A tremendous quintet of top-shelf improvisers – all coming together here in a reading of a 10 part suite composed by group leader, pianist Myra Melford! The album's easily one of the boldest that Melford has recorded in years – a fantastic reminder of her power when she's really at her best – and her ability to create real magic at a spontaneous level, working alongside Mary Halvorson on guitar, Ingrid Laubrock on tenor and soprano, Tomeka Reid on cello, and Susie Ibarra on drums and percussion! All four other players are key leaders on their own – but come together here seamlessly, in music that's often strongly directed by Melford's piano presence, but explosively creative in all the other parts of the spectrum as well. The set features the long title piece, divided up into ten segments – beautiful throughout! CD

A wonderful package – one that brings together four killer horror soundtracks from Italian maestro Bruno Nicolai! First up is La Coda Dello Scorpione – a dark dark masterpiece from the legendary Bruno Nicolai – written for an equally dark thriller with a wonderful edge! The work here is on a par with that of Nicolai's frequent partner, Ennio Morricone – often using full orchestrations to score a deeper theme in the film – but also often moving to lighter, leaner moments based around a simpler instrumental mode. There's a staccato feel to some of the best moments on the set – spare and edgey, with a sense of dread that's almost palpable! Next is Il Tuo Vizio E Una Stanza Chiusa E Solo Io Ne Ho La Chiave – a wonderful score by Bruno Nicolai – one that follows strongly in the mode of work from the time by frequent collaborator, Ennio Morricone! The approach on most tracks is spare and moody – using a lot of harpsichord over light orchestrations – and going for a tense feel that matches the spirit of the horror film, but which also has some surprisingly sweet and sexy moments from time to time. On Tutti I Colori De Buio, Bruno Nicolai's at his most Morricone-esque – and has crafted a dreamy set of tunes that hardly matches the dark Satanist thriller they were recorded for! The melodies are light, and spare, with isolated and drawn-out piano and string passages – plus some wonderful wordless vocals from the great Edda Dell'Orso – floating along in magical Morricone territory. Apart from a few tense moments, the whole thing has this moodier, mellow feel – with some lighter lovely tunes that would be right at home in a Mondo Morricone type set. Last up is one of our all-time Nicolai favorites, Perche Quelle Strane Gocce Di Sangue Sul Corpo Di Jennifer – one of the greatest soundtracks we've ever heard from Bruno Nicolai – a wonderful array of lightly groovy tunes that's as fantastic as any of the Mondo Morricone work from the same time! The main theme of the film has a catchy La Donna Invisible sort of feel – building on waves of sound with piano over orchestrations, skipping along to an altered bossa beat – showing up in a number of different variants throughout the score. Other tracks are darker and moodier, but really vary things up to fit the moods of the scene – using Morricone-styled bits of harpsichord, violin, or strings to come up with some incredible sounds. This vinyl/CD box features a 2LP set with key themes from all the films, plus individual CD releases of the whole soundtracks – along with a big booklet and a poster! LP, Vinyl record album

Grooves unlike anything else you've ever heard before – the rightly legendary musical legacy of William Onyeabor, one of the most enigmatic talents to come from the African scene of the 70s! The work here is all plenty darn funky, but it's also very different from familiar Afro Funk too – as the instrumentation is heavy on keyboards, handled by William with incredible dexterity – and spun out in these soaring lines that bristle with righteous touches that really support the message of his tunes! The vibe mixes in some electro elements with long-drawn rhythms – and the vocals often step aside for lots of keyboard and rhythm interplay, then come in to send things home at just the right moment. Onyeabor's been a pretty elusive cat over the years, and it's taken Luaka Bop quite some time to put this collection together – amazing work that may well make the album one of the most important to ever come from the label – and the first introduction to the non-African world of Onyeabor's incredible sounds. Titles include "Body & Soul", "Atomic Bomb", "Something You'll Never Forget", "Why Go To War", "Love Is Blind", "Fantastic Man", and "Let's Fall In Love". 3LP set features four bonus tracks not on the CD! LP, Vinyl record album

Saxophonist Evan Parker has always been a wonderfully collaborative talent – fantastic on his own, but also very able to improvise at a fantastic level within any sort of group – so that he never dominates, and instead only seems to act as a force that seems to bring out the best in all around him! That's definitely the case here – in a set of improvisations recorded in London and Copenhagen, with a trio that features Jacob Anderskov on piano, Adam Pultz Melbye on bass, and Anders Vestergaard on drums – all younger musicians that, we think, are new to our ears – but who hit a level of spontaneous creation that's really wonderful alongside Parker's tenor. The set features four long tracks, two from each city. CD

A further stunning chapter in the career of guitarist Jeff Parker – a musician who's just grown in leaps and bounds on a succession of records for the International Anthem label! Here, Jeff plays solo guitar throughout – in modes that occasionally hearken back to his earlier material for other labels, but which really shows that amazing understanding of sound and tone that he's developed more recently – this incredible ear for all the possibilities of the electric guitar, at a level that moves beyond just jazz too – with moments on the record that almost have a John Fahey-like understanding of his instrument, as Parker creates all these fantastic passages in sound that are completely sublime. Titles include "Suffolk", "Flour Of Fur", "Four Folks", "La Jetee", "Ugly Beauty", and "Excess Success". CD

A further stunning chapter in the career of guitarist Jeff Parker – a musician who's just grown in leaps and bounds on a succession of records for the International Anthem label! Here, Jeff plays solo guitar throughout – in modes that occasionally hearken back to his earlier material for other labels, but which really shows that amazing understanding of sound and tone that he's developed more recently – this incredible ear for all the possibilities of the electric guitar, at a level that moves beyond just jazz too – with moments on the record that almost have a John Fahey-like understanding of his instrument, as Parker creates all these fantastic passages in sound that are completely sublime. Titles include "Suffolk", "Flour Of Fur", "Four Folks", "La Jetee", "Ugly Beauty", and "Excess Success". LP, Vinyl record album

Four fantastic albums from the legendary Prince Far I! The set begins with the classic Free From Sin – Great early work from Prince Far I – a stunning mix of reggae and dub, with a righteous quality that really gives the prince his title amongst 70s Jamaican royalty! Backing is by a version of the Roots Radics – with the excellent Style Scott on drums, Errol Holt on Bass, Bingy Bunny, Sowell and Chinna Smith on guitar, Bobby Kalphat and Snappin on keys, Bobby Ellis and Deadly Headly on horns, and Bongo Herman and Ras Millinek on percussion – but the real key to the sound is the way that Prince Far I produces the whole thing, and mixes his own sinister vocals with the heady, bottom-heavy rhythms – all with a quality that matches Lee Scratch Perry at his best! Titles include "Free From Sin", "Light Of Fire", "Reggae Music", "I & I Are the Chosen One", "Don't Deal With Folly", "Call On I In Trouble", "When Jah Ready You Got To Move", and "Siren". Jamaican Heroes is a totally great album by Prince Far I – and a set that already shows him building that crucial London/Kingston bridge that would be such a big part of his sound! The album features work from Sly & Robbie, and the killer drums of Style Scott on rhythm – but also includes contributions by London hipsters Viv Albertine & Ari Up (of the Slits), and David Toop (noted music writer and historian) – quite a mix, and all brought together wonderfully by the Prince's production, and really unique vocal approach. Titles include "Jamaican Heroes", "Prison Discipline", "Musical History", "Natty Champion", and "Golden Throne". Next up is a classic from Prince Far I – Voice Of Thunder couldn't be a more appropriate album title or moniker! Recorded at Channel One in 1981 with incredible analog dub production, it fully carries the grit, murk, heavy and heady soul of the 70s into the new decade –even if the sound is ultimately a bit different then the what he delivered in the 70s. That thunderous voice toasting over the rhythms is as incredible as ever – over the commanding bass of Professor Larry Silvera, tripped out drums & percussion by Jah Lloyd & Scully, occasional swirling keys by Steely, Tarzan and Tony Asher and the other great Channel One players. Titles include "Ten Commandments", "Every Time I Hear The Word", "Head Of The Buccaneer", "Shall Not Dwell In Wickedness", "Skinhead", and "Hold The Fort". Musical History is one of the last albums ever issued by Prince Far I – and a set that marks a fantastic cap to a too-short career! The Prince's vocal contributions are as impeccable as his dubby production work – and titles include "At The Cross", "More We Are Together", "Take Heed Frontline", "What You Gonna Do On Judgement Day", and "Tell Them About Jah Love". CD

Two full albums from one of the most popular jazz singers of his day – back to back on the same CD, with bonus material too! First up is the album I Worry About You – fantastic work from Arthur Prysock – a singer who really helped redefine the role of the male singer in the 60s, even though he's hardly remembered today! The title cut is one of his anthems – the kind of song that's heartfelt, yet masculine at the same time – almost a different twist on territory that singers like Jerry Butler or Chuck Jackson would explore in their work. Great arrangements – with a mix of strings and jazz – and titles include "I Worry Bout You", "My Everything", "I Just Want To Make Love To You", "You Loved Me Yesterday", and "Keep A Light In The Window For Me". Next is Sings Only For You – a beautiful record from a hell of a great singer – one who established a genre that was all his own, and set a whole new standard for male jazz singers in the 60s! Arthur Prysock's got some of the depth of the Billy Eckstine generation that came before him – but he's also got a mode that's more personal, almost conversational too – sophisticated, but never stand-offish – just this hip cat that really knows how to deliver a tune and make it his own! The arrangements here really fit that style too – nicely understated, but again with all these modern elements that really make things great – as Prysock makes his way through tunes that include "Only For You", "Let Her Wonder", "When I Fall In Love", "Imagination", "Don't Quit Me Now", and "Time After Time". CD features four bonus tracks – "Do You Believe", "Good Rockin Tonight", "One More Time", and "Pianissimo". CD

One of those Motown treasures that would have been a runaway hit, were it issued on a label with less going on – but which somehow got lost amidst the shuffle of all the other Motor City greatness of the time! Don't let obscurity make you think that Jimmy Ruffin's not giving his best, though – as the album's a stunner right from the start – one of those you pick up, check out, and wonder how you've lived with before – as Jimmy takes all the darker energy that the Four Tops and Temptations were bringing to their late 60s material, and gievs it an even spookier showcase with his fantastic lead vocals! The tunes are a mix of fresh numbers and under-recorded cuts, too – which further makes the record great – and the whole thing's got that special pre-Cali sound from Motown, that point when the label was really hitting some new creative moments. Titles include "Gathering Memories", "Just Before Love", "Honey Come Back", "Living In A World I Created For Myself", and "If You Will Let Me I Know I Can". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic package from trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith – one that's billed as "symphonies" in the title, but which instead features quartet jazz performances throughout – as you've maybe guessed by the name of the group! There's maybe a more compositional structure here than on some of Smith's other recent albums, but there's also plenty of improvisation too – served up by a fantastic group that features Henry Threadgill on alto and flute, John Lindberg on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums – with saxophonist Jonathon Haffner stepping in for Threadgill on one of the four CDs in the package! Each longer piece has a slightly different vibe – and together, the music is a stunning statement of the continuing genius of Leo Smith in recent years – a masterful statement of his importance in jazz, but also a personal message that's filled with urgent intensity. Titles include "Gold Symphony", "Diamond Symphony", "Pearl Symphony", and "Sapphire Symphony". CD

