The genius first album from Felt – a record that really stood apart from most of the UK post-punk scene of the time – even though it was to have a huge impact on British music in years to come! The approach here is almost psychedelic – with tracks that move past 3 minutes, and feature lots of long, introspective passages on guitar – but the production and presentation is definitely of the moment, too – as the set was produced by John Rivers, who'd helped Swell Maps get their unique sound – which really brings a starkness to the record that's not only beautiful, but which sounds completely unlike anything that came before. Titles include "Evergreen Dazed", "Fortune", "Cathedral", "I Worship The Sun", "Birdmen", and "Templeroy". CD

Pure brilliance from Felt – the kind of record that made the group quite out of time in the early 80s scene, and which has continued to get them attention for decades to come! There's guitar work here that's both inspired by the psych years, but also filtered through the post-punk sensibilities of the period – spacious, but lean – introspective, but never too full of itself – in a way that maybe puts the group in territory of contemporaries like Durutti Column or Dif Juz – but without all of the wispiness of the former, and more focus than the latter! Some tracks are nice and long, and the guitars are still more of the group's lead than the vocals – on titles that include "Red Indians", "The Optimist & The Poet", "The World Is As Soft As Lace", "Stagnant Pool", "A Preacher In New England", and "Mexican Bandits". LP, Vinyl record album

The first full album that Felt cut for Creation Records – and a tremendous selection of timeless pop tunes that shows that their move to the label was the best thing they ever did! The band's sound is tightened up considerably from their Cherry Red years – compressing organ solos, guitar passages, and Lawrence's introspective vocals into tunes that were filled with a sort of timeless sense of pop – never cloying, never witless – just magically "Felt-like", with an aura that was all its own. One of the finest rock records of the past 30 years, and a real bright spot in the 80s! Titles include "Down But Not Yet Out", "September Lady", "Gather Up Your Wings & Fly", "Hours Of Darkness Have Changed My Mind", and "Rain Of Crystal Spires". CD

The last album that Felt recorded for Cherry Red – and maybe their biggest early success too! The tracks are shorter and tighter than earlier releases – still very much concerned with the group's magical interplay of guitar and keyboards, but also going for a mode that really pushes Lawrence forward as a front man – singing in one of the most enigmatic pop voices of the 80s, with a style that stretches back to Dylan, but which also has a colder, more self-conscious style of the post-punk years. Titles include the group's seminal "Primitive Painters", a duet with Liz Frasier – plus the tracks "The Day The Rain Came Down", "Scarlet Servants", "My Darkest Light Will Shine", "Black Ship In The Harbour", and "Southern State Tapestry". CD

The final album in the initial run of genius from Felt – a set that marks a short step from Creation Records over to El at Cherry Red – where they receive some nicely expanded handling on the production! Adrian Borland produced, and the tunefulness of the songs really comes to the forefront – all while still providing a perfect showcase for the lyrical and vocal talents of Lawrence, set up beautifully amidst the swirling Hammond lines that made their Creation material so distinct! There's definitely some new ideas bubbling up here – which Lawrence would explore more freely in later work – and titles include "I Can't Make Love To You Anymore", "Budgie Jacket", "Down An August Path", and "Get Out of My Mirror". CD

Pure genius from a group who kept on growing strongly over the relatively short span of their career – maybe under-sung heroes at the time of their release, at least on this side of the Atlantic – but one of the few truly classic groups we can think of from the decade, at least with a recorded legacy this strong! The songs are as creatively distinct as anything every put forth by Morrissey and The Smiths – but in a very unique sort of way, with Lawrence firmly guiding the sound with his vocals amidst the wonderful songswirl of Hammond organ and guitar. Titles include "Apple Boutique", "Ivory Past", "Until The Fools Get Wise", "Bitter End", "How Spook Got Her Man", "Christopher Street", "Under A Pale Light", and "Don't Die On My Doorstep". CD

