run But You Can't Hide", "Make It Easy On Yourself", "Message To Martha", "You Can Run (But You Can't Hide)", "Giving Up On Love", and "Whatever You Want". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic second album from this ultra-hip French combo – a group who effortlessly mix up jazz, funk, and global elements in the best cross-cultural tradition of the Parisian scene! Cotonete have been around for many years, even though they haven't given us many records – and it's clear from this set that their sound has gelled and evolved even more than before – no gimmicks or easy tricks on the record, and instead this really cohesive blend of keyboards from Florian Pellissier with trumpet, saxes, guitar, trombone, bass, and plenty of percussion! Guests include Omar, Leron Thomas, and Sabrina Malheiros – each of whom sing on a single track – and titles include "Satori", "La Derniere Guitare", "Bebete Vaobora", "Venezuela", "Cinq Pour L'Aventure", and "What Did You Run For". CD

A fantastic second album from this ultra-hip French combo – a group who effortlessly mix up jazz, funk, and global elements in the best cross-cultural tradition of the Parisian scene! Cotonete have been around for many years, even though they haven't given us many records – and it's clear from this set that their sound has gelled and evolved even more than before – no gimmicks or easy tricks on the record, and instead this really cohesive blend of keyboards from Florian Pellissier with trumpet, saxes, guitar, trombone, bass, and plenty of percussion! Guests include Omar, Leron Thomas, and Sabrina Malheiros – each of whom sing on a single track – and titles include "Satori", "La Derniere Guitare", "Bebete Vaobora", "Venezuela", "Cinq Pour L'Aventure", and "What Did You Run For". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of classics from Earth Wind & Fire – back to back on a single CD! First up is Spirit – a big hit for the group – and a great album of smooth funky soul! Spirit is a perfect example of the way that Earth Wind & Fire could tighten things up, yet still keep them real – holding onto the deeply spiritual side that first made them great – but also focusing their energy towards a wider audience that showed their influence for years! Of course, with Charles Stepney helping out on production, it's hard to miss – and he's one of the few cats who could handle a blend like this so well. The compression in the band's playing is impeccable – with just the right mix of spacey spiritualism, sophisticated jazzy playing, and a straight ahead love of the soulful hook. Includes the instrumentals "Biyo" and "Departure", plus the vocal tracks "Earth Wind & Fire","Burnin Bush", "Spirit", "Imagination", and "Getaway", all produced to perfection by Maurice White and Charles Stepney! That's The Way Of The World may be Earth Wind & Fire's ultimate moment of the 70s – and a perfect blending of all their influences that stands as a lasting tribute to their super-huge effect on soul music! The record features all aspects of the band coming into perfect cohesion – bassy funk, mellow soul, and Afrocentric jazz – all expertly handled by the great Charles Stepney, who still has the same rich talent for blending styles that he had while working at Chess/Cadet during the glory days of the late 60s. Some of these songs have been played to death (and covered so much) over the years that it's often easy to forget what a crowning moment this was for former underground soul heroes Earth, Wind & Fire – but we'll never cease to be amazed at the power of their mid-70s work, and this album's the best of the best. Titles include "Shining Star", "That's The Way Of The World", "Reasons", "Africano", "See The Light", and "Happy Feelin". CD

Amazing! Earth Wind & Fire's ultimate moment of the 70s – and a perfect blending of all their influences that stands as a lasting tribute to their super-huge effect on soul music! The record features all aspects of the band coming into perfect cohesion – bassy funk, mellow soul, and afrocentric jazz – all expertly handled by the great Charles Stepney, who still has the same rich talent for blending styles that he had while working at Chess/Cadet during the glory days of the late 60s. Some of these songs have been played to death (and covered so much) over the years that it's often easy to forget what a crowning moment this was for former underground soul heroes Earth Wind & Fire – but we'll never cease to be amazed at the power of their mid 70s work, and this album's the best of the best. Titles include "Shining Star", "That's The Way Of The World", "Reasons", "Africano", "See The Light", and "Happy Feelin". CD also features 5 bonus tracks – "Shining Star (future star)", "All About Love (first impressions)", "Happy Feelin (anatomy of a groove)", "Caribou Chaser (jazzy jam)", and "That's The Way Of The World (Latin expedition)". CD

A beautiful tribute to the historic pairing of John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman – delivered here by one of our favorite jazz singers working today! The album's way more than just a simple rehash of a classic – as Kurt Elling expands upon the Coltrane/Hartman vibe tremendously, taking the music into even loftier territory with his own wonderful vocals, and creative presentation of the music that includes a few medley moments, and some great spoken bits to link the whole thing together! Musical arrangements are by Laurence Hobgood, who's been with Elling for years – and Hobgood really stretches out with his own energy here, to break the set past any easy cliches, and make it a really Elling-centrist effort that stands as one of Kurt's best records in years. The whole thing was recorded live, and titles include "Say It", "They Say It's Wonderful", "It's Easy To Remember", "Dedicated To You", "All Or Nothing At All", "You Are Too Beautiful", and a medley of "What's New/Lush Life/Autumn Serenade". CD

Killer work by Astrud Gilberto – very different than her Verve sides of the 60s! The album was produced by Astrud, arranged by Deodato – and has that wonderful warm full jazz feel of her classic album on CTI, but also a bit more like some of the funky work of Jorge Ben at the time – choppy at the bottom, with a sound that's a bit samba, and a bit funky at times. Mike Longo and Deodato play keyboards on the session, giving it an electric groove that works perfectly with Astrud's soaring vocals – and the whole album really holds together wonderfully! There's a nice bit of funk on the cut "Take it Easy My Brother Charlie" – and other tracks include "Zigy Zigy Za", "Baiao", "Gingele", "Bridges", and "Where Have You Been?" DVD side features include linear notes, artist photos plus the whole album in 5.1 surround sound!. CD