A fantastic family outing from Caetano Veloso – one that has the legendary Brazilian singer working with his sons Tom, Zeca, and Moreno Veloso! Moreno's probably the one who's best known to American audiences – thanks to his fantastic legacy of sounds with Domenico and Kassin in the +2 trio – but the approach here is quite different than those records, and maybe has the warm intimacy of Caetano in some of his best stripped-down modes! All members of the family play guitar and sing, and all had a hand in directing the music – but the lineup also shifts a bit from track to track – sometimes with vocals from all four, sometimes just Caetano in duet with one of the sons, sometimes just Caetano himself. If you love Veloso when he sings with just acoustic guitar and a bit of light backing, you'll find plenty to love here – on titles that include "Oracao Ao Tempo", "Boas Vindas", "Todo Homem", "O Seu Amor", "Genipapo Absoluto", "Reconvexo", "Um Canto De Afoxe Para O Bloco Do Ile", "Forca Estranha", and "Um Passo A Frente". CD

Two key albums in the singer/songwriter movement of the early 70s – back to back on a single CD! First up is the fantastic debut of Loudon Wainwright III – a singer whose wit and warmth never fully found him the fame he deserved, but which continued to delight an elite group of ears as the decades move on! The record's got a very lean approach – mostly vocals and acoustic guitar, but in a style that's hardly the folk of the previous decade – as Loudon, like some of his hippest singer/songwriter contemporaries, is really moving past the familiar – crafting the music to fit the complexity and personality of his words, instead of the other way around – really leaving behind a generation in the process. There's a heartbreaking quality to the way he puts over his tunes – as you'll hear on numbers that include "Uptown", "Four Is A Magic Number", "I Don't Care", "School Days", "Hospital Lady", and "Movies Are A Mother To Me". On Album II, Loudon Wainwright shows just how amazing one man and a guitar can be – especially when they're as unusual and offbeat as someone like Loudon himself! The music's not folk, but it's also not hanging in the kind of almost-country territory of a contemporary like John Prine – maybe in part because Wainwright's vocal style is often in this oddly-turned mode that allows him to sing about contemporary themes, but in a way that feels ancient and from the hills – an evocative vibe that sounds like a precursor for the singing style of Gordon Gano in the Violent Femmes. Titles include "Be Careful There's A Baby In The House", "Motel Blues", "Nice Jewish Girls", "Old Paint", "Winter Song", "Cook That Dinner Dora", and "Plane Too". CD features the bonus track "Drinking Song". CD

Four fantastic albums from Charlie Walker – one of the lesser-remembered talents of the late 60s country scene, but a singer whose work on albums like these can match the best of the bunch! As you'd guess by some of the titles, the tunes are heavy on references to barrooms and drinking – with all the other classic country trappings as part of the mix, too – lost love, cheating, broken hearts, and all the other sort of little frustrations that tend to drive a man to dive into the bottle! 2CD set features 43 tracks in all – and titles include "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon", "The Tail's Been Wagging The Dog Too Long", "Last Call For Alcohol", "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down", "Back In My Baby's Arms Again", "Memory Killer", "Out Of A Honky Tonk", "A Honky Tonk In Dallas", "Honky Tonk Season", "My Baby Used To Be That Way", and "Fast Women Slow Horses & Wine". CD

A tight collection of uptempo funk and disco-driven soul tunes – with a selection that goes way past the usual dancefloor favorites! We're not sure how to read the title (which seems to have some sort of "inside take" on black culture in America) so we'll write that off to the overzealous imagination of the British compilers of the set – but we will say that the package includes some great numbers that we wouldn't have thought of otherwise, including a few previously unissued tunes by artists on the Westbound label! The groove is upbeat on most tracks, with plenty of jazzy flourishes and a soulful approach to disco. Titles include "Disco Booty" by Melvin Sparks, "Love Don't Come Easy" by New Jersey Connection, "I Need Somebody To Love Tonight" by Sylvester, "Free Man" by South Shore Commission, "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" by The Clark Sisters, "Latin Disco" by The Counts, "Alvin Stone (The Birth & Death Of A Gangster)" by Fantastic Four, "Moon Trek" by Mike Theodore, "Sadie" by Joe Bataan, "Sure Can't Go To The Moon" by CJ & Co, and "The Magic Man" by King Errison. CD

A much-needed look at a key force in Italian disco – the legendary Baia Degli Angeli, a club that was as important to Europe as the Paradise Garage was to New York! The set features a great selection of numbers that played strongly on Angeli's dancefloor in the late 70s, most of which have a spacey electronic quality that links them strongly to some of the best underground club of New York at the time. Titles include "I Got To Have Your Love" by Fantastic Four, "Nightlife" by Blair, "J'Ouvert" by John Gibbs, "Funky Bass" by Arpadys, "Inner City Blues" by Paul Lewis, "Tonight's The Night" by SSO Orchestra, "Let's Get Together" by Pam Todd & Love Exchange, "Superstar" by Bob McGilpin, "Cosmic Melody" by Constellation Orchestra, "Sweet Dynamite" by Claudja Barry, and "Dance Little Dreamer" by Bionic Boogie. LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent compilation – one that's still a key part of our collection, and a sampler of 60s Detroit soul produced by the fantastic Ollie McLaughlin, and released as singles under a variety of labels, including Moira, Karen and Carla. This set does a great job of showcasing the excellent rhythm and blues that was getting released by artists outside Berry Gordy's stable, 15 numbers in all, including "Hello Stranger" by Barbara Lewis, "My Magic Corner", "That's When I'll Stop Loving You" and "You Do Your Thing" by Belita Woods, "Buy Now & Pay Later" by the Firestones, "Ooh Baby" and "Love Makes The World Go 'Round" by Deon Jackson, "Hey Love" by Betty Lavette, "The Reason Why" by the Four Pros, "Take A Little Time To Tell Her" and "If I Only Knew" by Jimmy Soul Clark, and "Why Can't It Be" by the Compacts. LP, Vinyl record album

A massive celebration of the legendary Westbound Records – a Detroit record label started at the end of the 60s, and one that took the Motor City into much heavier territory than Motown! Westbound was the initial home of both Funkadelic and Ohio Players – and the imprint had a great ear for the kind of deeper, funkier side of the soul music spectrum – both with big groups like the two we just mentioned, and with a host of lesser-known singers and combos too! This package brings together two dozen key singles on Westbound – but not the giant hits, and instead the kind of songs that illustrate that key special touch that really set the company apart from the rest – even as the 70s moved on, and elements of club music started coming into their groove. Titles include "I Love You" by The Motivations, "A Letter From Vietnam" by Emanuel Lansky, "Everything Is Going To Be Alright" by Bill Moss & The Celestials, "Ain't No Telling" by Houston Outlaws, "Yes I'm In Love" by Unique Blend, "Why Not Start All Over Again" by The Counts, "I've Changed" by The Magictones, "I'll Bet You" by Funkadelic, "Music Man (part 1)" by Pleasure Web, "Get Up Off My Mind" by Denise LaSalle, "Baby Let Me Take You In My Arms" by Detroit Emeralds, "Devil's Gun" by CJ & Co, "Get Ya Some" by Melvin Sparks, "Alvin Stone" by Fantastic Four, "If You Love Him" by Junie, "Calling Planet Earth" by Dennis Coffey, "Crazy Legs" by Donald Austin, and "Funky Worm" by The Ohio Players. CD

Incredible sounds from the German Jazz Festival of 1964 – a wonderful meeting of modern talents from all over the European continent at the time – including some great work from behind the Iron Curtain too! The album features a few tracks each by a number of different groups – all of them excellent, and the sorts of players who are really under-represented in terms of available recordings – which makes this selection of tracks completely essential! The set begins with "Sopranitis" and "Birmingham Post" – played by a very cool combo with Heinz Sauer on tenor and soprano sax, Joki Freund on the same two instruments, Emil Mangelsdorff on alto, and Gunther Kornberg on alto and baritone – a four-sax group that works with just bass and drums to give them a groove, with strong solos from all players. Next up is the fantastic Zagreb Jazz Quartet – with Bosko Petrovic on vibes – playing "In Walked Bud" and "Degressia" – plus a version of "Bluesette" with a guest appearance by Sven Asmussen. Tenor player Karl Drevo (Drewo) leads a quintet with trumpeter Maffy Falay and pianist Bora Rokovic – on a long reading of "Save Your Love For Me". The legendary quartet of saxophonist Klaus Doldinger is next – his great group with Ingfried Hoffmann on Hammond, Peter Trunk on bass, and Klaus Weiss on drums – with guest work by Rolf Kuhn on tenor and Inge Brandenberg on vocals – on the titles "Waltz Of The Jive Cats", "What's The Matter Daddy", and "Groovin In Berlin". Last up is one of our favorite groups of the time – the quintet of pianist Michael Naura, which also features Wolfgang Schluter on vibes and Peter Reinke on alto – on "Rainy Clouds" and "Rhythm A Ning". CD

Killer California sounds from the 60s – all served up by studio wizard Gary Usher – a legendary talent who worked in the same generation as Brian Wilson and Phil Spector, but never got as much time in the spotlight! That was all OK with Gary, though – as he spent endless hours creating wonderfully groovy records – including some key cuts by big names, overlooked gems from the Sunshine generation, and a few that were completely cooked up in the studio by acts who never existed in the real world at all! The sound here is fantastic – really unified, and one of the richest tapestries of SoCal studio genius we've ever heard – all put together with detailed notes that finally tell the whole story behind Usher's work and so many of these tracks. 24 titles in all – with tracks that include "Same Girl" by The Neptunes, "My World Fell Down" by Sagittarius, "Go Go Getter" by Keith Green, "So You Say You Lost Your Baby" by Gene Clark, "School Is A Gas" by The Wheel Men", "Sunstroke" by Chad & Jeremy, "I Don't Wanna Say Goodnight" by The Forte Four, "Happy In Hollywood" by California, "It's A Happening Thing" by The Peanut Butter Conspiracy, "Codine" by Sean & The Brandywines, "You Ain't Going Nowhere" by The Byrds, "Just One More Chance" by The Hondells, "Baby What I Mean" by Spiral Starecase, and "Take My Hand" by Sons Of Adam. CD

A fantastic overview of the legendary Rampart Records – one of the strongest soul labels on the LA scene of the 60s, and a company that did some surprisingly compelling work in the 70s too! Rampart's biggest-ever act was Cannibal & The Headhunters – and the set is titled after their classic giant hit – but the company also really had a strong ear to the ground on the scene in East LA – which meant that they worked in a really great blend of modes that included vocal group soul, Latin-styled sounds, and plenty of funk and straighter soul too – before resurfacing in the late 70s with a more eclectic blend of music. This package is the first to really do justice to the complete Rampart legacy – and brings together every single issued by the imprint, who hardly ever put out full albums – a total of 79 tracks that's pretty darn heavy on the 60s, and which includes both the a-sides and b-sides of the singles. There's also a massive book, too – filled with notes on the story of the label, the details of all the songs, and a huge amount of photos – including a section on Rampart artists on the road in the 60s. A fantastic set, and a huge bargain for the price – with work by The Village Callers, Hummingbird 4, The Four Tempos, The Majestics, East Bay Soul Brass, Cannibal & The Headhunters, Phil & Del, Randy Thomas, Sammy Lee & The Summits, The Mixtures, Skylite, Eastside Connection, Graciela Palafox, and Raven. CD