A gem of a record from Felt – one that has them complicating the sound they first brought to the Creation Records label – stretching out some of the songs a bit, and working with art rock legend Mayo Thompson of the Red Krayola in the production booth! The use of organ continues to be wonderfully strong – really giving the group a punctuation to their songs that their earlier material never had – but there's also still that great sense of overall sound that always made them so unique, and which works perfectly for the creative songwriting talents of Lawrence. Tracks include "Declaration" "Silver Plane", "She Lives By The Castle", "Stained Glass Windows In The Sky", "Riding On The Equator", "Dark Red Birds". CD

Brilliant – simply brilliant – work by Felt – an album recorded at a time when they should have gone for the hits, but pulled back to really work on their own creative vibe! The album is an instrumental one all the way through – unlike any of their others, all of which feature vocals – and it's got the quartet working in a melange of organ, electric piano, guitar, and percussion – crafting spare and thoughtful little tunes, all very short, and all working like little "song poems" in a plain, simple, and very subtle sense. Gone are the extended noodling bits of the early albums, and in their place are concise musical statements that are brilliantly delivered with a sound unlike anything else we can think of – at once evoking images of 60s use of organ and guitars, but at another, coming off with a sound that stretches back to the American heartland, and the dark days of early Europe. Titles include "The Palace", "Song For William S Harvey", "Ancient City Where I Lived", "Voyage To Illumination", and "Sapphire Mansions". CD

Pure brilliance from Felt – the kind of record that made the group quite out of time in the early 80s scene, and which has continued to get them attention for decades to come! There's guitar work here that's both inspired by the psych years, but also filtered through the post-punk sensibilities of the period – spacious, but lean – introspective, but never too full of itself – in a way that maybe puts the group in territory of contemporaries like Durutti Column or Dif Juz – but without all of the wispiness of the former, and more focus than the latter! Some tracks are nice and long, and the guitars are still more of the group's lead than the vocals – on titles that include "Red Indians", "The Optimist & The Poet", "The World Is As Soft As Lace", "Stagnant Pool", "A Preacher In New England", and "Mexican Bandits". CD

Seminal work from one of the greatest groups of British pop in the 80s – the incredible Felt, a band whose talents ran from the jangly to the lyrical and poetic! The album's a perfect illustration of these two sides of the group – as tunes shift effortlessly between light, melodic tracks with a 60s-inspired approach, to deeper, longer ones that involve complicated guitar and keyboard explorations. There's a sunny sadness to the whole album – the emergence of that indescribable sound that can only be summed up by "Felt" – and which has made the group a favorite of ours for years. Titles include "Sunlight Bathed The Golden Glow", "Roman Litter", "Sempiternal Darkness", "Spanish House", "Crystal Ball", "Vasco Da Gama", "Whirlpool Vision Of Shame", and "Imprint". CD

The title's got a subtle sort of poetry, one that's really reflected in the music – especially as this time around, they eschew their familiar organ and guitar for lots of jazzy work on piano and vibes – served up here in an all-instrumental mode! The album's not entirely jazz, but maybe not far off either – and the vibes are handled both by Gary Ainge and Martin Duffy, the latter of whom plays a fair bit of piano as well. Usual main man Lawrence seems to have nothing to do with the record – all songs are by Ainge and Duffy too – and titles include "Train Above The City", "Run Chico Run", "Press Softly On The Brakes Holly", "Spectral Morning", "Seahorses On Broadway", and "On Weegee's Sidewalk". CD

An excellent little live set from Deodato – hard to believe because the sound's just as tight and funky as his studio albums, and possibly even more interesting because he manages to pull it off equally well in a live setting! The record features percussion by Airto, guitar by John Tropea, and vocals by Flora Purim – and those are just the marquee names of a large and amazing grew of great musicians! All tracks are long and complicated, for very hynotic feel throughout. The funkiest number is "Tropea", which has a nice long 8 minute groove – and the set also features a cover of Steely Dan's "Do It Again", plus the tracks "Parana", "Branches", "Baubles, Bangles And Beads" and "Skyscraper". Amazing! LP, Vinyl record album