Valerie June's been bubbling under for almost a decade – recording work with other artists, doing a variety of projects, and finally getting her chance to shine in the spotlight with her previous debut – yet it may well be this well-crafted second album that finally puts the singer over the top! Valerie's completely her own woman here – not beholden to any sort of easy tags or cliches – including the "rootsy soul" or "folksy diva" tags that we heard batted around before – and instead, almost inventing her own genre for the record – which has a vibe that makes us guess that it's going to be the start of a huge legacy of fame to come for June. Her voice is timeless, the instrumentation is nicely understated, and the production is very easygoing – yet the whole thing comes across with a crispily compelling sound that could appeal to both hipsters and their more mainstream friends. That might sound like a dig, but it's not – just our way of illustrating the soon-to-be universal appeal of the singer! Titles include "The Front Door", "Astral Plane", "Long Lonely Road", "Just IN Time", "Slip Slide On By", "Two Hearts", and "Got Soul". CD

The complete recordings of Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davis – a great west coast duo who should have been huge! The core of the CD is the self titled Bo & Ruth record – a killer album of smooth soul – done with a bit of a southern tinge, and a great indie production approach that really makes the best of the duet-style vocals! Bo Kirkland is actually the great Mike James Kirkland – who you may know from killer indie soul albums issued before this gem – and these duets with Ruth Davis really expand his previous sound, and make the best use of his warm, mellow style of singing – a groove that's somewhere between Marvin Gaye, Stax Records, and maybe some of the best soul duo styles of the time. Bob Kirkland was the creative force behind the set – and has a great way of wrapping the vocals together in a mellow mode – often with Bo's vocals in the lead, as Ruth comes in to give him great support. The whole thing's wonderful – an overlooked gem that rivals some of the bigger southern soul albums of the time, especially those with a modern vibe – and titles include "Can You Feel It", "Grandfather Clock", "Easy Loving", "You're Gonna Get Next To Me", "To Make You Love Me", and "Train Of Desire". CD also features bonus tracks from singles – "Lost In A Love Zone", "That's A Bet", "Stay By My Side", "That's The Way The Wind Blows", and "Loving Arms". CD

A very well-titled album – as it definitely features Zoot Sims and Al Cohn stretching out – pushing their groove a bit more than on some of their tightly-composed mid 50s sessions for RCA! The lineup is still slightly large – an octet that features Zoot and Al on tenor, plus the latter on some baritone sax too – plus Harry Edison on trumpet, Bob Brookmeyer on trombone, Freddie Green on guitar, and Hank Jones on piano – working with a relaxed, easygoing vibe that swings in a gentle style that really opens up the solos. Titles include "Stretching Out", "Now Will You Be Good", "King Porter", and "Bee Kay". All this, and the album has a cover of a very sexy model – stretching out! CD

A really cool collection – one that's maybe best summed up by the word "ecstatic" in the title – as the package presents a blend of work from artists who easily skirt both the spiritual and secular side of soulful music, united together with a very joyous, uplifting vibe in their sound! This isn't classic gospel from the years when you might hear a guitar or organ behind a small group of harmonizing vocals – and instead, much of this work was created at a time when soul music had already been going strong for years – and while gospel might have initially helped in the formation of soul, it's clear that things are also moving the other direction in these tracks – as many of these artists borrow from the power of righteous soul styles, and use it to inflect their joyous message with a great new energy! Titles include "Everything Is Gonna Be Alright" by Keith Barrow, "Is There Anybody Here" by The Alvin Darling Ensemble, "Trouble's Brewin" by The Meditation Singers, "Satisfied" by Andre Crouch & The Disciples, "Let Your Feet Down Easy" by Dorothy Norwood, "If You Believe Your God Is Dead" by Swan Silvertones, "The Upper Way" by The Violinaires, "Elijah" by Roscoe Robinson, "Till I've Got This Feelin Of Love" by Dyson's Faces, and "Nothing Can Stop Me Now" by Destiny. CD

A really cool collection – one that's maybe best summed up by the word "ecstatic" in the title – as the package presents a blend of work from artists who easily skirt both the spiritual and secular side of soulful music, united together with a very joyous, uplifting vibe in their sound! This isn't classic gospel from the years when you might hear a guitar or organ behind a small group of harmonizing vocals – and instead, much of this work was created at a time when soul music had already been going strong for years – and while gospel might have initially helped in the formation of soul, it's clear that things are also moving the other direction in these tracks – as many of these artists borrow from the power of righteous soul styles, and use it to inflect their joyous message with a great new energy! Titles include "Everything Is Gonna Be Alright" by Keith Barrow, "Is There Anybody Here" by The Alvin Darling Ensemble, "Trouble's Brewin" by The Meditation Singers, "Satisfied" by Andre Crouch & The Disciples, "Let Your Feet Down Easy" by Dorothy Norwood, "If You Believe Your God Is Dead" by Swan Silvertones, "The Upper Way" by The Violinaires, "Elijah" by Roscoe Robinson, "Till I've Got This Feelin Of Love" by Dyson's Faces, and "Nothing Can Stop Me Now" by Destiny. LP, Vinyl record album

A great little set of rare soul music – served up by the Cairo imprint of Mississippi Records – and done with a very similar approach to their other reissues of folk, blues, and world music! The set focuses in on rootsier sounds, especially from the 60s – with lots of deep soul gems from both big names and some more obscure artists – all packaged with a detailed booklet of notes, in the best Mississippi style! The style is almost as if Folkway Records put together their own soul collection, but with work from other labels – and titles include "In My Heart" by Barbara & The Browns, "Tired Of Being Your Fool" by Nelson Sanders, "It's Not That Easy" by Reuben Bell & The Casanovas, "Since You've Been Gone" by The Falcons, "Can't Stay Away (parts 1 & 2)" by Slim & Ann, "Don't Ever Leave Me" by Bob & Earl, "Go Now" by Bessie Banks, "I Keep Forgetting You Don't Love Me No More" by The Thornton Sisters, "Don't Mistreat Me" by The Queenettes, "Let Me Down Easy" by Betta LaVette, "Life Is Too Short" by Benny Spellman, "Lament" by Mamie Perry, "I'm Missing You" by Loretta Williams, and "Everybody Knows" by OV Wright. LP, Vinyl record album