Incredible jazz from the German scene of the 70s – two years' of recordings from this important festival – one that presents all the "new jazz" promised in its name, but in a range that moves effortlessly between free jazz, modal moments, funky fusion, and even some groovy big band work too! Performers are a range from all over the European scene – and are represented here in a significant selection of material from each act – very well-recorded, and presented in this beautiful box set, along with a booklet of notes and photos as well. The scope of sounds is fantastic – and long performances include an set of improvisations from the trio of Peter Brotzmann, Fred Van Hove, and Han Bennink; two long electric tracks from Jasper Van't Hof's Pork Pie group, with Charlie Mariano on a range of reeds and Philip Catherine on guitar; four long improvisations from the SOS group of John Surman, Mike Osborne, and Alan Skidmore – plying in a great mix of reeds and electronics; there's also two long improvisations between pianist Misha Mengelberg and drummer Han Bennink; Gary Burton's quintet with Pat Metheny and Mick Goodrick on guitars perform three improvisations for over 75 minutes of music; the Gustav Brom Big Band step out on some very groovy tracks; saxophonist Eero Koivistonen blows with his quartet that includes Olli Avhenlahti on electric piano; reedman Jiri Stivin and guitarist Rudolph Dasek play a number of improvisations; bassist Barre Phillips and flautist Kryzstof Zgraja perform two long improvisations; the Polish Jazz Summit features Tomasz Stanko on trumpet, Zbigniew Namyslowski on alto, Zbigniew Siefert on violin, and Adam Makowicz on Fender Rhodes; and trumpeter Franz Kogelmann and soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy head a quintet with a bit of electronics! There's a few more surprises, too – and the whole thing is a fantastic presentation of these lost sounds. 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

An amazing set of offbeat numbers from the darker side of country music in the 60s – tracks that really show the changing currents of the scene, and which open up even more that quality of heartbreak that was always present in the music! Some of the songs here deal more honestly with political and family themes, some are more personal overall – and there's a fantastic range of music within – just what you'd expect from the same folks who gave you the Hillbillies In Hell compilations! Titles include "The Family Way" by Justin Tubb, "Hide My Sin" by Lorene Mann, "No Meaning & No End" by Hank Williams Jr, "Cold Cold Hands" by Lawton Williams, "Four Chrome Wheels" by Trooper Jim Foster, "The Animal Of A Man" by Roger Miller, "Teddy Bear Song" by Norma Jean, "Your Credit Card Won't Get You Into Heaven" by Bobby Bare, and "Push The Panic Button" by Stonewall Jackson. LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic funky club from one of the hippest soul labels of the 70s – Detroit powerhouse Westbound Records – home to Funkadelic, The Counts, and some other very hip artists! Westbound disco isn't the same as the grooves you'd hear from Philly and New York – because the label started out in funk, and many of these tracks have an approach that's more fast funk than soaring strings – often recorded by groups who were hitting a funky 45 style in the earlier part of the 70s, then taking off with longer grooves with the rise of the club scene in the second half of the decade. As usual with Ace Records, the choice of cuts is great – and the package is as illuminating as it is groovy – with titles that include "Devil's Gun" by CJ & Co, "Wings Of Fire" by Dennis Coffey, "High On Mad Mountain" by Mike Theodore Orchestra, "You Brought The Sunshine (12" version)" by The Clark Sisters, "Beat Your Feet" by Eramus Hall, "Freaky People" by The Crowd Pleasers, "Feel The Need" by Detroit Emeralds, "Song Of The Wind (inst)" by Caesar Frazier, "Manhattan Love Song" by King Errisson, and "BYOF" by Fantastic Four. CD

Deep deep funk from the legendary Westbound label – the important early home to Ohio Players and Funkadelic, but also host to some other great funky groups too! In keeping with the name, the cuts here focus on the kind of Westbound tracks that have great drum breaks in their groove – or which stand out as great selections for sampling, too – but all presented with the same sort of care, research, and attention to detail that the Ace label brings to all of their famous soul collections! In other words, the whole thing's got all the sharp edges and funky beats as one of those dodgy sample collections – but the sound is better, the tracks are legit, and the whole thing features detailed notes as well. Titles include "Kissing My Love" by Spanky Wilson, "Funky Worm" by Ohio Players, "Suzie Thundertussy" by Junie, "You & Your Folks Me & My Folks" by Funkadelic, "Music Man (part 2)" by Pleasure Web, "Back From The Dead" by King Errisson, "You're Gettin A Little Too Smart" by The Detroit Emeralds, "Pack Of Lies" by The Counts, "Funk It Down" by Caesar Frazier, "Good Old Music" by Mgictones, "The Fuz & Da Boog" by Fuzzy Haskins, "Heartbreaker Of The Year" by Denise LaSalle, "Does He Treat You Better" by Unique Blend, "Baby Let Me Take You In My Arms" by Detroit Emeralds, "Mixed Up Moods & Attitudes (Tom Moulton mix)" by Fantastic Four, "Tightrope (single mix)" by Junie, and "I'll Bet You" by Funkadelic. CD

A treasure trove of Nuggets from the LA Scene – fantastic material from a far reaching line up of gritty garage rockers, sunshine pop tunesmiths, psychedelic groovers, trippy psyche folk and much more – masterfully collected on 4 discs by the box set geniuses at Rhino! With such a diverse catalog to mine, the CDs are divided surprisingly well, and like other Nuggets comps, it's a great way to intro a ton of obscurities, while still including bigger hits that deserve to be remembered. Packaged in a beautiful 48 page book with essays, artist commentaries, tons of great photos, and even a 60s LA club guide! Disc one On The Strip includes: "Riot On The Sunset Strip" by The Standells, "Gentle As It May Seem" by Iron Butterfly, "Take A Giant Step" by The Guilloteens, "Tripmaker" by The Seeds, "Girl In Your Eye" by Sprit, "Eventually" by Peanut Butter Conspiracy and many more. Disc two The Studio Scene includes: "Action, Action, Action" by Keith Allison, "The Rebel Kind" by Dino, Desi & Billy, "Yellow Balloon" by Yellow Balloon, "Montage Mirror" Roger Nichols Trio, "Don't Say No" by The Oracle, "Baby, Please Don't Go" by Ballroom and lots more. Disc three Beyond The City includes: "Jump, Jive & Harmonies" by Thee Midnighters, "She Done Moved" by The Spats, "Underground Lady" by Kim Fowley, "Our Time Is Running Out" by The Yellow Payges and many more. Disc four New Directions has 3 previously unreleased tracks: "Sit Down I Think I Love You" by Stephen Stills & Richie Furay, "Words" (demo) by Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart, and "Once Upon A Time" by Tim Buckley; plus "November Night" by Peter Fonda, "Marshmallow Skies" by Rick Nelson. "You Set The Scene" by Love and many more. 101 songs on 4CDs! CD

Long live tracks from a fantastic performance by the Cannonball Adderley Quintet – stretching out and soaring, in the manner of some of their best material done for the Riverside label at the time! The recordings appear here for the first time ever, and they've got a clarity that matches the best of the famous Adderley live albums on Riverside – Cannonball on alto and brother Nat on trumpet – in a quintet that also features Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums, a superb rhythm duo – plus work from Victor Feldman on both piano and vibes! If you know Feldman with Adderley, you know he sounds a lot hipper than usual – and he even contributed four really great tunes to the lineup – "New Delhi", "Serenity", "Lisa", and "Exodus" – next to other takes on "Our Delight", "Hi Fly", "Sack O Woe", and "This Here". CD

A tremendous package of work from this overlooked soul and gospel legend – four classic albums, plus other rare material too – all packaged with detailed notes in the wonderful Numero Group style! First up is Like A Ship Without A Sail – a gospel album from Pastor TL Barrett, but one that's gone on to legendary status among funk and soul collectors over the years! Barrett works here with his Youth For Christ Choir – a south side ensemble that's filled with genuine spirit and passion, aimed towards lofty ideals – but set up with some deep secular soul production touches and instrumentation that keep things razor sharp throughout! The album was supervised by Chess Records sax player and arranger Gene Barge – with other Chess players Richard Evans and Phil Upchurch on the sessions too – and the music is filled with raw drums, heavy bass, and lots of great organ lines! Next is Do Not Pass Me By Vol 1 – an album that's got a nice balance between intimate soul numbers and larger tracks that have the whole Mount Zion Baptist Church along for support! The set's definitely got the strongly soulful vibe of Barrett's Like A Ship album – a strong ear for the best secular elements of the time, which are used liberally in the instrumental backing – to really send home the message in the music! Most tunes really soft-pedal the religion, and instead go for an overall feel that really crosses over to regular soul music. Next is the great second volume of Do Not Pass Me By – like the first, the product of a wonderfully spiritual setting on Chicago's south side – music created in the church, but with all the same vibe as the hippest secular soul coming from the Windy City in the early 70s! The set does a great job of alternating strong lead singers with the rest of the group – a bit like Voices Of East Harlem, but with more of a larger ensemble feel – and there's some really wonderful moments on the record throughout – even a bit of funk amidst the more righteous soul-styled tunes. I Found The Answer is one of the biggest-circulating albums from this fantastic figure in Chicago gospel – a unique set done for the Gospel Truth subsidiary of Stax Records, but a set served up in the same blend of soul-based inspirations as some of TL Barrett's indie label releases back home in the Windy City! Plus, the package features a full album of Singles & Sermons – rare non-LP material by this seminal figure in both soul and spiritual music. CD

Four fantastic albums from Bobby Bland – all brought together in a single package for the first time! First up is Come Fly With Me – great work from Bobby Blue Bland – one of the few artists to rise up at the end of the 50s, and still find a way to chart their own path forward in soul with fresh material like this! Bobby's voice is still incredible here, and he works with production from Al Bell and Monk Higgins, the latter of whom arranged – in this cool style that's a bit like some of the territory that Tyrone Davis was taking on at Columbia Records during the second half of the 70s – fuller arrangements that bring some sophisticated soul touches to the music, but in ways that never lose the core of Bobby's genius! Titles include "Lady Lonely", "Night Games", "You Can Count On Me", "Love To See You Smile", "Come Fly With Me", and "To Be Friends". The next album is I Feel Good I Feel Fine – and Bobby Bland sounds pretty good too – thanks to arrangements from the great Monk Higgins, who does a perfect job of mixing Bland's trademark vocals with some sweet late 70s arrangements! The sound is upbeat, but never in a cliched disco mode – more in the territory that you'd hear Johnnie Taylor using over at Columbia Records – maybe a good comparison, given the Memphis roots that both artists shared – as both also evolved a lot to shift their sound with the changing modes of the time. And as with Johnnie, Bobby never loses the core that makes him great – as you'll hear on titles that include "Tit For Tat", "Soon As The Weather Breaks", "In His Eyes", "Someone To Belong To", "I Feel Good I Feel Fine", and "Little Mama". Sweet Vibrations is a real gem from the start of the 80s – arranged by Monk Higgins, who co-produced the set with Al Bell – a duo who'd already given Bobby some great records before, but who really knock it out of the park with this one. There's an extra-special quality going on here – maybe a slight reintroduction of blues roots, but still with a very contemporary spirit – set up to superb backings throughout. Titles include "Soul With A Flavor", "Hollywood Woman", "You'd Be A Millionaire", "Sweet Vibrator", "Special Kind Of Fool", and "A Real Woman Is What It Takes". Try Me I'm Real is record with a title that certainly fits the bill – as the amazing voice of Bobby Bland is as real here as it ever was, and blended with superbly soulful backings that take the singer's sound forward for a whole new generation! Some of Bobby's contemporaries were content to just stick in a straight blues mode – but Bland really grew and developed a lot as an artist, thanks in part to Monk Higgins and Al Bell – who are both at the production helm of the record, and balance the bluesy roots of Bobby with some richer soul backings that really knock the whole thing out of the park! We love Bobby Blue Bland during his early Duke Records years – but we love him equally as much for music like this, on titles that include "But I Do", "What A Difference A Day Makes", "Givin Up The Streets For Love", "A Song For You My Son", "Just You Just Me", and "Love Is Where It's At". CD