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A seminal album from The Bad Brains – and a set that forever shaped the sound of hardcore in the 80s! These guys are incredibly tight throughout – no doubt because of some previous work in jazz – but they never get overindulgent or too jammy at all – and instead deliver this blinding, blistering version of hardcore that really blows away some of the lesser-trained groups in the underground at the time – full of fire and fierce determination, with a force that's still being felt all these many years later! And despite their rasta roots, there's hardly any reggae-styled moments here – really just a few tracks amidst the triple-time numbers – and probably less than you'd find on an early 80s Clash album! Titles include "Banned In DC", "Sailin' On", "At The Movies", "Right Brigade", "Supertouch", "FVK", "Coptic times", "How Low Can A Punk Get", and "Big Takeover" – and oddly, the whole thing was produced by Ric Ocasek too! LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Reika Tiana", "On Green Dolphin St", "Whats New?", "Jive Samba", "Blue Smoke", "Milestones", "Rays Spot", "Mothers Day", "To Forgive", "Oooh La, La, La", "Cause I Felt Like It!", "Burrells Blues", "95 North To Philly", "Latin Swingin'", and "All Soul (Live)". CD

Includes the songs " I Can't Get Started", "Trees", "Jelly Roll Blues", "'Deed I Do", "High Society", "Black Bottom", "Russian Lullaby", "The Prisoner's Song", "Caravan", "Swanee River", "Never Felt Better, Never Had Less", "(Shango, Shango, Shangoree) Rockin' Rollers Jubilee", "Frankie And Johnny", "'Cause My Baby Says It's So", and "The Wearin' Of The Green". CD

An album that explodes with life, soul, and energy right from the very first note – a jazz set from keyboardist George Burton, but a record that weaves in lots of different strands along the way – with a sense of imagination that's certain to make Burton's music something to really keep an ear on for years to come! Yet already, this record is more than enough – and grabs us in a way we're not usually grabbed – as George balance his own bold energy on piano and Fender Rhodes with occasional vocals from a female singer, work by Tim Warfield on soprano sax, Chris Hemingway on alto, and Andy Bianco on guitar, and a trio of different drummers who really know when to kick in and propel the album forward! Burton is never content to just lay down a solo, or swing a groove – and there's a larger sonic palette of soul to the record that has to be heard to be understood – yet even the few straighter jazz numbers are pretty amazing too. Imagine the joy you felt when you first heard the early records of Robert Glasper, and you'll get some of the energy this record can deliver – on titles that include "Finding", "Gratitude", "Spirit", "Reciprocity", "Third Prayer", "Finite Space", "Us", "Power", and "Turn". CD

A more spiritual soul-based setting than usual for the talents of Nicola Conte – a long-awaited full length set, served up after a host of 12" single collaborations with Gianluca Petrella! Petrella's presence is felt in the way the tunes unfold – often with strong contributions from contemporary soul styles, and vocals on most numbers – although the longstanding quality that Conte brings can definitely be heard in the jazzier elements, and the record's great way of mixing older roots with a forward-thinking spirit! Vocals are by singers Debo Ray, Carolina Bubbico, Bridgette Amofah, and Raashan Amad – sounding great over strong use of percussion, Fender Rhodes, and jazzy instrumentation. Titles include "Nigeria", "Imani River", "The Higher Love", "Mother Of The Earth", "Tribes", "African Spirits", and "Inner Light". CD

A more spiritual soul-based setting than usual for the talents of Nicola Conte – a long-awaited full length set, served up after a host of 12" single collaborations with Gianluca Petrella! Petrella's presence is felt in the way the tunes unfold – often with strong contributions from contemporary soul styles, and vocals on most numbers – although the longstanding quality that Conte brings can definitely be heard in the jazzier elements, and the record's great way of mixing older roots with a forward-thinking spirit! Vocals are by singers Debo Ray, Carolina Bubbico, Bridgette Amofah, and Raashan Amad – sounding great over strong use of percussion, Fender Rhodes, and jazzy instrumentation. Titles include "Nigeria", "Imani River", "The Higher Love", "Mother Of The Earth", "Tribes", "African Spirits", and "Inner Light". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "The Young Rabbits", "Freedom Sound", "Brother Barnard", "Tough Talk", "Scratch", "Blues Up Tight", "Eleanor Rigby", "Inside The Outside", "Jazz", "Thank You", "Golden Slumbers", "Way Back Home", "Put It Where You Want It", "So Far Away", "Sweet Revival", "That's How I Feel", "Three Children", "Mosadi", "A Shade Of Blue", "Tough Talk", "Don't Let It Get You Down", "A Message From The Inner City", "A Search For Soul", "Scratch (Live)", "Hard Times (Live)", "Stomp And Buck Dance", "Double Bubble", "Crossfire", "Lilies Of The Nile", "When There's Love Around", "A Ballad For Joe (Louis)", "Whispering Pines", "Chain Reaction", "Creole", "Free As The Wind", "Sweet 'N Sour", "I Felt The Love", "Spiral", "Night Crawler", "Keep That Same Old Feeling", "It Happens Every Day", "Snowflake", "Fairy Tales", "Street Life",and "Way Back Home (Live)". CD