A great little relic from the San Francisco scene of the late 60s – the first album released by a group who'd been making some big waves in the city for the past few years, but never hit the fame of some of their contemporaries! The group originally featured Dan Hicks – of Hot Licks fame – who had departed by the time of this recording, yet still left some of his own love of roots elements in their sound. But there's some rougher moments too – sharper guitars, and a bit bolder vocals – alongside other tunes that have a slightly warmer, more nostalgic appeal. Titles include "Time To Get Straight", "High Coin", "Easy When I'm Dead", "When I Go Sailin By", "Wabash Cannonball", and "When The Movies Are Over". CD

While we're not big on career retrospective best of's, especially artists like Marley, whose been collected over & over, this is actually a respectable set, and the vinyl's pretty darn hard to get ahold of anymore. Includes tons of classics, like "Get Up Stand Up", "Exodus", "Stir It Up", "Easy Skanking", "Is This Love", "No Woman No Cry", "Could You Be Loved", "Three Little Birds", "Buffalo Soldier", "One Love/People Get Ready", "I Shot The Sheriff", 'Waiting In Vain", "Satisfy My Soul" and "Redemption Song". CD

Warren S Richardson Jr may not be the most catchy name for a rocker, but the record really knocks it out of the park from the very first note of fuzz – thanks to an all-out, super-ballsy sound! The set's one of those that might have been called "blues rock" at the time, but is hardly a blues record at all – as it's already taken those core influences and fused them into something harder and heavier – ala James Gang or maybe Johnny Winter, with lots of funky drums at the bottom, and plenty of super-wicked guitar! Richardson handles both that lead instrument and the vocals – and is actually Bill Spooner, of later Tubes fame – working here with Joseph Ray Trainer and Otis Eugene Hale on tenor saxes, and Richard Lewis on organ and trumpet. Mickey McGee handles the heavy drums – and titles include "Shady Lady", "Easy Rider", "Reputation", "Goin Home", "Stella", and "Wind & Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

A massive double-header – one that features the first two Sylvester albums for Fantasy Records! First up is the self-titled Sylvester – a reworking of his older groove into one that we love more than any other that he ever used – a smooth modern soul style, not really disco, but with a driving approach that would certainly have worked well in the clubs! You gotta give Syl credit here – as it would have been easy for him to turn up the camp a lot in the 1977 disco days – but instead he's sticking strong to his soul impulses, and has come up with a wonderful album of tracks that's like the first Luther album – one that you can enjoy whatever your take on the man, without any introduction to his person or persona. Of course, a big part of the credit also goes to Harvey Fuqua – who's reemerged here from his years at RCA to produce the record – showing his always strong ability to seek out new talent, and bring out the best in them. Titles include "I Tried To Forget You", "Tipsong", "I Been Down", "Loving Grows Up Slow", "Never Too Late", and "Over & Over". Step II is probably Sylvester's biggest album for Fantasy – and for good reason too! The set pushes onto the dancefloor a bit more than before – often with some slight keyboard touches that hint at the Patrick Cowley years, but with none of the coldness of those records at all. The great Harvey Fuqua's producing here with Syl, and the sound is rich and bold – an even more prideful statement than Sylvester's first album on Fantasy. Two Tons Of Fun deliver some great backup vocals, and Cowley lays down a bit of keyboards – and titles include the all-time disco classic "You Make Me Feel Mighty Real", plus "Dance (Disco Heat)", "Just You & Me Forever", "Grateful", and "I Took My Strength From You". CD

A great little relic from the San Francisco scene of the late 60s – the first album released by a group who'd been making some big waves in the city for the past few years, but never hit the fame of some of their contemporaries! The group originally featured Dan Hicks – of Hot Licks fame – who had departed by the time of this recording, yet still left some of his own love of roots elements in their sound. But there's some rougher moments too – sharper guitars, and a bit bolder vocals – alongside other tunes that have a slightly warmer, more nostalgic appeal. Titles include "Time To Get Straight", "High Coin", "Easy When I'm Dead", "When I Go Sailin By", "Wabash Cannonball", and "When The Movies Are Over". LP, Vinyl record album

A superb album from vocalist Johnny Hartman – a later date, but one that we'd rank right up there with his important Impulse Records material of the 60s! In fact, the album's something of a return to greatness for Hartman – the kind of date that should have become a jazz standard, had it not gotten lost in the unfortunate fates of the short-lived Beehive label – who did a really tremendous job with this set. Rather than try to make Johnny a modern singer, in any sort of forced idiom – Beehive instead return him to the best modes of yore, and give him simple, soulful support from a small group that features Frank Wess on tenor and flute, Joe Wilder on trumpet, and Billy Taylor on piano. The track list is great – the kind of tunes that really bring out the sophisticated side of Hartman's talents, yet allow him to be sensitive, too – and titles include "Nobody Home", "Wave", "Easy Living", "I Could Write A Book", and "For All We Know". LP, Vinyl record album

Thundering funk from the early 70s Detroit scene – and the complete work of The Propositions, a group who only ever managed to issue a few singles at the time! Due to a typo on the label of one single, the Propositions were also sometimes known as the Prepositions – but whatever the name, the band is pretty darn funky – as you'll hear in this excellent little set. Years back, the folks at Luv N Haight collected together the group's rare singles to make something of a full LP – but now, years later, they've gone back in the vaults and have come up with a huge amount of unreleased work to add to the mix – making for an overstuffed, double-length set that's filled to the rafters with great tunes. Most tracks are in a stone funky 45 mode – but they also groove out a bit longer than the usual single, and give the band plenty of room to roll around some great basslines and horn bits, which are in turn supported by some really wicked work on guitar, organ, and keyboards! Most tunes are instrumentals, and titles include "Funky Disposition", "Live Funk Session", "Do Whatever Turns You On (parts 1 & 2)", "Groovin For The Groove", "Something Different (long edit)", "Sweet Lucy", "Vamping", "Africana", "Free & Easy", "Bad Seed", "You've Been Chose", and "Kool Twist (live garage session 2)". 2CD package is filled with gems – a total of 20 tracks in all! CD

The Trammps are still burning strong at the end of the 70s – never losing their Philly groove despite a run on the charts and much bigger fame than most of their contemporaries – and in a way, the album's almost a back-to-basics affair that's pure Philly all the way! Arrangements here are by Norman Harris, Ron Kersey, and Ron Baker – who've taken the group into a mode that's perhaps got some of the new club touches being explored more at Salsoul than Philly International – but which still works tremendously well for the group. Tracks are all full, flowing, and and aimed at the dancefloor – and although there's not really any standout hits or hooks here, that aspect of the album is almost a welcome relief, given that the group could be going for easy hits at this point. Titles include "Love Insurance Policy", "Whole World's Dancing", "My Love It's Never Been Better", "Soul Bones", "Love Magnet", and "More Good Times To Remember". LP, Vinyl record album