Four great albums from reedman Arthur Blythe – all together in one collection! First up is Lenox Avenue Breakdown – a stunning Columbia Records debut from Blythe! At the time of the date, Blythe had already spent years working in the jazz undergrounds on both coasts – developing a searing sound on alto sax that's perfect for the focused structure of this album – almost a tone poem of sorts, offering up a portrait of the Harlem scene that was a key part of Arthur's life at the time. The sounds are sharp, but also have a sense of energy that really holds them together – guiding the players through long readings of well-penned tunes by Blythe that are filled with loads of energy and life! Players include James Newton on flute, James Blood Ulmer on guitar, Bob Stewart on tuba, Cecil McBee on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and Guillermo Franco on percussion – and titles include "Odessa", "Slidin Through", "Down San Diego Way", and "Lenox Avenue Breakdown". In The Tradition is a gem – as the set represents the modern musician taking on a host of older jazz currents, while carving things out with his own special sort of soul! Half the tunes are familiar favorites, the other half originals – and Blythe moves far past his avant roots, to showcase his deep understanding of so many different shades of jazz – blowing alto beautifully throughout, in a very hip quartet that features Stanley Cowell on piano, Fred Hopkins on bass, and Steve McCall on drums! Titles include great takes on "Naima", "Jitterbug Waltz", "Caravan", and "In A Sentimental Mood" – plus the originals "Break Tune" and "Hip Dipper". Illusions is maybe the boldest of Arthur Blythe's albums for Columbia Records – as the set bristles with newly creative energy right from the start, and provides a great showcase for some of the criss-crossings of styles and rhythms that were taking place on the New York scene at the time! The lineup alone announces something special – a cool combination of James Blood Ulmer on guitar, John Hicks on piano, Fred Hopkins on bass, Abdul Wadud on cello, Bob Stewart on tuba, and Steve McCall on drums – working together in some slight variations at times, often with these angular edges that are perfectly sharpened by Arthur's amazing work on alto sax. The music's never too free, but quite outside for a major label at the time – balanced out so that it's never overindulgent at all. Titles include "Bush Baby", "Miss Nancy", "My Son Ra", and "Carespin With Mamie". Blythe Spirit is a set that showcases the never-ending growth and imagination of reedman Arthur Blythe during this fruitful period of his career – and his ability to effortlessly blend together different elements in his music – especially sides of the New York loft jazz scene, and the Chicago-based AACM! The tunes are beautiful – mostly originals, and showing a richer spirituality than even a year before – while still working in that compellingly rhythmic mode that Arthur was hitting during these years – in a lineup that features Blythe on alto, Abdul Wadud on cello, Kelvyn Bell on guitar, Steve McCall and Bobby Battle on drums, John Hicks on piano, Amina Claudine Myers on organ, and Fred Hopkins on bass. The mix of electric and acoustic elements is fantastic – very fresh, even all these many years later – and titles include "Misty", "Spirits In The Field", "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", "Reverence", and "Contemplation". CD

A set that's way more than just a "best of" sort of anthology – as the package features three full albums by the group, plus other material too! The set begins with the classic debut, Gilded Palace Of Sin – a true late 60s rock masterpiece – and like albums by Love and The Velvet Underground, a set that barely made a mainstream impact at the time – but which has gone on to be the stuff of influence and legend over the decades! The album's the first from Gram Parsons and the group – one of only two they would cut together – and the whole thing is a perfect blend of rough-edged rock and country influences rising up from the LA scene – all those glimmers of brilliance that Parsons had brought to the Byrds and other projects, maybe given their full flowering here in a mode that's unabashed about its country music influences – maybe even more so than some of Gram's later solo work. Sneeky Pete Kleinow's steel guitar really adds a lot – but so does the presence of Chris Hillman on guitar and mandolin, and Chris Ethridge on bass and piano. Titles include the brilliant "Sin City" – a track we'll love until we die – plus "Christine's Tune", "Do Right Woman", "Dark End Of The Street", "My Uncle", "Wheels", "Juanita", "Hot Burrito No 1", "Hot Burrito No 2", "Do You Know How It Feels", and "Hippy Boy". Burrito Deluxe is the second of only two albums recorded by Gram Parsons with the Flying Burrito Brothers – and a masterpiece that pushes the group's sound even farther than their debut! The set is filled with special moments – songs that show just why these guys were such a special bridge between late 60s country and rock music – and why all of the other groups they inspired just never came close to serving things up this well! Gram Parsons is fantastic on vocals, of course – but the whole group is great, especially Sneaky Pete on steel guitar. Titles include the fantastic romper "Man In The Fog", the very groovy "Lazy Days", the haunting "God's Own Singer", and the group's Jagger/Richards' approved take on "Wild Horses – plus other cuts that include "High Fashion Queen", "Image Of Me", "Older Guys", and "If You Gotta Go". Flying Burrito Brothers is The Burritos first LP, post-Parsons – and a pretty strong statement for the merits of the now unquestioned leader, Rick Roberts, and multi-instrumentalist new guy Bernie Leadon, who would later turn to the dark side and join the Eagles! Roberts penned or co-penned seven of the album's ten tunes, including "Colorado", "Hand To Mouth", "Just Can't Be", and "Four Days Of Rain". His contributions are for the most part nicely fragile, with just the right doses of sweetness and sadness. The group also covers Merle Haggard's "White Line Fever", Gene Clark's "Tried So Hard", and Dylan's "To Ramona". This is one of the band's rarer LPs, probably because of the absence of hipster hero Gram Parsons – truly a worthy piece of work! CD also features some other tracks recorded by Parsons with the group – including "Six Days On The Road", "Break My Mind", "Sing Me Back Home", and "Close Up The Honky Tonks" – and live tracks "Ain't That A Lot Of Love" and "Losing Game" – plus Gene Clark singing on "Here Tonight". CD

A funky highlife stunner from the mighty K Frimpong – an artist who always seems to find a way to make a familiar groove sound even heavier than you might expect! That's definitely the case here – as rattling percussion really sets the scene for every track – sometimes with instrumentation that's a bit more familiar to the best highlife jams of the times, but other times with a hard and heavy early 70s funk approach that's in the best James Brown tradition! The album features four extended tracks that are all nice and long – and although there's vocals on the record, the main appeal is the fantastic instrumentation – on titles that include "Daben Ni", "Me Yee Owu Den", "Nye Mea", and "Me Da A Onnda". LP, Vinyl record album

A truly fantastic record, and one that's become the stuff of legend over the years – a rare CTI album that was only ever issued in Japan – and which may well be one of the coolest sessions recorded during the A&M years of the label! Trombonists JJ Johnson and Kai Winding had recorded two other records for CTI during the period – both great – but this set has them stretching out in this really expansive mode that's completely unique – long tracks put together with complicated arrangements that really blow away anything else they ever did – funky, soulful, but also moving towards higher ideals too – a fantastic testament to the newfound arranging skills of Johnson, who handled most of the record. The group also features some amazing keyboard work from both Herbie Hancock and Bob James – who get plenty of room to roam – plus guitar from George Benson, bass from Ron Carter, and drums from Grady Tate – a superb lineup who really make the whole thing shine. The depth of this music is hard to describe in words, but the whole thing's wonderful – and the set features just four long tracks – "Dontcha Hear Me Callin To Ya", "Musings", "Mojo", and "Recollections". LP, Vinyl record album

Four fantastic records from a time when Johnny Mathis was really evolving his sound! On Me & Mrs Jones, Johnny Mathis takes on the sophisticated soul modes of the 70s, and also adds in a few other styles too – on an album that shows just how much the singer had changed in nearly 20 years of recording – sometimes shaped by all those other artists he'd inspired along the way! The title version of the Billy Paul classic "Me & Mrs Jones" is superb – maybe worth the price of the record alone, and perfect for the mature Mathis approach – and Johnny shines equally well on the album's blend of other 70s tunes, arranged by D'Arneill Pershing with a bit of help from Larry Muhoberac. Titles include "Summer Breeze", "Sweet Surrender", "Corner Of The Sky", "Remember", "You're A Lady", "If I Could Reach You", "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight", "Soul & Inspiration/Just Once In My Life", and "Me & Mrs Jones". Johnny takes on a mix of sweet & tender and more melancholy tunes on Killing Me Softly, showing a surer hand at making a batch of then contemporary hits his own much more successfully than other veteran pop vocalists of his generation. Jerry Fuller produced, and the titles Includes "Aubrey", "And I Love You So", "Break Up To Make Up", "Sing", "Good Morning Heartache", "Neither One Of Us Wants To Say Goodbye", "Show And Tell" and "Ariane". On I'm Coming Home, Johnny Mathis gets a great new sound – thanks to Philly production and arrangements from the great Thom Bell! Thom had quite a hand in the songs, too – as almost all numbers were written by the team of Bell and Linda Creed – really sensitive songwriters who've got an adult, mature approach to the music – one that still respects Mathis' roots in other vocal territory, but which also gives him a bit more soulful depth, too. The setting is wonderful, and the record's a real standout in Johnny's 70s career – one that helped reignite interest in the singer at a time when so many folks had left him behind. Titles include "I'm Coming Home", "Foolish", "I'm Stone In Love With You", "A Baby's Born", "Life Is A Song Worth Singing", "I Just Wanted To Be Me", and a classic version of "Stop Look & Listen To Your Heart". Feelings is a prime 70s Columbia era Mathis gem, with production by Jack Gold and this time out, arrangements by Gene Page that mix tender hearted intimacy and lightly sweeping touches as sweetly as can be. Titles include "One Day In Your Life", "Stardust", "Midnight Blue", "Feelings", "That's All She Wrote", "Solitaire" and more. CD features the bonus track "Crazy Little Love Makin Ways". CD