Some of the greatest female soul from the southern scene at the start of the 70s – two monumental albums from singer Doris Duke, both produced by Swamp Dogg and packaged here with some rare bonus cuts too! Doris' work has always been some of our favorite from the deep soul scene – honest, personal, and earthy – with a quality that goes way beyond the cliches of other female soul singers from the south – an aspect that's even more surprising, given that Swamp Dogg was in on the mix! Doris has a way of putting over a tune that's really incredible – that kind of intimate, one-on-one mode that brings to mind the kind of chills we first felt when hearing Otis Redding on Stax – and which somehow manages to hold on strong over all the tracks on the set. At 26 numbers in all, the package is a tremendous rare soul treasure – and features the full tracks from the album I'm A Loser and A Legend In Her Own Time – plus some rare singles cut by Doris under the name Doris Willingham. Titles include "He's Gone", "Feet Start Walking", "Ghost Of Myself", "I Wish I Could Sleep", "It Sure Was Fun", "I'd Do It All Over You", "If She's Your Wife", "Bad Water", "To The Other Woman (I'm The Other Woman)", "Too Much To Bear", "Your Best Friend", and "Divorce Decree". CD

A groundbreaking collaboration between Brian Eno & David Byrne – recorded with a spare, stripped down love of electronics and found sound samples – in a mode that would have a huge influence on countless records to come! Part of the set resonates with the quirky grooves found in Byrne's early Talking Heads records – but the overall sound is much more stark than that work, and is characterized by key found vocals and odd ethnic bits that really set the tone for each new tune. Eno's influence is felt strongly in the simplicity of the tracks, and in the darkly resonant production modes – that classic Eno touch used here before it became a bit too trademark, in a way that could still make a record like this sound great, even when coming from major label sources! A key force in shaping countless genres to come in the next 25 years – with great tracks that include "America Is Waiting", 'Regiment", "The Jezebel Spirit", "Qu'ran", "Moonlight In Glory", "A Secret Life", "Come With Us", and "Mountain Of Needles". LP, Vinyl record album

The second volume in this great Brazilian 5 CD set of Jobim material, performed by some of the artists who felt the biggest impact of the music! There's 15 more exclusive recordings on this volume, and titles include "Chansong" by Os Cariocas, "Brigas Nunca Mais" by Joyce, "Voce Vai Ver" by Emilio Santiago, "So Saudade" by Leny Andrade, "As Praias Desertas" by Nana Cayammi, "Discussao" by Wanda Sa & Roberto Menescal, "Vivo Sonhando" by Pery Ribeiro, and "Saudade Do Brasil" by Nelson Ayres. CD

One of the most supremely classic of all classic hard rock albums! As huge as the debut was, Led Zeppelin II is the record that proved that the group were going to be in it for the long haul – with a righteous raw power that's still being felt all these many decades later! Nobody else could touch this one – and the album is filled with iconic cuts that include "Whole Lotta Love", "Ramble On", and"Heartbreaker" – plus the ridiculous Bonzo showcase "Moby Dick", and "Bring It On Home". CD

One of the most supremely classic of all classic hard rock albums! As huge as the debut was, Led Zeppelin II is the record that proved that the group were going to be in it for the long haul – with a righteous raw power that's still being felt all these many decades later! Nobody else could touch this one – and the album is filled with iconic cuts that include "Whole Lotta Love", "Ramble On", and"Heartbreaker" – plus the ridiculous Bonzo showcase "Moby Dick", and "Bring It On Home". LP, Vinyl record album