A real change for the sound of Tony Williams Lifetime group – but a great one too, as the album's a lot more soulful than some of the group's other albums! There's been a real shift in the lineup here – with keyboardist Webster Lewis taking the place of Larry Young – and bringing in a warmer, more soul-based style – one that fits nicely with the expanded vocal styles of the album. The lovely Tequila Williams makes her debut alongside Tony on some of the album's lyrics, and production of the set is handled by Ben Sidran – in the same sort of mix of jazz and hip rock-era vocals that you'd find in his own work from the time. And best of all, the album's strongest tracks have a mix of modal grooves and funky undercurrents that really stand out – using some great jazzy changes to make for a really fresh set! Titles include "Mystic Knights Of The Sea", "You Make It Easy", "What It's About", and "The Boodang". LP, Vinyl record album

A wealth of spiritual sounds from more recent years – served up in a killer compilation that focuses on all the great new sounds that have been emerging from different global scenes – a sublime blend of jazz, soul, Latin, and other modes – all at a level that gives us plenty of hope for both modern music, and the future of humanity too! The set follows in the spirit of nuggets from the past we've always dug from the Right Tempo/Easy Tempo label – but work here is instead all new, and represents a great outpouring of contemporary talents who draw inspiration from the best currents of 60s and 70s righteous expression, the find a way to make bold new statements of their own. Titles include "Envoy" by Mary Ancheta Quartet, "Subway" by Azar Azar, "Let The Sunshine In" by Jimetta Rose & Voices Of Creation, "Formative Stages" by Organic Pulse Ensemble, "Who Will Save The World" by Anthony Joseph, "Naboro" by Tino Contreras, "For Horace" by Raffy Bushman, "Cut To The Chase" by Malcolm Strachan, "Ruptura" by Mama Terra, "Seasons In My Mind (Patchworks version)" by Yellowtail with Mark Murphy, and "Afro Blue" by Francesco Sotgiu. LP, Vinyl record album

Way more than just a disco collection – a great album that features a few tunes that we haven't seen elsewhere! A number of the tracks are uptown groovers lifted from RCA albums – like "Pressure Cookin" by Labelle, "The Happy Hooker" by Nite-Liters, "Sex Trip" by Crown Heights Affair, "Have You Ever Tried It" by The Main Ingredient, and "Hook It Up" by The Choice Four – but the album's also got some killer obscure tunes that rank with the best early indie disco at the time! These tracks include "How Have You Been" by Blood Hollins with vocals by Jean Lang, "Free And Easy" by Satyr, "One Way Street" by Beckett Brown, and "I Wanna Know" by Sunny Gale – all excellent early disco groovers, with a really soulful finish! LP, Vinyl record album

Three vocal gems in a single set! First up is It Might As Well Be Love – a record that's a perfect example of the way that Ann Burton really stands out among the field of female jazz vocalists – as an artist who's both able to continue a classic legacy, yet also bring all sorts of special inflections and expressions of her own to really transform the music! At first glance, the record's in familiar territory – with combo backing from Mike Renzi on piano, Jay Berliner on guitar, Buster Williams on bass, and Grady Tate on drums – but the choice of material and Ann's execution really take the album into something fresh, different, and really unique – that little something extra that always makes Burton's more obscure albums always worth seeking out! Titles include "Sooner Or Later", "After You", "I Like You You're Nice", "Humpty Dumpty Heart", and "What'll I Do". That's All is an easygoing live set from vocalist Ann Burton – one that has her working with the trio of pianist Rob Agerbeek, and which features a few guest appearances from Mark Murphy! The whole thing's got an approach that makes you feel like you're right in the club with Ann – as Rob's trio handle a few titles instrumentally, then Ann steps in for vocals, and Mark Murphy makes a surprise appearance at the end. Recording quality is great – clean and clear, but never too much so to lose the spontaneity of the performance – and Ann herself is especially wonderful in the way she slides easily into the tunes, and sings them with a lively punch that really gives them a bit of new life. Titles include "Dreamer", "Blue Bossa", "Time Was", "My Gentleman Friend", "My Buddy", "I Wish I Were In Love Again", and "That's All". New York State Of Mind is wonderfully laidback vocal work from Ann Burton – a richly talented singer who really sounds best in a setting like this! The album's got Burton working with a trio – Grady Tate on drums, Buster Williams on bass, and sweet acoustic and electric piano from Michael Renzi. Burton interprets the tunes here with a classic care that's rare for a vocalist of her generation. The set was produced by Helen Merrill, which might well account for an approach that works so sympathetically with warm vocals. Titles include "You Started Something", "All Too Soon", "Never Never Land", "Come In From The Rain", and "I Can Dream, Can't I?" CD

Amazing! Earth Wind & Fire's ultimate moment of the 70s – and a perfect blending of all their influences that stands as a lasting tribute to their super-huge effect on soul music! The record features all aspects of the band coming into perfect cohesion – bassy funk, mellow soul, and Afrocentric jazz – all expertly handled by the great Charles Stepney, who still has the same rich talent for blending styles that he had while working at Chess/Cadet during the glory days of the late 60s. Some of these songs have been played to death (and covered so much) over the years that it's often easy to forget what a crowning moment this was for former underground soul heroes Earth, Wind & Fire – but we'll never cease to be amazed at the power of their mid-70s work, and this album's the best of the best. Titles include "Shining Star", "That's The Way Of The World", "Reasons", "Africano", "See The Light", and "Happy Feelin". CD