Maybe the crowning achievement of drummer Makaya McCraven so far – a double-length set that stands as a huge testimony to all the many waves he's been making in jazz for the past few years! The album features four slices of live performance – recorded in New York, Chicago, LA, and London – and as with every one of his different projects, Makaya seems to bring a different voice to each live track here – recording with Brandee Younger on harp and Joel Ross on vibes in New York, Shabaka Hutchings on tenor in Chicago; Nubya Garcia on tenor and Ashley Henry on Rhodes in London; and Josh Johnson on alto, Jeff Parker on guitar, Carlos Nino on percussion, and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on violin in LA! The rhythms are as amazing as the contributions from the different soloists – and the sound of the record is maybe something we'd call post-spiritual – moving past that Coltrane-inspired mode that's been revived so well in the 21st Century, while still holding onto its best sense of energy. The whole thing is fantastic – and titles include "The Count Off", "Brighter Days Beginning", "Universal Beings", "Mantra", "Young Genius", "Holy Lands", "Wise Man Wiser Woman", "Prosperity's Fear", "Atlantic Black", "Flipped Out", "Voila", and "Suite Hans". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful package – one that brings together four killer horror soundtracks from Italian maestro Bruno Nicolai! First up is La Coda Dello Scorpione – a dark dark masterpiece from the legendary Bruno Nicolai – written for an equally dark thriller with a wonderful edge! The work here is on a par with that of Nicolai's frequent partner, Ennio Morricone – often using full orchestrations to score a deeper theme in the film – but also often moving to lighter, leaner moments based around a simpler instrumental mode. There's a staccato feel to some of the best moments on the set – spare and edgey, with a sense of dread that's almost palpable! Next is Il Tuo Vizio E Una Stanza Chiusa E Solo Io Ne Ho La Chiave – a wonderful score by Bruno Nicolai – one that follows strongly in the mode of work from the time by frequent collaborator, Ennio Morricone! The approach on most tracks is spare and moody – using a lot of harpsichord over light orchestrations – and going for a tense feel that matches the spirit of the horror film, but which also has some surprisingly sweet and sexy moments from time to time. On Tutti I Colori De Buio, Bruno Nicolai's at his most Morricone-esque – and has crafted a dreamy set of tunes that hardly matches the dark Satanist thriller they were recorded for! The melodies are light, and spare, with isolated and drawn-out piano and string passages – plus some wonderful wordless vocals from the great Edda Dell'Orso – floating along in magical Morricone territory. Apart from a few tense moments, the whole thing has this moodier, mellow feel – with some lighter lovely tunes that would be right at home in a Mondo Morricone type set. Last up is one of our all-time Nicolai favorites, Perche Quelle Strane Gocce Di Sangue Sul Corpo Di Jennifer – one of the greatest soundtracks we've ever heard from Bruno Nicolai – a wonderful array of lightly groovy tunes that's as fantastic as any of the Mondo Morricone work from the same time! The main theme of the film has a catchy La Donna Invisible sort of feel – building on waves of sound with piano over orchestrations, skipping along to an altered bossa beat – showing up in a number of different variants throughout the score. Other tracks are darker and moodier, but really vary things up to fit the moods of the scene – using Morricone-styled bits of harpsichord, violin, or strings to come up with some incredible sounds. This 4CD set comes with a great slipcover, and a big booklet of notes! CD

A further stunning chapter in the career of guitarist Jeff Parker – a musician who's just grown in leaps and bounds on a succession of records for the International Anthem label! Here, Jeff plays solo guitar throughout – in modes that occasionally hearken back to his earlier material for other labels, but which really shows that amazing understanding of sound and tone that he's developed more recently – this incredible ear for all the possibilities of the electric guitar, at a level that moves beyond just jazz too – with moments on the record that almost have a John Fahey-like understanding of his instrument, as Parker creates all these fantastic passages in sound that are completely sublime. Titles include "Suffolk", "Flour Of Fur", "Four Folks", "La Jetee", "Ugly Beauty", and "Excess Success". LP, Vinyl record album

Stunning rare material from Sonny Rollins – from a period when he wasn't doing that much work in the studio! The double-length package features Sonny blowing with a great sense of majesty and freedom – working in trio format that recalls his classic Vanguard recordings for Blue Note – but with Ruud Jacobs on bass and Han Bennink on drums – both great players who really help Rollins keep his modern edge! This isn't just a pickup overseas rhythm section – as Bennink is fantastic, at a point right before he was moving into free jazz – and Jacobs is a hell of a bassist who always makes a group sound great. The set features four studio tracks – "Blue Room", "Four", "Tune Up", and "Love Walked In" – plus more live material from the same month – long tracks "Love Walked In", "Four", "On Green Dolphin Street/There Will Never Be Another You", "Sonnymoon For Two", "They Can't Take That Away From Me/Sonnymoon For Two", and "Three Little Words". Also features a 100 page booklet – with rare photos, essays, and even an interview with Sonny! CD

A tight collection of uptempo funk and disco-driven soul tunes – with a selection that goes way past the usual dancefloor favorites! We're not sure how to read the title (which seems to have some sort of "inside take" on black culture in America) so we'll write that off to the overzealous imagination of the British compilers of the set – but we will say that the package includes some great numbers that we wouldn't have thought of otherwise, including a few previously unissued tunes by artists on the Westbound label! The groove is upbeat on most tracks, with plenty of jazzy flourishes and a soulful approach to disco. Titles include "Disco Booty" by Melvin Sparks, "Love Don't Come Easy" by New Jersey Connection, "I Need Somebody To Love Tonight" by Sylvester, "Free Man" by South Shore Commission, "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" by The Clark Sisters, "Latin Disco" by The Counts, "Alvin Stone (The Birth & Death Of A Gangster)" by Fantastic Four, "Moon Trek" by Mike Theodore, "Sadie" by Joe Bataan, "Sure Can't Go To The Moon" by CJ & Co, and "The Magic Man" by King Errison. LP, Vinyl record album

An incredibly rich collection of work from the legendary Brunswick and Dakar Records labels – and one of the first to really get at the labels' rich legacy of 7" singles that were never issued on any sort of full length albums! The Brunswick sound was a powerhouse in the late 60s and early 70s – a force that saw big records from The Chi-Lites, Jackie Wilson, Artistics, and others – yet the company also recorded a heck of a lot more music too – all of which was every bit as great as the hits, from the grooves at the bottom, to the tight arrangements in the middle, and the fantastic range of vocals on the top! This series finally gets at digging into all the many artists who never issued full albums on Brunswick or Dakar Records – and this third volume features 28 tracks that include "The Great Pretender" by Linda Hopkins, "Somebody I Know" by Wales Wallace, "Your Love Controls My World" by Johnny Williams, "Little Bitty Pretty One" by Frankie Coe, "What Kind Of Girl" by Demetriss Tapp, "Don't Take It Out On This World" by Adam's Apples, "Hey Mama" by The Admirations, "Suddenly" by Tony Drake, "Can't Stop Loving You" by Otis Leavill, "You Have No Time To Lose" by The Four Pennies, "I Can't Help Myself" by Chuck Carter, "Nobody Can Love You" by Leroy Taylor, and "It's All Over Between Us" by Lee Charles. CD

Rare soul from the Detroit underground of the 60s – all of it from the vaults of Pied Piper Productions – a fantastic company who flourished in the shadows of Motown! Pied Piper was headed by Motown percussionist Jack Ashford – who contributed to many better-known Detroit soul tracks of the period – and the music here draws on all the experience that Ashford had with that bigger label, and sometimes borrows a bit of Motown talent as well! Yet the music is also more in the indie mode, too – similar to excellent Detroit singles on imprints like Groovesville or D-Town, both of which would be good comparisons to the Pied Piper sound. Some tracks are instrumental, but the majority of the work is vocal – and features some top-shelf singers and groups – all documented in the wonderful notes in the package. You'll recognize a few of these tracks from titles that Pied Piper placed with bigger labels, but there's also some small imprint singles, and even some unreleased tracks as well – 24 titles that include "It Takes Two" by The Four Sonics, "No Baby" by The Metros, "Ease My Mind" by Lorraine Chandler, "I Can't Change" by Yvonne Baker & The Sensations, "I Like Your Style" by Freddy Butler, "Crazy Things" by Joseph Douglas, "I'd Like To Know" by The Pied Piper Players, "American Dollar" by Willie Kendrick, "It's Better" by Reggie Alexander, "Soul Superman" by The Hesitations, "She Don't Want You" by Lorraine Chandler, "We Go Together" by The Cavaliers, "That Girl Of Mine" by The Persians, "Deserted" by Freddy Butler, "I'm With You" by September Jones, "Sweetest One" by The Metros, and "Gambler's Blues" by Nancy Wilcox. CD

A treasure trove of rare gospel recordings from the Chicago scene of the 70s – all served up on a family of labels that were tied together in the same way as some of the indie soul and funk labels of the time! Producer Harold Freeman recorded most of this music, at a time between big opportunities for gospel acts on larger labels – and the work includes some much bigger names who'd later go onto great fame, and some key Chicago artists who might never have gotten exposure otherwise – represented here with recordings that appeared on the Righteous, Peace, and Michael record labels. The 2CD set is a fantastic look into this small local scene – presented with very detailed notes on Freeman and his recordings – in support of a batch of 46 tracks that includes work by the Gospel Sensationals, Inspirational Singers, Rev Maceo Woods, James E Lenox, Brother Ed Smith, Wings Of Heaven Choir, Sammie Cheatham, Voices Of Cosmopolitan, Reba Harris, Pearl McGhee, Windy City Four, and many others! CD

A fantastic reading of Bach's cello suites – some of the first, and still most important, music written for solo cello – performed here by one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century! The recording quality is superb – and Rostropovich does a good job of avoiding some of the cliched phrasing that over-presented versions of the material can hit – sometimes hinting at his ear for more modern composers, while delivering a performance that's right on the money from a technical perspective. Box set features four albums – containing suites 1 through 6 – and notes in English, French, and German. CD

An essential batch of music – four overlooked gems from the German Ego label of the late 70s – one of which is a stone classic that we've treasured for decades! All albums here are incredible – but our absolute favorite is Benny Bailey's Serenade To A Planet – a set that we think is one of the greatest jazz records ever! By the time of this 1976 release, trumpeter Benny Bailey had already had quite a history – working with Quincy Jones in his early years, and recording for MPS with the likes of Nathan Davis and the Clark Boland Big Band, as well as some of the best other players in Europe. This set's Benny's masterpiece – a soulful batch of tunes that feels like it was lifted from the catalog of Strata East, but which is played by a quintet that features Europeans Ferdinand Povel on tenor, Joe Haider on piano, and Isla Eckinger on bass – as well as American Kenny Clarke on drums. The vibe is perfect – and the group's harmoniously searching with a strong modal groove on nearly every track. Titles include "Aquarian Moods", "Neptunis", "Little B", and "The Kicker". East Of Isar is something of a follow-up to that date – done by Bailey with tenorist Sal Nistico – in a wonderful group that also includes Joe Haider on piano, Isla Eckinger on bass, and Billie Brooks on drums! The Haider/Eckinger team are known from other Bailey sessions in Europe – all of which are fantastic – and they perform extremely well here, too. Tracks are long, with a wonderfully searching quality – and titles include "Blues For Trane", "Joyful Sadness", and "East Of Isar". Then, the set steps into Just For Fun – another great album with a very similar groove – thanks to rhythm from Joe Haider on piano, Gunter Lenz on bass, and Joe Nay on drums. The group's backing up tenorist Sal Nistico – usually a sleepy talent, but a sparkling one on this session, thanks to a lively lyrical rhythm section, and some great compositions by Joe Haider. The whole thing sparkles with the kind of imagination and energy that keeps you tracking down sessions on MPS and other European labels – and with tracks like "Beautiful Black Casanova", "Do Not Make Circles", and "7787", you won't be disappointed in this one! And last by not least is After A Long Time – from trumpeter Dusko Goykovich – a rare gem that's in a similar format to Benny Bailey's classic Serenade To A Planet! Dusko stretches out beautifully on the record – in a group that features Joe Haider on piano, Roman Schwaller on tenor, Isla Eckinger on bass, and Alvin Queen on drums. Titles include "Emotionally", "After A Long Time", "Summit", "Mountain Witch", and "The Hunt Is On". CD