Quite possibly the best of the solo Phil Manzanera projects – a wonderfully tight album that's surprisingly soulful and funky at times! Phil gets some great studio help from Eno and Godley & Creme – the latter two of who can really be felt on the record's well-penned lyrical numbers – sung by Simon Ainley with these great compressed vocals! LP, Vinyl record album

The Moomins comics have delighted the world for generations – but fewer folks have seen the early 80s Moomins TV show – which is a masterpiece of felt-based, stop-motion animation! And while the images on the screen are amazing, the music for the program is equally great – spare, slow electronic numbers that have a beautifully playful vibe, but something of a dark edge too – maybe much more in the mode of more whimsical underground electronic work from the early 70s than you'd guess from the date of the show! The program was animated in Poland, and some of these tunes have a style that's similar to the coolest Polish electronic sound library material we've stocked over the years – although the musicians themselves were actually part of the post punk scene in Leeds. Titles include "Creepers", "Piano Waltz", "Leaving Moomin Valley", "Hobgoblin's Hat", "Traveling Theme", "Midwinter Rites", "Woodland Band", and "Comet Shadow". CD

One of the most ambitious albums that Sunny Murray ever recorded – a set of large ideas and long explorations – performed here by a group of all-star avant players from the time! Murray's vision is wonderful here – even bolder and more expressive than on his work for ESP – and realized by a mighty lineup of players that includes Lester Bowie on trumpet, Arthur Jones and Roscoe Mitchell on alto saxes, Archie Shepp and Kenneth Terrode on tenors, Dave Burrell on piano, and Alan Silva and Malachi Favors on bass! The strong influence of the AACM can definitely be felt on the set – but Murray's presence really changes things up – taking the mood in a different direction than heard on the BYG albums that Mitchell, Bowie, and Favors recorded with the Art Ensemble. Side one features the extended "Flower Trane", and side two contains "Real" and "Red Cross". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe one of the first truly tuneful moments from Yoko Ono – working here with backing from the Elephants Memory group – on a double-length set that shows a really great range from the singer! Yoko's vocals are fragile and sometimes a bit strained in the traditionally structured song mode –but so were Nico's and Marianne Faithful's – both artists we'd almost reference for the nature of this work! The set's a surprisingly pleasant effort from a misunderstood artist who just 2 years earlier was shrieking like a feral beast – and titles include "Yang Yang", "Death Of Samantha", "I Want My Love To Rest Tonight", "What Did I Do", "What A Bastard The World Is", "I Felt Like Smashing My Face In A Clear Glass Window", and "Is Winter Here To Stay". CD

A really great later Patrick Adams production – done for the always catchy duo of Rodney Skipworth & Phil Turner, a real bright spot in mainstream mid 80s soul! The pair really have a way with a tune here – building things as the tracks go along, but never in a way that's too cheesy or too pop oriented – hanging onto the hooks strongly, and letting all the best elements of the tracks fall nicely in place. Adams' touch here can be felt in the way that he preserves the most soulful qualities of the lead vocals while still allowing for some more contemporary rhythms on the bottom – and although the focus is pop-driven, the album overall is really a great one. Titles include "Thinking About Your Love", "Can't Give Her Up", "Let Me Down Easy", "Hot Pursuit", "Could Not Get Over You", "Street Parade", and "Won't Get No Better". LP, Vinyl record album