Amazing! Earth Wind & Fire's ultimate moment of the 70s – and a perfect blending of all their influences that stands as a lasting tribute to their super-huge effect on soul music! The record features all aspects of the band coming into perfect cohesion – bassy funk, mellow soul, and Afrocentric jazz – all expertly handled by the great Charles Stepney, who still has the same rich talent for blending styles that he had while working at Chess/Cadet during the glory days of the late 60s. Some of these songs have been played to death (and covered so much) over the years that it's often easy to forget what a crowning moment this was for former underground soul heroes Earth, Wind & Fire – but we'll never cease to be amazed at the power of their mid-70s work, and this album's the best of the best. Titles include "Shining Star", "That's The Way Of The World", "Reasons", "Africano", "See The Light", and "Happy Feelin". LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing! Earth Wind & Fire's ultimate moment of the 70s – and a perfect blending of all their influences that stands as a lasting tribute to their super-huge effect on soul music! The record features all aspects of the band coming into perfect cohesion – bassy funk, mellow soul, and afrocentric jazz – all expertly handled by the great Charles Stepney, who still has the same rich talent for blending styles that he had while working at Chess/Cadet during the glory days of the late 60s. Some of these songs have been played to death (and covered so much) over the years that it's often easy to forget what a crowning moment this was for former underground soul heroes Earth Wind & Fire – but we'll never cease to be amazed at the power of their mid 70s work, and this album's the best of the best. Titles include "Shining Star", "That's The Way Of The World", "Reasons", "Africano", "See The Light", and "Happy Feelin". CD also features 5 bonus tracks – "Shining Star (future star)", "All About Love (first impressions)", "Happy Feelin (anatomy of a groove)", "Caribou Chaser (jazzy jam)", and "That's The Way Of The World (Latin expedition)". CD

Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera weren't the biggest group on the British scene of the late 60s, but they were certainly one of the coolest – as you'll hear on this massive collection that brings together all their key work of the time! First up is the self-titled debut album – stunner of a set from a group who should have been huge – especially given the sharpness and wit of this debut album! Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera bring together all the best strands of up and coming Brit rock of the time – a bit of psych undercut with some bluesy elements, marked by a moddish smirk that really keeps the whole thing punched-up throughout – no overindulgence, no easy mark for a hit – just a very individual sensibility that few of the group's underground contemporaries could match! These guys come across with all the personality of The Who in Happy Jack/Magic Bus years – and have a similar use and distance of trippy elements of the time – almost tongue in cheek, but just because they find a way to shift between them and straighter rock so easily. Songs are all great, and really well-written – and apart from a version of Oscar Brown Jr's "I Was Cool", the set features original material that includes "Mother Writes", "Mary Jane", "Flames", "Lookin For A Happy Life", and "Walter Sly Meets Bill Bailey". Next is the group's second album Ride A Hustler's Dream – a set that maybe has the group bringing in more blues influences to the music at times, but mostly as a way to let both the guitar work and vocals get even fuller and strongly expressed – which means that when the psychedelic elements come into the mix, there's an even more powerful vibe than on their debut album too! Titles include "Black Jack Davy", "Ride A Hustler's Dream", "Honey By", "Anna Dance Square", "Depression", "Warm Day In July", and the very cool "Raga" – and a great remake of "Eleanor Rigby". 3CD set features the debut album in a rare promo-only mono mix, plus 34 bonus tracks that include "There's A Hole In My Pocket", "She Keeps Giving Me These Feelings", "The Painter", "And I Remember", "Talk Of The Devil", "Dreamy", "Volcano", "A Quick B", and lots more – including singles and BBC tracks too! CD

Fantastic material captured during the moment of Sleepy John Estes' rediscovery in 1962 – a session that mostly has Sleepy on vocals and guitar, with just a bit of additional support on a few tracks! The approach is perfect for Estes – easing him back into recording at a level that's very personal, almost conversational – and the singer has this surprisingly easygoing and fluid quality on both vocals and guitar – as if he'd been in the limelight for years, instead of lost to the shifting sands of time! Support is by the harmonica of Hammie Nickson on three tracks, and the bass of Ed Wilkenson on two as well – and titles include "City Hall Blues", "Mailman Blues", "Pat Mann", "Al Rawls", "Lawyer Clark", "Working Man Blues", "Government Money", and "Martha Hardin". CD

An amazing jam session set – of the sort that was rarely issued in the 60s, and hardly ever on labels like Solid State Records! The album features a small group of all-star players recorded live at the Village Vanguard in 1967 – all blowing on long, unstructured tunes that offer amazing solo space, and the kind of spontaneity that's rarely captured so well in a live jazz setting. Players include Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet, Pepper Adams on baritone sax, Chick Corea on piano, Ray Nance on violin, Richard Davis on bass, and either Elvin Jones or Mel Lewis on drums – and the unusual mix of players really comes together beautifully for the record, in a rare spirit that recalls the best of the Norman Granz JATP sessions, but with a hipper sort of 60s feel. Titles include "Birk's Works", "Blues For Max", "Lover Come Back To Me", and "Lullaby At The Leaves" – all presented in very long versions, 2 of which are longer here than ever before! The second disc in this series that captures the fire and spontaneity of the famous late 60s Sunday afternoon sessions at the Village Vanguard – recorded when that club was an important site for criss-crossing of styles and traditions, as you'll hear wonderfully in this set! The album features a sextet that includes Pepper Adams, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, Richard Davis, Mel Lewis, and Garnet Brown – playing in an easy, open format that has them really stretching out on 3 long tracks. The focus here is on the solo work of the players, but there's also a surprisingly great sense of cohesiveness and lyrical interplay as well. Titles include "Tour De Force", "On The Trail", and "Sweet Gorgia Brown" – 2 of which are here in tracks that have never been issued in this longer format! CD