An important record in the 70s – one that really kept alive the spirit of the pre-Sgt Pepper's Beatles – with a range of fantastic tracks from their first four years! LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic collection of work from the overlooked Ego label – four rare albums, originally issued only overseas! First up is Dwellers On The High Plateau, by pianist Vince Benedetti – soaring, spiritual soul jazz! The set's built around the piano and compositions of Vince Benedetti – but it really kicks from some great rhythmic accompaniment from Billy Brooks on drums and Eric Peters on bass, both of whom spin out these warm, long, flowing grooves that seem to get more out of Benedetti's work than we've heard on other records. The album also features some great work on soprano and tenor sax from Andy Scherrer – blowing snakey lines that cut through the rhythms with a very nice edge. Titles include "Dwellers On The High Plateau", "Gone", "The Black Notes", and "The Call". Next up is The Last Call – one of the most obscure early albums from reedman Dave Liebman – a set that was recorded in the US, but only issued overseas! The album features Liebman in two different modes – the first a relatively free, surprisingly spiritual setting – as Dave blows tenor on two long tracks, with just the drums of Jeff Williams behind him. Other material is a bit more structured, with those angular lines that Liebman brought to some of his more famous work – a real precursor for a generation of saxophonists who were inspired by these sounds. On these cuts, Liebman plays tenor and soprano sax – and works with Mark Isham on trumpet, Michael Formanek on bass, and Mike Barsimento on drums. The piano-less group has a wonderful sound – lots of soundshaping between Liebman and Isham especially – and titles on the album include "Wind Blues", "The Last Call/First Visit", "Your Lady", "Thoughts Of Loss", and "Leprechaun". Next is Home Again, by the group changes – a combo that features very strong contributions from trumpeter Uli Beckerhoff, saxophonist Wolfgang Engstfeld, pianist Ed Kroger, bassist Peter Bockius, and drummer Peter Weiss! Like most of the best on the Ego label, there's a strong rhythm section here that really lets the soloists open up and do their thing – never going too far out at all, but crafting these warmly soulful lines, with a slight spiritual undercurrent – stretching out with a rich feeling, but a sound that's never forced or overdone. Titles include "Home Again", "Trees", "Samba Du Commerce", and "Blues For Ed". Changes follow again, with the album Some More Changes – a record with a sound that really represents the strongest modes of soulful jazz that developed in the 70s! These players all clearly have a knowledge of outside territory, but choose to remain closer in – yet always point towards the beyond with both their solos, and their wonderfully strong writing in the set – a bit like some of the best work on Muse Records in the 70s, such as albums by Woody Shaw or Kenny Barron! There's definitely a similar vibe to those records here – especially in the sense of cohesion that comes from the lineup – Uli Beckerhoff on trumpet, Wolfgang Engstfeld on soprano sax and tenor, Ed Kroger on piano, Detlef Beier on bass, and Peter Weiss on drums. All tracks are originals – and titles include "Kenny Make It", "Yaiza", "Akiko", "Hautkontakt", and "Last Chance". CD

A killer double-length set of work from Desmond Dekker – one that's put together by Trojan Records to feature all the lesser-known and unreleased tracks that Desmond recorded during the years of his initial hits! As such, the album's a treasure trove of work that goes way past the oft-issued singles that Desmond cut in the late 60s and early 70s – tracks that are wonderful, and some of our favorites – but which are greatly expanded here! Dekker's voice is fantastic – as always – one of the sweetest soul sounds in Jamaican music – and the grooves are a mix of rocksteady and new reggae modes that were bubbling forth at the time. Titles include "Look What They're Doing To Me", "Life Of Opportunity", "Little Darling", "Warlock", "Licking Stick", "Hippopotamus", "The Song We Used To Sing", "Go & Tell My People", "Trample", "What Will You Gain", "My Reward", "Mother Nature", and "Life Hope & Faith". CD features 6 bonus tracks ''Father Noah", "Generosity", and four alternate versions of songs on the album! CD

A really great record, and maybe one of the few hip hop soundtracks to get at the real feel of the music on the streets – maybe no surprise, as the film for which it was created did the same thing! This isn't a fluffed-up Hollywood take on hip hop, with mainstream soul thrown into the mix – as the record was put together by Fab 5 Freddy and Chris Stein – the latter of whom really invests in his hip hop cred away from Blondie, and also provides some cool guitar bits and effects in the music too! There's some great freestyle bits and turntable tracks that really get at the underground side of the music that was alive and well at the time – and titles include "Wild Style Theme Rap 1" by Grandmaster Caz & Chris Stein, "Basketball Throwdown" by Cold Crush Bros & The Fantastic Four, "Stoop Rap" by Double Trouble & Rodney Cee, "Rammellzee & Shock Dell at the Amphitheatre" with Grandmixer DST, "Wild Style Subway Rap 2" by Grand Master Caz & Chris Stein, and "Cold Crush Brothers At The Dixie". LP, Vinyl record album

Two fantastic funky tracks from the Italian 70s soundtrack scene – served up here on a limited edition 45! First up is "Rhythm & Sex", a cut that delivers everything promised in the title – heavy drums for the rhythms, and all sorts of jazzy bits over the top – including a brace of horns, and a mad little guitar line in the middle! "Step By Step" is slower and moodier – with this really cool bassline next to congas and a whispering sort of voice – slightly breathy as the guitar does all sorts of wild things next to the keyboards! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A fantastic full-length debut from Nubya Garcia – a tenor saxophonist who's been making big waves on the London scene in recent work – and who, like most of her contemporaries in that city, is determined to push jazz into new dimensions that will keep the artform growing and alive for decades to come! At the core is Nubya's quartet – an excellent group that features Joe Armon-Jones on piano and Wurlitzer, Daniel Casimir on bass, and Sam Jones on drums – all working with energy that's boundless, and always has us running to the notes to figure out of there's more people working than just those four! And in most cases, that's not what's going on – save for a few spots that feature guest trumpet from Ms Maurice, and the occasional vocal appearance – hardly distractions from the amazing spirit and energy of the quartet at the core. Really wonderful work from a player who is rising up to be a key part of the next generation of jazz – on titles that include "Together Is A Beautiful Place To Be", "Source", "The Message Continues", "Pace", "La Cumbia Me Esta Llmando", and "Boundless Beings". CD

Pianist Joe Haider was one of the coolest cats on the German scene of the 70s – and here, he's presented in two really fantastic groups! The set features two tracks from his legendary Four Four Jazz session from 1970 – tremendous work from a group that features the great Isla Eckinger on bass, a young HG Giger on drums, and Heinz Bigler on alto – plus sublime trumpet solos from Benny Bailey on "A Land Of Dolls" and "What Is Happening". The remaining tracks are great trio numbers – with superb bass from Eckinger and drums from Allen Blairman. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the Jazz Crusaders many fantastic live sets from The Lighthouse – just about all of which are excellent, but '68 is a real standout! Perhaps the single feature that pushes this set above and beyond the others, is the beautiful longer tracks – ones have a spiritual soulful vibe that you don't always get from the group, particularly in comparatively dry studio settings. Those standout tracks include "Native Dancer" and "The Emperor", and they sit nicely next to straighter soul jazz tracks like the group's reading of "Eleanor Rigby" and "Ooga-Boo-Ga-Loo". This CD features four previously bonus tracks – including "Cathy The Cooker", "Shadows", "Tough Talk" and Third Principle". CD

A sweet little entry in the small Italian genre of "erotic films on island location" – served up with this fantastic blend of 70s instrumentation and older exotica percussion! The setting is the Caribbean, but that's more in fantasy than the musical styles within – as Augusto Martelli blends bass, guitar, and plenty of keyboards with rawer acoustic percussion elements that really set the scene – making for this wonderfully earthy contrast to the sweeter electric moments – at a level that must have made for plenty of unbridled and savage love on the screen! Titles include "La Seduzione", "Joining Together", "Mercato Di Portorico", "How Wonderful You Are", "Visions"- and "La Spiaggia Di Ulisse". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic blend of jazz, contemporary soul, and hip hop – served up by a group who can really get the sound right – Terrace Martin on keyboards and alto, Robert Glasper on keyboards, Kamasi Washington on tenor, and 9th Wonder on beats! Vocals on most tracks are by Phoelix, who really helps give the instrumentation some focus – yet the jazz component of the record is never buried under the lyrics, as the players get plenty of space to do their thing – with a vibe that's a bit like some of Glasper's Black Radio project, yet given much more the kind of cool Crenshaw vibe that we've loved in Martin's previous records. All four artists are credited with songwriting and production and you can really hear that balance in the sound – on tracks that include "Love You Bad", "Sleepless Nights", "The Mighty Tree", "Freeze Tag", "Luv U", and "From My Heart & Soul". LP, Vinyl record album

A great later cooker by the fantastic Japanese tenorist Hidehiko "Sleepy" Matsumoto – a set that begins in territory that reworks the older Four Brothers mode, but with a vibe that's a lot more contemporary! The formation is tight, but the record is filled with long, brilliant breakaway solos – work by Sleepy, and by Konosuke Saijo, Teruo Yoda, and Jun Sugihara on tenors – plus Tetsuo Fushimi on trumpet. Titles include the originals "Unsleepy" and "Imperial Blues" – plus "Mack The Knife" and "Night In Tunisia". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic funky sound library gem – one that begins with this wicked fast drum break over riffing guitar – while Gianni Oddi starts to warm things up with sweet keyboards, and then snakes in a tenor sax solo too! Isabella Sodani provides these sexy vocals that are whispered in the background – leaving plenty of room for the keys and tenor! "Geronimo" is equally cool – with this very offbeat groove that almost sounds like it's dipping into water, and then this cool bassline part that's almost got a "Soul Makossa" vibe – as does the saxophone part that comes into play over the top! 12-inch, Vinyl record