Pure greatness from Jeremy Steig – an album of funky flute tracks that really opened up whole new possibilities for the instrument! Steig was probably working in equal parts jazz and rock at the time of the date – but definitely moves into a funky jazz mode for the session – one that often uses some cool studio tricks to really bring the most out of the flute sound – creating some echo and other odd twists that make things trippy, way more than you'd hear on other records of this nature! Plus, Steig's unique style of blowing – one that takes the Roland Kirk breathiness to the "nth degree" – really helps work well with the groove, which also features electric piano from Warren Bernhardt! A record whose vibes are still being felt strongly today – with cuts that include "Insanity", "Flute Diddley", "Lenny's Tomb", "Don't Make Promises", "Mac D", and "Teresa's Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Delicate dissonance, bruised beauty, and hazy noise pop – all in one of the best rock albums ever made – the amazing first album from the Velvet Underground and Nico! The album's the stuff of legend – and for good reason, too – a surprising slab of vinyl that barely set the world on its ear when first issued back in the mid 60s – yet a record that's gone onto have an influence felt for decades to come – arguably one of the most important rock records of all time. There's a really sinister edge to the record, even when things are sweet – and the range of subject matter and handling here is brilliant – from the dream pop slice of heaven "Sunday Morning", the melodic bitterness of "Femme Fatale", the massive White Light-esque freakout "European Son", and the sublime "Heroin" – quite possibly the inspiration for generations of drug use to come. The whole thing's a classic – with wonderful vocals from both Nico and Lou Reed – and titles include "Venus In Furs", "Run Run Run", "Black Angel's Death Song", "I'll Be Your Mirror", and "All Tomorrow's Parties". CD

One of our favorite Walter Wanderley albums ever – and a record that moves past the more familiar bossa trio style used on his hits for Verve, into groovier new territory with added players who include Dom Um Romao on drums and Marcos Valle on guitar! And not only is the lineup expanded, but the styles are too – as Wanderley moves away from the straighter bossa and samba jazz of his roots, into the world of more unusual, more complicated rhythms that were showing up in the Brazilian scene at the end of the 60s. Marcos Valle's contribution is felt strongly here – as the album includes a fantastic instrumental take on his classic "Crickets Sing For Anamaria" (aka "Os Grilos") – plus other Valle compositions that include "Ainda Mais Lindo", "Batucada", and "E Preciso Cantar". Other tracks include "Wave", "So What's New", and "O Barquinho". LP, Vinyl record album

The debut album from Barclay James Harvest – a group so cool, EMI named their progressive label Harvest after them! The sound here is maybe a bit more down to earth than some of the other groups on that legendary imprint, but equally heady in every sort of way – as the combo mix surprisingly heartfelt vocals with some proggish inclinations – which are often set in superb larger backings that use strings and other elements with just the right sort of flourish – thanks to the strong efforts of producer Norman Smith, who'd handled similar styles for Pink Floyd and the Pretty Things! Titles include "Taking Some Time On", "Dark Now My Sky", "The Iron Maiden", "Good Love Child", "Mother Dear", "The Sun Will Never Shine", and "When The World Was Woken". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful solo piano work from Joep Beving – material that's maybe rooted in a tradition that goes back to French composers who include Satie and Debussy, but which also has some of the more contemporary warmth of some of his Deutsche Grammophon contemporaries, like Max Richter! Yet unlike some of those artists, Beving's approach here is relatively traditional – just acoustic piano, no other instrumentation – played with a flow that evokes the post-minimalist tradition, and which at times almost reminds us of Wim Mertens – with a great sense of flow and tone. Titles include "Hanging D", "Sonderling", "A Heartfelt Silence", "The Gift", "Ab Ovo", "Kawakaari", and "Pippa's Theme". LP, Vinyl record album

Lo Borges is one of those artists who never seems to age in pictures – and his music has an equally timeless feel, still very much in the heartfelt, personal space he first forged with Milton Nascimento in the 70s! This album's got Borges in the company of some younger musicians, who perhaps bring a bit more spirited approach to the instrumentation – but the overall style is still filled with those breathy, spacious tones that he virtually helped invent – and which have come to be such a huge force in Brazilian music over the years. A number of cuts here are older numbers, done in fresher new versions – and titles include "Tudo Que Voce A Podia Ser", "Para Lennon E McCartney", "Um Girassol Da Cor Do Seu Cabelo", "O Trem Azul", "Clube Da Esquina", "Clube Da Esquina No 2", and "Dois Rios". CD