A pair of early records from Hour Glass – back to back in a single set! First up is the self titled Hour Glass album – fantastic early work from Gregg And Duane Allman – a set that's nothing at all like their Allman Brothers material, but which has a wonderful style nonetheless! At some level, there's a very strong soul current running through the music – as the group mix in songs by Curtis Mayfield, Deon Jackson, and others with some headier rock material – all set up in these arrangements by Dallas Smith that seem to begin in uptown soul, then push things into more psychedelic territory! The blend is great, and makes for a really wonderful record – on titles that include "I've Been Trying", "No Easy Way Down", "Out Of The Night", "Nothing But Tears", "Heartbeat", and "Silently". Power Of Love is an excellent second set from Hour Glass – the pre-Allman Brothers Band that featured both Duane and Gregg Allman, the latter of whom is really coming into his own on the record! Unlike the group's debut, this one features a lot more original material by Gregg – and guitars that start to crackle in that sweetly cresting style that would become the group's hallmark, and which would have an undeniable influence on the sound of rock in the 70s. At some level, the whole thing's an early southern effort to answer the sounds of the Bay Area scene – and comes off beautifully, thanks to titles that include "To Things Before", "I'm Not Afraid", "Home For The Summer", "Down In Texas", "Now Is The Time", and "Going Nowhere". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the greatest jazz work ever recorded by Michel Legrand! Although Legrand's always been known for his sweet soundtrack work and his famous easy listening sides – he's also a heck of a jazz pianist, and here in this rare 1959 session, he works in a trio format that puts him right up there with the best of the French piano-technics of his generation, like Maurice Vander or Rene Utreger. The arrangements are wonderfully off-beat – and Legrand dances around the piano with a versatility that we didn't know he had. The group features Guy Pedersen on bass and Gus Wallez on drums – and titles include "Paris In The Spring", "Sous Les Ponts De Paris", "Paris Canaille", "Moulin Rouge", and "La Vie En Rose". CD

Four heavy classics from Buddy Miles – all together in a single set! First up is Expressway To Your Skull – a super tripped-out blend of rock, funk, and soul – easily one of Buddy Miles' most mindblowing albums – and a classic that never lets up at all! Buddy's leading the whole group on drums – really kicking things large from behind the kit – while the rest of the group jams in a heavy style that's got plenty of fuzzed-out guitar and jazzy horn riffs – virtually a blueprint for countless other rock funk groups that copped Buddy's style in years to come. The drums alone are worth the price of admission – but the whole album's so right, tight, and outta sight that it's been a favorite in our crates for years! Titles include "Train", "Let Your Lovelight Shine", "Don't Mess With Cupid", "Funky Mule", and "Wrap It Up". Electric Church is filled with bluesy soul from Buddy Miles – an album that was half-produced by Jimi Hendrix, and which showcases the really crowd-pleasing side of Miles' sound! Tracks are a mix of soul covers and original numbers – done in a mode that puts plenty of guitar out front in the mix, and which uses Buddy's screaming vocals a bit more than his heavier drums. Horns are used on most numbers to give them a bit of southern soul inflection, and titles include a great live jamming take on "Wrap It Up", the funky "Destructive Love", and the cuts "Cigarettes & Coffee", "Miss Lady", "Texas", and "My Chant". Them Changes is a landmark album of crossover funk – fuzzed out rock, soul, and jazzy licks all coming into play together – held totally tight by drummer Buddy Miles, the undisputed king of his scene! Buddy's drums are super-heavy – holding down his Freedom Express group with a heavy jazz-rock sound that would soon have a huge influence on other groups. Includes Buddy's original version of "Them Changes" – a tune that was instantly covered by everyone at the time – plus the cuts "Memphis Train", "Your Feeling Is Mine", "Dreams", and "Down By The River". Last up is We Got To Live Together – pure crossover genius from Buddy Miles – a great mix of funky soul and rockish touches – and the kind of record that easily put Buddy in the same camp as Sly Stone or The Isley Brothers with mainstream audiences of the time! Tracks here are a bit longer and more jamming than work by either of those two artists – with the kind of heavy guitar and horns that played heavily to the Fillmore crowd – but the overall sound of the record is a fair bit more soulful and even funkier than some other Miles' efforts from the earlier years too, with plenty of his tight drums in the mix! Titles include a great 12 minute reading of the title track "We Got To Live Together" – plus "Take It Off Him & Put It On Me", "Runaway Child", "Walking Down The Highway", and "Easy Greasy". CD

One of the best recordings we've heard in years from saxophonist Plunky Branch – and one of the few to really capture the glory of his 70s classics with Oneness Of Juju! Given the billing of this set, it's clear that the older soul jazz spirit of Oneness is very strong in the conception of the set – and the live performance features many classics from the group's 70s albums on Black Fire, played here with a good live energy and a strong sense of soul that's way way better than the smoother jazz Plunky has been putting down in recent studio sets. The lineup here is a small combo one – with Tanya Lazenby-Jackson on keyboards and vocals – working alongside Plunky's saxes, plus additional keyboards, bass, and lots of percussion. We'd even go so far as to say that the material here easily stands with the classic and all-too-small Oneness Of Juju catalog from the 70s – and the double-length 2CD set features 22 tracks that include "Up & Down", "Be About The Future", "Follow Me", "River Luvrite", "Space Jungle Luv", "Nia", "Sex Machine", "Kool/One World Music", "World Wide Party", and "Plastic (Is Easy To See Through)". CD

A real discovery in music – previously unreleased material recorded by Diana Ross in 1972 – all done in a jazz-based vein! The album was done after Diana's appearance in Lady Sings The Blues, and follows in a clear Billie Holiday-inspired approach to American standards – one that has Gil Askey providing some gently jazzy backings, and Ross singing in a style that's sad and mellow enough to fit the "blue" in the title! Why Motown never issued this one at the time is a real mystery to us – because the record is really wonderful, and a needed deepening of Diana's talents from the time. Plus, given that the whole record was never "finished off" in the 70s, there's a laidback, almost slightly rough quality to the whole thing – presenting Ross in a more earnest interpretation of the mode than might have been the case if it was slicked up for the charts. Titles include "What A Difference A Day Makes", "No More", "Let's Do It", "Smile", "But Beautiful", "Had You Been Around", "Little Girl Blue", and "Love Is Here To Stay". CD also features 4 bonus tracks – "Easy Living", "Solitude", "He's Funny That Way", and "T'Aint Nobody's Business If I Do". CD

One of the best-ever albums by this incredible soul duo! Sam & Dave may have been one of the bigger names on the 60s scene, but they also had a sheer raw soul approach that blew away most of their contemporaries – a way of trading vocal lines then combining them that infused their songs with a tremendous amount of power – and which gets past any easy cliches you may have about Atlantic or Stax soul of the time! The album's virtually a blueprint for countless other acts that cropped up to steal the duo's style in years to come – but it's still one of the best of the bunch, and almost without equal. Titles include "Soul Man", "May I Baby", "Hold It Baby", "I'm With You", and "Rich Kind Of Poverty". CD