A fantastic second album from Rasputin Stash – a group who started out on Atlantic Records as a big ensemble with a pretty freaky, fuzzy sound – but one who emerge here with a sweet mix of funk and soul that's perfect for their placement on this mid-70s offshoot of Curtom Records! The quartet have a reach that they never had before – able to unite their voices and soar with harmonic brilliance that rivals the best of their labelmates – the Impressions or Natural Four – always with the kind of badass currents that both of those groups picked up in the 70s! Yet they can also get a lot funkier, too – picking up some of the best currents from the Curtis Mayfield side of the spectrum, but fusing them into a leaner small group mode – heard to wonderfully effect on the classic "Devil Made Me Do It", and the killer JB's-ish track "Hit It and Pass It". The whole album's wonderful, though – and titles include "I Can Feel Your Jones", "Ooh Baby", and "The Devil Made Me Do It". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest Sonny Rollins records ever! The set is a legendary batch of trio tracks that feature Sonny working in a format that is incredibly free for the time, and which show him as more of a modernist than a bopper – although his solos are still pretty darn fantastic from a bop perspective. Blue Note recorded Sonny at 2 sessions at the Village Vanguard on November 3, 1957 – and both sessions are offered here in their complete form! Donald Bailey and Pete LaRoca are the rhythm section for the early set – and Wilbur Ware and Elvin Jones are the backing for the later set. Both groups are amazing, and this is simply one of the best live sets ever captured by the label – and the kind of work that Rollins' had yet to reach in the studio. Titles include "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise", "Four", "Old Devil Moon", "Night In Tunisia", and "I've Got You Under My Skin". But forget the titles, because it's the playing that makes this one so wonderful! CD

One of the great albums that Pee Wee Russell recorded for Impulse during the late 60's, when they brought him back for some great comeback LPs in a number of different settings. This one has him playing as the main soloist with Oliver Nelson's orchestra. As with most of Nelson's work from the 60's, the arrangements are fresh, inspired, and leave lots of room for soloing. Russell's tone is fantastic, and it's no surprise that he's been named as an influence by a number of important reed players. Not trad stuff really, but more some swingin large band stuff, with nice pinched clarinet solos. Tracks include "This Is It", "Six & Four", "Pee Wee's Blues", and "Bopol". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic set – and one that didn't exist in this way during the vinyl years of Impulse Records! The package provides important early work from these two musicians who'd go onto shape the avant side of jazz in the 60s – three tracks that Cecil Taylor recorded with Gil Evans for the label – and four more from the sessions for Roswell Rudd's Everywhere album! CD

A fantastic debut from The Techniques – and a set that also features a fair bit of work from Jamaican trumpet legend Baba Brooks! The vocal quartet have a great sound that's even more soulful and sharp than some of their contemporaries – maybe the difference that four voices make compared to some of the Kingston trios of the time – which seems to have the Techniques sounding even more heavenly on their harmonies! The instrumentation is great – sharp, but never overwhelming on the vocal tracks – but in just the right mode when Baba Brooks steps out in the lead on an instrumental – and titles include "Queen Majesty", "I Am In Love", "You Don't Know", "Little Did You Know", "I Wish It Would Rain", and "My Whole Life Depends On You". This CD pitches things a bit differently than the original album – in that it features 7 of the 12 tracks, leaving out the instrumentals – then adds in 21 more selections by the Techniques – which makes the 28 track set a complete document of their work with producer Duke Reid in the 60s! LP, Vinyl record album

Pure magic from saxophonist Barney Wilen – captured here at a point when his powers were really back in full force, and when he seemed to be at his most soulful when handling a gentle, easygoing sort of tune! The ballads in the title are definitely out in full force – served up in a mixture of famous French melodies, past and present – so that older postwar melodies are mixed with more contemporary moments from Michel Legrand – with a lyrical vibe that's really emphasized by the superb work on piano for the set by Michel Grallier! The rest of the group is great, too – and players include Sangoma Everett on drums, and Riccardo Del Fra on bass – the last of whom you might know from some fantastic albums with Chet Baker in later years. Wilen blows tenor and a bit of soprano – and titles include "L'Ame Des Poets", "Une Ete 42", "My Way", "Once Upon A Time", "Sous Le Ciel De Paris", "Syracuse", and "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life". CD features new mastering, and four bonus tracks – alternate takes of tunes on the album! CD

Fantastic sounds from 1967 – a year in which mainstream music saw plenty of heady changes – as you might guess from the title! The set's a wonderful follow-up to the 1966 set by Jon Savage – and like that one, it features a superb selection of tracks from this important year – served up in all the different strands and styles that were popping into place – soul, early funk, psych, hard rock, and lots more – in a blistering array of songs that steps beautifully between well-known classics and underground gems! The feel of the set is way different than the usual oldies package with a date on the front – as Jon Savage dedicated the whole thing to the groundbreaking mix of music he enjoyed from pirate radio at the time – and included his own fantastic writing in the notes to help explain what makes the music so great. Titles include "You Keep Running Away" by The Four Tops, "Lazy Life" by William E, "At The Third Stroke" by The Picadilly Line, "Try It" by The Attack, "I'm A Man" by Spencer Davis Group, "Western Union" by The Searchers, "So You Say You Lost Your Baby" by Gene Clark, "Feelin Reelin Squeelin" by Soft Machine, "So Sharp" by Dyke & The Blazers, "Mr Soul" by Buffalo Springfield, "Vacuum Cleaner" by Tintern Abbey, "Garden Of My Mind" by The Mickey Finn, "Love Power" by The Sandpebbles, "Look At Me I'm You" by The Blossom Toes, and "Psyche Rock" by Les Yper Sound. 48 tracks in all! CD

Incredible jazz from the German scene of the 70s – two years' of recordings from this important festival – one that presents all the "new jazz" promised in its name, but in a range that moves effortlessly between free jazz, modal moments, funky fusion, and even some groovy big band work too! Performers are a range from all over the European scene – and are represented here in a significant selection of material from each act – very well-recorded, and presented in this beautiful box set, along with a booklet of notes and photos as well. The scope of sounds is fantastic – and long performances include an set of improvisations from the trio of Peter Brotzmann, Fred Van Hove, and Han Bennink; two long electric tracks from Jasper Van't Hof's Pork Pie group, with Charlie Mariano on a range of reeds and Philip Catherine on guitar; four long improvisations from the SOS group of John Surman, Mike Osborne, and Alan Skidmore – plying in a great mix of reeds and electronics; there's also two long improvisations between pianist Misha Mengelberg and drummer Han Bennink; Gary Burton's quintet with Pat Metheny and Mick Goodrick on guitars perform three improvisations for over 75 minutes of music; the Gustav Brom Big Band step out on some very groovy tracks; saxophonist Eero Koivistonen blows with his quartet that includes Olli Avhenlahti on electric piano; reedman Jiri Stivin and guitarist Rudolph Dasek play a number of improvisations; bassist Barre Phillips and flautist Kryzstof Zgraja perform two long improvisations; the Polish Jazz Summit features Tomasz Stanko on trumpet, Zbigniew Namyslowski on alto, Zbigniew Siefert on violin, and Adam Makowicz on Fender Rhodes; and trumpeter Franz Kogelmann and soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy head a quintet with a bit of electronics! There's a few more surprises, too – and the whole thing is a fantastic presentation of these lost sounds. CD

A fantastic collection of rare sweet soul from the late 60s and early 70s – one with a strong focus on male vocals and harmony tunes, all put together with a great late nite sort of feel! The quality level of this one is way above lots of other dodgy sets on the market – and the folks at Latin Soul have chosen a beautiful batch of deep-burning tunes – recorded in a variety of different scenes at the time, but picked with an especial ear for the kind of tracks that play big for the west coast sweet soul crowd! The whole thing's got a real super-dope feel – one in which "sweet" means "heartbreaking" and "personal" – not cloying and child-like. 21 tracks in all – with titles that include "I'm Not Like The Others" by Little Jimmy Gandy, "Untrue Woman" by Debonaires, "True Love Will Never Die" by Apple & The Three Oranges, "Shady Side Of Town" by Talisman, "Send Me Some Sugar Baby" by Duke Turner, "Keep On Walking" by Main Attraction, "Leave It Like It Is" by The Steelers, "Story Of My Life" by Emulations, "Break Your Promise" by Chicago Gangsters, and "Things That A Lady Ain't Supposed To Do" by Four Dynamics. CD

20 great tracks pulled from the Motown catalog – specially selected to include some harder to find numbers that were hits issued as singles, but which haven't been properly reissued, and other tracks that have had huge interest in the soul underground scene, especially in the UK! The package is a great look at the lesser-known side of Motown – and tracks include "Jamie" by Eddie Holland, "Whatcha Gonna Do" by Terry Johnson, "I Got A Feeling" by Barbara Randolph, "Cos You Know Me" by Rick Robin & Him, "A Little Bit For Sandy" by Paul Peterson, "Crying In The Night" by The Monitors, "It's Growing" by Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers, "Steal Away Tonight" by Barbara McNair, "Never Say No To Your Baby" by The Hit Pack, "Day by Day Or Never" by Chris Clark, "It's Been A Long Long Time" by The Elgins, "Can't Stop Looking For My Baby" by The Fantastic Four, "Suzie" by Terry Johnson, and "You Need Me" by The Lewis Sisters. CD

If you only know Van McCoy from his big disco hit of the 70s, then you've got plenty to learn – because the man was very active in soul music during the decade before – a great singer, and a hugely productive songwriter whose tunes provided material for many other big names of his time! Van's tunes often have a great mix of soul and sophistication – a classy approach that's sometimes dubbed uptown soul, and which balances deeply heartfelt vocals with stepping grooves and just the right subtle use of larger backings – all in a way that perfectly enhances the special qualities of the lyrics. That approach is used often here, amidst a few other cuts that echo northern or deep soul modes – all brought together with the usual fantastic Ace Records notes, packaging, and sound quality. Titles include "Hard Way To Go" by The Exciters, "You're Gonna Make Me Love You" by Sandi Sheldon, "Lost & Found" by Kenny Carlton, "If I Don't Love You" by The Choice Four, "Mister DJ" by Francine Barker, "Touch My Heart" by The Vonnettes, "Just In The Nick Of Time" by Toni Lamarr, "Abracadabra" by Erma Franklin, "Baby I Miss You" by The Spellbinders, "I Wanna Love You So Bad" by Bobby Reed, "The Sweetest Thing This Side Of Heaven" by Chris Bartley, "This Is It" by Melba Moore, "Baby Don't Change Your Mind" by Gladys Knight & The Pips, "Memories & Souvenirs" by Laura Greene, and "Show A Little Appreciation" by The Ad Libs. CD

5 Tom Moulton mixes of late 70s Westbound club tracks: a medley of the Fantastic Four's "Night People" and "Lies Divided By Jive", Dennis Coffey's "Wings Of Fire", CJ & Co "Devil's Gun", the Detroit Emerald's "Feel The Need" and the Mike Theodore Orchestra's "The Bull". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge album for Adeva – and maybe a huge album for house music really finding their way into the charts – as the singer has a fantastic way of blending old school vocals with more club-oriented rhythms – in a way that made Adeva especially popular overseas! The singer comes from the American south, and has deep roots in the church – with plenty of gospel training that really comes through in the way her vocals inflect and soar – set to grooves that are very much that late 80s British house-inspired style of the Coldcut generation. But Adeva's way more than just another singer working with beats – as the album's got a depth that really keeps on going, from the hit reworking of "Respect", through "Treat Me Right", "Promises", "Musical Freedom", "Warning", "I Don't Need You", "So Right", "Beautiful Love", and "In & Out Of My Life". This massive 4CD set is definitely the ultimate version – as it features an insane amount of bonus tracks – 46 more numbers, which has to be all of the many remixes of all the album's tracks that came out on overseas singles over the years. Comes in a slipcase with a nice booklet of notes – and more than four times the music that was on the original record! CD