The first, and arguably the best, of John Zorn's Naked City albums. The sound is extremely intense, and represents a blinding blend of influences, most of which Zorn had been showcasing in more easy going settings on previous albums. The core group includes Bill Frisell, Wayne Horvitz, Fred Frith, and Joey Baron – plus a guest appearance by Yamatsuka Eye. Hard to find on vinyl, and with the titles "Demon Sanctuary", "Speedball", "James Bond Theme", "Ingenous Ejaculation", "I Want To Live", and "Latin Quarter". CD

After blowing our minds with the first volume of The Sound Gallery, the same folks wen't on to put this one together – and they drove us crazy with the massive amount of Brit easy grooves that they managed to dig up and string together! There's 5 tracks by the genius of the Brit easy genre, Roy Budd, including a number from the soundtrack to Get Carter, an obscure Michael Caine film from around 1970. Other goodies include "Stiletto" by Chico Rey, "Heavy Water" by Ray Davies and His Funky Trumpet, "Grow Your Own" by John Schroeder, "Super Shine No. 9" by Sister Goose and The Ducklings, and "Pegasus" by Mike Vickers. Still one of our fave easy comps ever – and it's been out for nearly 3 years! CD

To say this one's been a long time coming would be an understatement! This awesome set features a 4 hour (!) DVD, loaded with rare footage of the Skatalites, Jackie Mittoo and Ernest Ranglin, plus in-depth interviews with Dodd and a whole host of artists that had worked their way through the Studio One stable throughout the years. Then there's the 16 track CD – a fitting complement to the film and next worthy installment in the fine series of compilations of Studio One material that Soul Jazz has undertaken, this time spanning all the genres that Studio One would cover, including ska, rocksteady, roots and dancehall, including Theo Beckford "Easy Snapping", The Skatalites "Guns Of Navarone", Delroy Wilson "Dancing Mood", The Heptones "Baby", Alton Ellis "I'm Still In Love With You", Tommy McCook "Tunnel One", Sugar Minott "Jah Jah Children", The Dub Specialist "Banana Walk", Dennis Alcapone "Run Run", The Lone Ranger "Love Bump" and Jackie Mittoo "Freak Out". And if that weren't enough, there's the 100 page booklet, loaded with photos and a complete history of the label, making this choice set one of the nicest packages we've come across in a long, long time! CD

Jon Batiste steps out of his jazzy comfort zone, and opens the door to a whole host of global elements – and also manages to step into the world of soul as well! The record's almost to Batiste what the Black Radio projects were to Robert Glasper – showing a growing cultural presence past that of a jazz musician – as Batiste works with a host of guests who include Native Soul, Lana Del Rey, Leigh Anne, Lil Wayne, JJID, and others – fusing jazzy solo work, soulful vocals, and contemporary grooves into a tapestry that is bound to get the Jon Batiste name out there in ways his previous records never did. The approach isn't one for jazz purists, but then again, Jon's never really been a purist overall – and we gladly embrace the project as the sort that's opening doors to new ears, then leading them back to jazz! Titles include "Uneasy", "Call Now", "Boom For Real", "Movement 18", "Life Lesson", "White Space", "Running Away", "My Heart", "Drink Water", "Raindance", and "Be Who You Are". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautifully meditative music from Alabaster DePlume – a set that brings together work from a variety of recorded projects from the past decade or so – finally getting full exposure in this Transatlantic collaboration between Chicago's International Anthem label and London's Total Refreshment Centre! The sound is a great illustration of the genre-crossing modes that have been going on in both scenes – as Alabaster's music is definitely beyond easy description or definition, and comes across in a way that's as personal as it is collaborative – since DePlume works with a whole host of different musicians on the recordings, mixing flute, percussion, strings, keyboards, and other elements together in a way that follows a spiritual legacy from the more spacey side of Alice Coltrane, to the west coast experiments of Carlos Nino and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, to the changes taking place on the planet at present. Alabaster plays tenor and guitar, and vocalizes slightly – but never really sings – and titles include "Why Buzzardman Why", "Not My Ask", "Whisky Story Time", "If You're Sure You Want To", "What's Missing", and "Song Of The Foundling". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet 50s vocals from Teddi King – a set that's arranged with a fuller style than her small combo sessions from the time – but which still shows her to be one of the most distinctive singers of her time! Teddi's got a voice that's much richer than you'd guess from her small frame – a way of putting over a tune that's not really emotive, but much more deeply expressive than some of her contemporaries – yet all without resorting to any easy cliches, or familiar styles pulled from previous generations. The backings from George Siravo follow this approach nicely – never too overdone, but often with some nice little instrumental touches that add a bit of flair to the proceedings. The songs all echo the "To You" in the title – with a strong use of the second person pronoun in an intimate way – on numbers that include "The Way You Look Tonight", "You Go To My Head", "Where Have You Been", "How Come You Do Me Like You Do", "The Touch Of Your Lips", "The Very Thought Of You", and "Mr You've Gone & Got The Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A great look at a really lost legacy in music from Charlie Rich – obscure sides recorded for RCA Records in the early 60s – done after his initial rush of genius on Sun Records, and before his later commercial success on Epic! Charlie's got one of the all-time great voices in pop music – a richness that easily rivals that of Memphis contemporary Elvis Presley, and which never fully got its due at the time – even though labels like RCA and Smash provided Rich with some fantastic material and production! Charlie's work for Smash has been picked up by the cognoscenti in recent years, and we'd honestly put these RCA tracks right up alongside them – with a similar Tennessee blend of soul and rock, rural and urban – all delivered by Charlie's incredibly charming vocal approach, and recorded with a depth that goes way beyond the usual RCA production modes of the time. There's plenty of currents of soul in the mix – even some New York-styled modes, which really work well with Rich – and this 40 track set is the first time this material has ever been pulled together – long-overdue, and a real treat to our ears! Titles include "Like Someone In Love", "Lady Love", "Nice & Easy", "Big Boss Man", "It's All Over Now", "The Grass Is Always Greener", "Now Everybody Knows", "My Mountain Dew", "The Big Build Up", "She Called Me Baby", "Gentleman Jim", "Christmas Greetings", "All Of My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers", "Is Goodbye That Easy To Say", "Tragedy", "Ten Dollars & A Clean White Shirt", "Tomorrow Night", and "No Room To Dance". CD