A really great little single – one that takes a famous older theme from Italian sound library giant Alessandro Alessandroni, and turns it into a fantastic soul cut with vocals by Jessica Duncan! This isn't a cheapo "soundtrack remix" cut – as the tune's rebuilt right from the start, with these cool offbeat keyboards over a rock-solid bassline, while Jessica spins out the lyric with a really seductive vibe! "Philadelphia" is more classic-styled sound library funk – a hip piano line at the start, just waiting to be sampled – while a bassline dips in and out next to funky drums – before the tune all comes together and hits this wicked midtempo funky groove, complete with a saxophone solo in the middle! A pricey single – but definitely quality throughout. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Four full albums from the Box Tops, plus bonus tracks too! First up is The Letter/Neon Rainbow – a powerhouse set from The Box Tops – a 60s group who showed the world that the Memphis scene had as much to offer the world of rock as it did the worlds of blues and soul – thanks to the all-great pedigree of this album! Not only does the group feature a very young Alex Chilton on lead vocals, the set was also recorded at the new American Recording Studios headed up by Chips Moman – with tracks on the record from the classic soul songwriting team of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, not to mention a few by the young Bobby Womack too! The bit hit "The Letter" leads off the set, but the album's way more than just that it – filled with great tunes that include "I Pray For Rain", "I'm Your Puppet", "Happy Times", "Neon Rainbow", "Break My Mind", "She Knows How", and "Everything I Am". Cry Like A Baby is a fantastic album from The Box Tops – the kind of all-great, no-filler record that really set them apart from some of their 60s contemporaries! At this point, Alex Chilton's still not a songwriter, but he sounds tremendous in the lead on vocals – working with superb Memphis production, amidst a host of great tunes from the team of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, plus a few other key songwriters too! Penn produced the record, and really gives it a fantastic sound – the kind of special touches and genre-bending elements of his own later records – on titles that include "Deep In Kentucky", "Cry Like A Baby", "Trouble With Sam", "The Door You Closed To Me", "Lost", "Fields Of Clover", and "Every Time". Non Stop is beautiful work from The Box Tops – a set that has the group moving way past their early hits, and finding this really sort of special place in the world of up-and-coming artists in the 60s! The Box Tops were maybe one of the first Memphis rock groups to really put together all the great elements that were bubbling in that city's scene during the 60s – the unique hybrid of soul, country, R&B, and other influences that were filtering into groups via the cross-cultural vibe of the city. That quality really comes through here – partly in the group's performance and the lead vocals of Alex Chilton, partly in the great production by Dann Penn, who also wrote a number of tracks with Spooner Oldham, and partly in the way that fuller arrangements are used to underscore some more soulful touches in the music. Titles include "Sandman", "Choo Choo Train", "I'm Movin On", "People Gonna Talk", "She Shot A Hole In My Soul", "I Met Her In Church", "I Can Dig It", and "If I Had Let You In". Dimensions is maybe one of the most soulful albums by The Box Tops – and that's saying a heck of a lot, as there's plenty of other soul elements moving through the other records! Alex Chilton's really finding his own here, and contributes a number of his own songs to the record, as a harbinger of his great legacy to come – and the production is slightly shifted, with Tommy Cogbill and Chips Moman taking over from Dan Penn, and maybe bringing in even more elements from the wide crossover between rock and soul on the Memphis scene. Titles include "I See Only Sunshine", "Together", "The Happy Song", "Rock Me Baby", "Sweet Cream Ladies", "I Must Be The Devil", "Midnight Angel", and "Soul Deep". Bonus cuts include "Since I Been Gone", "Lay Your Smile On Me", "King's Highway", "Take Me To Your Heart", "Georgia Farm Boy", "Come On Honey", and "You Keep Tightening Up On Me". CD

Four full albums from the Box Tops, plus bonus tracks too! First up is The Letter/Neon Rainbow – a powerhouse set from The Box Tops – a 60s group who showed the world that the Memphis scene had as much to offer the world of rock as it did the worlds of blues and soul – thanks to the all-great pedigree of this album! Not only does the group feature a very young Alex Chilton on lead vocals, the set was also recorded at the new American Recording Studios headed up by Chips Moman – with tracks on the record from the classic soul songwriting team of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, not to mention a few by the young Bobby Womack too! The bit hit "The Letter" leads off the set, but the album's way more than just that it – filled with great tunes that include "I Pray For Rain", "I'm Your Puppet", "Happy Times", "Neon Rainbow", "Break My Mind", "She Knows How", and "Everything I Am". Cry Like A Baby is a fantastic album from The Box Tops – the kind of all-great, no-filler record that really set them apart from some of their 60s contemporaries! At this point, Alex Chilton's still not a songwriter, but he sounds tremendous in the lead on vocals – working with superb Memphis production, amidst a host of great tunes from the team of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, plus a few other key songwriters too! Penn produced the record, and really gives it a fantastic sound – the kind of special touches and genre-bending elements of his own later records – on titles that include "Deep In Kentucky", "Cry Like A Baby", "Trouble With Sam", "The Door You Closed To Me", "Lost", "Fields Of Clover", and "Every Time". Non Stop is beautiful work from The Box Tops – a set that has the group moving way past their early hits, and finding this really sort of special place in the world of up-and-coming artists in the 60s! The Box Tops were maybe one of the first Memphis rock groups to really put together all the great elements that were bubbling in that city's scene during the 60s – the unique hybrid of soul, country, R&B, and other influences that were filtering into groups via the cross-cultural vibe of the city. That quality really comes through here – partly in the group's performance and the lead vocals of Alex Chilton, partly in the great production by Dann Penn, who also wrote a number of tracks with Spooner Oldham, and partly in the way that fuller arrangements are used to underscore some more soulful touches in the music. Titles include "Sandman", "Choo Choo Train", "I'm Movin On", "People Gonna Talk", "She Shot A Hole In My Soul", "I Met Her In Church", "I Can Dig It", and "If I Had Let You In". Dimensions is maybe one of the most soulful albums by The Box Tops – and that's saying a heck of a lot, as there's plenty of other soul elements moving through the other records! Alex Chilton's really finding his own here, and contributes a number of his own songs to the record, as a harbinger of his great legacy to come – and the production is slightly shifted, with Tommy Cogbill and Chips Moman taking over from Dan Penn, and maybe bringing in even more elements from the wide crossover between rock and soul on the Memphis scene. Titles include "I See Only Sunshine", "Together", "The Happy Song", "Rock Me Baby", "Sweet Cream Ladies", "I Must Be The Devil", "Midnight Angel", and "Soul Deep". Bonus cuts include "Since I Been Gone", "Lay Your Smile On Me", "King's Highway", "Take Me To Your Heart", "Georgia Farm Boy", "Come On Honey", and "You Keep Tightening Up On Me". CD

A very dynamic performance from a very dynamic group – a hipper than usual ensemble for Anthony Braxton, given that just about everyone here is a heavy hitter! The four long tracks are all Braxton compositions – in that special formula that encourages group sonic activity, while exploding with individual solo moments – a good thing, given that musicians include Muhal Richard Abrams on piano, George Lewis on trombone, Mark Helias on bass, and Charles Bobo Shaw on drums! Braxton himself plays alto, sopranino, and clarinet – and Helias has these wonderfully dark tones that kind of seal the deal on the whole performance – a moody bottom that makes all the other sounds really come across in a fantastic way. Titles include "Composition 69 J", "Composition 69 N/G", "Composition 69 M", and "Composition 40 B". CD

Tremendous grooves from one of the coolest club labels of all time – the legendary P&P family of labels, home to some of the weirdest, wildest, most experimental tracks to ever hit the dancefloor – yet all tracks that are pretty darn funky too! This 2CD collection is heavy on cuts from Cloud One – one of the most well-known P&P acts, often working with weird moogy electronics over funky club rhythms – a combination that still sounds as fantastic now as when Patrick Adams got the group going way back when – especially in the company of some of the other cool cuts that are on the collection too. Cloud One tracks include "Music Funk", "Funky Track", "Disco Juice", "Dust To Dust", "Spaced Out", "Charleston Hopscotch", "Atmosphere Strut (parts 1 & 2)", "Doin It All Night Long", "Jump Jump Jump", "Flying High (part 1)", "Patty Duke", "Don't Let My Rainbow Pass Me By", "Atmosphere Strut (1979 rmx – part 2)", and "Happy Music" – and other tracks include "God's Greatest Gift To Man Is A Woman" by Marie Lomax, "My Baby's Got ESP (orig 7" mix)" by Four Below Zero, "The Guardian Angel Is Watching Over Us" by Golden Flamingo Orchestra, "Dance Dance Dance (disco version)" by Maria Acuna, "God Save & Protect Children" by Margo Williams, "Ain't Gonna Be A Next Time (short version)" by Magnetic Touch, and "It's Rough (dub)" by The Imperial Three. CD

Three great tracks from this rare Italian soundtrack – all perfect here for a funky 45! "Girl With The Gun" is this fantastic mix of rumbling drums, electric sitar, and fuzzy guitar – peppered with a voice saying the title throughout the cut – but moving between talking, screaming, and other modes! "Shake Balera" is a lively tune that has a surfy guitar over weirder rhythms – almost bubbling moogy bits that feel like Perry & Kingsley – followed by an organ solo too! "Rapimento" is a nice bit of psychedelic lounge – trippy organ, electric sitar, and percussion all wobbling together in this really cool laidback groove – then getting fierce and funky at the end! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A landmark moment – both for Brian Eno, and for experimental music in general! Although Eno began his solo run with some searing, guitar-heavy records that were even wilder than his early work with Roxy Music – he also began experimenting with more sensitive aspects of sound on albums like Another Green World and Before & After Science – an approach he takes here to the farthest degree, by opening up himself and creating a whole new genre of ambient music in the process! Gone are the raspy, sometimes nasty vocals – and in their place is virtually nothing – just beautifully open music that uses scores that are somewhat cyclical – but at a pace that's very different than the minimalism of the period – and maybe even more minimal too. The record features four long tracks, one with piano by Robert Wyatt – really beautiful stuff, like some strange dark sonic crystal that fell out of the skies years ago, and which still remains a mystery to all ears that stumble upon it! LP, Vinyl record album

A really great record, and maybe one of the few hip hop soundtracks to get at the real feel of the music on the streets – maybe no surprise, as the film for which it was created did the same thing! This isn't a fluffed-up Hollywood take on hip hop, with mainstream soul thrown into the mix – as the record was put together by Fab 5 Freddy and Chris Stein – the latter of whom really invests in his hip hop cred away from Blondie, and also provides some cool guitar bits and effects in the music too! There's some great freestyle bits and turntable tracks that really get at the underground side of the music that was alive and well at the time – and titles include "Wild Style Theme Rap 1" by Grandmaster Caz & Chris Stein, "Basketball Throwdown" by Cold Crush Bros & The Fantastic Four, "Stoop Rap" by Double Trouble & Rodney Cee, "Rammellzee & Shock Dell at the Amphitheatre" with Grandmixer DST, "Wild Style Subway Rap 2" by Grand Master Caz & Chris Stein, and "Cold Crush Brothers At The Dixie". LP, Vinyl record album