A well-remembered solo album from singer/songwriter Carole Bayer Sager – in large part because the set also features superb late work from Burt Bacharach too! Bacharach co-produced the set with Brooks Arthur, who'd handled some of Carole's previous music – and there's definitely lots of those later mature Bacharach touches on the record. Many of the songs were co-written by Burt and Carole, and the album's got a thematic unity that also features some introductory bits that push the flow of the songs as they move together – titles that include "Tell Her", "Somebody's Been Lying", "On The Way To The Sky", "You Don't Know Me", "Stronger Than Before", "Easy To Love Again", "Sometimes Late At Night", "You & Me", and "I Won't Break". CD features very cool bonus tracks – a few singles mixed with conversation with Burt and Carole – the Carole Bayer Sager Radio special! CD

A massive double-header – one that features the first two Sylvester albums for Fantasy Records! First up is the self-titled Sylvester – a reworking of his older groove into one that we love more than any other that he ever used – a smooth modern soul style, not really disco, but with a driving approach that would certainly have worked well in the clubs! You gotta give Syl credit here – as it would have been easy for him to turn up the camp a lot in the 1977 disco days – but instead he's sticking strong to his soul impulses, and has come up with a wonderful album of tracks that's like the first Luther album – one that you can enjoy whatever your take on the man, without any introduction to his person or persona. Of course, a big part of the credit also goes to Harvey Fuqua – who's reemerged here from his years at RCA to produce the record – showing his always strong ability to seek out new talent, and bring out the best in them. Titles include "I Tried To Forget You", "Tipsong", "I Been Down", "Loving Grows Up Slow", "Never Too Late", and "Over & Over". Step II is probably Sylvester's biggest album for Fantasy – and for good reason too! The set pushes onto the dancefloor a bit more than before – often with some slight keyboard touches that hint at the Patrick Cowley years, but with none of the coldness of those records at all. The great Harvey Fuqua's producing here with Syl, and the sound is rich and bold – an even more prideful statement than Sylvester's first album on Fantasy. Two Tons Of Fun deliver some great backup vocals, and Cowley lays down a bit of keyboards – and titles include the all-time disco classic "You Make Me Feel Mighty Real", plus "Dance (Disco Heat)", "Just You & Me Forever", "Grateful", and "I Took My Strength From You". CD

London's always been one of the hippest cities in the world – but back during the postwar years, there was an especially wonderful outpouring of music on the scene – a rich array of new sounds and styles pulled from around the globe – as so many residents from crumbling British empire came to live in the UK! Musicians and listeners arrived in London with plenty of cultural baggage on hand – influences from the Caribbean, West Africa, and India too – plus other smaller scenes that once fell under the British banner, all now the fuel for the cultural fire that was happening in England! The title here tells plenty about the music being made in this newly-formed scene – bits of African highlife, Jamaican calypso, American jazz, Cuban Latin, and more – all filtered into the modernism of the 50s, and given a new twist that was decidedly urban as well. The package may well be the most impressive so far in this legendary series – and is certainly the one that moves the farthest past any sort of easy expectations or cultural conventions. Titles include "Women Police In England" by Mighty Terror, "My Sorrow" by West African Swing Stars, "Cricket Umpires" by Lord Kitchener, "Jordhu" by Caribbean Swing Band, "Trumpet Highlife" by Shake Keane, "Calypso Mambo" by George Browne, "Cuban Nightingale" by Buddy Pipp's Highlifers, "Kitch" by The Quavers, "Tabu" by Mona Baptiste, and "King Jimmy Foo Foo" by Tejan Sie with The West African Rhythm Brothers. LP, Vinyl record album

Easily our favorite volume in this legendary series – a mindblowing batch of grooves put together by the godlike talents of Patrick Forge! Forge's work in many genres is well known – and the set's a mix of older funk, soul, jazz, and club numbers – plus a newer tracks that really maintain the classic vibe! There's plenty of treasures here that still haven't been reissued over the years – and titles include "Nothing's Changed" by Ten City, "Summer Bummer" by Crazy Penis, "Send In The Clowns" by Lorez Alexandria, "Motivation" by Atmosfear, "The Way We Live" by Raw Soul Express, "Berimbau De Ossanha" by Easydelics, "Guiro Electro" by Bobby Matos, "Spring Again" by Kevin Yost, "In Good Faith" by Norman Harris, "Straight Ahead" by Brooklyn Express, and "African Mailman" by Nina Simone. CD

There have been lots of Lowrider soul compilations on the market over the years – documenting the great of of mellow cuts on the LA scene of the 60s – particularly the kind that could move slow, but with a heavy groove at the bottom – perfect for chilling out in the back of a car on an endless summer night! Yet few have ever done the job as well as this collection – because in the hands of Ace/Kent Records, the music finally gets proper historical context – moved past the jargon of the East LA in crowd, and presented with great sound, and the kind of detailed notes that really get at the special qualities that made the west coast soul scene so different than the east in the 60s! The set list is superb – fantastic mellow soul tracks that are perfect, even if you don't care about this history – and titles include "It's Not That Easy" by Reuben Bell with The Casanovas, "I Really Love You" by The Ambassadors, "As I Sit Here" by The Whispers, "One More Chance" by The Four Tees, "Take A Step" by Aesop's Fables, "Why'd You Put Me On" by Bobbi Row & The Englishmen, "I Wanna Chance" by The Vows, "Second Hand Happiness" by Jimmy Conwell, "Be Kind To Love" by The Interpreters, "As Long As I've Got You" by The Charmels, "Don't Forget About Me Baby" by Jeff Dale, "I'm A Lonely Man" by Bobby Burn, "Crying All By Myself" by William Bell, "I'm Just Passing Time" by Melvin Hicks & The Versatiles, "When You're Poor" by The Lovers, "It's So Hard To Break A Habit" by The Webs, "Find Me" by The Attractions, "Never Gonna Let Him Know" by Debbie Taylor, and "Pretending Dear" by The Lovelles. CD