Sweet 70s funk from the great Oscar Brown – quite a change from his jazz-based work of the 60s, but a great new sitting for all of his wonderful wit and warmth! Brown's still a hell of a songwriter, and one with a very socially-conscious eye – sharper here than before, with lots of comments on the changes in society in the 70s, mixed with a few more heartfelt, personal moments too. There's still a bit of jazz in the mix – thanks to work from Seldon Powell on reeds, and Joe Sample on keyboards – and arrangements are by old friends Floyd Morris, the underground Chicago soul genius – and Sivuca, best known for his Brazilian music, but a great choice here to expand the groove. Brown wrote all the tunes on the record – and titles include "From My Window", "Like A Flower", "Brother Where Are YOu", ""The Lone Ranger", "If You Come Back", and "The Joneses". LP, Vinyl record album

Nothing cheesy about this sweet little set – a warmly soulful batch of tunes from this lesser-light of the TK Records universe in the 70s – a great group with a beautiful way of mixing compressed rock and tight soulful undercurrents! The approach has echoes of more commercial work of the time – but all the charm of a more heartfelt indie – the kind of obscure record that still holds onto an AOR vibe, yet really shows us all the best potential of that genre when it's not being pointed to strongly towards the charts! Backings have some nice jazzy inflections, and the vocals are recorded in this way that slides them right down with the grooves – on titles that include "I Got Love", "Sweet Harmony", "Man In Love", "City Life", "Time Is An Arrow", and "Lady Of The Night". CD

A great set of tracks that represents some of Chris Connor's first recordings as a solo act – culled from earlier ep and 10" releases, and issued here on a full LP with a total of 14 tracks. Backing is by three groups – the Ellis Larkin Trio, Vinnie Burke's Quartet, and Sy Oliver's Orchestra – and Chris is in fine fine form, vocalizing with that icy tone we love so much, a bit sad, and a bit mellow, but always heartfelt, without the forced emotion of other singers of her generation. Titles include "Stella By Starlight", "Goodbye", "Spring Is Here", "Ask Me", "Lullaby Of Birdland", "Try A Little Tenderness", and "He's Coming Home". LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing work by The Delfonics – their first 2 albums, back to back on a single CD! La La Means I Love You is a landmark album in harmony soul – one of those records that pushed the genre to a whole new level! The Delfonics emerge fully formed here as one of the most compelling groups of their time – a tremendous trio with a really unique approach to soul music – one that's heartfelt and heartbreaking, but never too sweet to be cloying or poppy – definitely just the right groove to keep things hip while also cracking the charts! The album's their first full collaboration with legendary producer Thom Bell – and it's got a sound that's summed up perfectly in the quintessential cut "La La Means I Love You" – and which is followed through beautifully on a batch of tracks that includes "Losing You", "Can You Remember", "You're Gone", "I'm Sorry", and "Break Your Promise". Sound Of Sexy Soul is an equally groundbreaking album of vocal group soul – right from the first note! The record kicks off with the sublime "Ready Or Not, Here I Come" – which starts with fierce stepping strings that are actually funky, then soars into some of the best harmonies the group ever put to record, superbly arranged by the great Thom Bell, who also wrote the track. As the album progresses, the sound expands further to encompass many elements that would become the blueprint for vocal groups over the next few years – like twangy electric sitar, cascading orchestrations, and pinched lead vocals that take a lot more chances than most group singers had been taking for years! There's still a bit of a 60s soul sound to some of the cuts, but the album's a watershed – not only for Thom Bell and the group, but for harmony soul as well! Titles include "Ready Or Not Here I Come", "My New Love", "Loving Him", "With These Hands", "Somebody Loves You", and "Everytime I See My Baby". CD also features the bonus track "You Got Yours & I'll Get Mine". CD

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A wonderful return to the sounds of Brazil for Stan Getz – a 70s album that reunites him with Joao Gilberto, but in a style that's somewhat different than the pair's older Verve recordings! The sound here is looser, freer – more in that breezy Brazilian mode that evolved out of the initial bossa years – and Stan's tenor sounds great in the setting, with those loose yet heartfelt lines we love so much from this period! Joao's great too – somehow even more "present" on the record than before, with that amazing ability to do so much with so little – as on some of his own great 70s recordings. Miucha contributes some English language vocals to the record alongside Joao's Portuguese ones, and Oscar Castro Neves handled the arrangements with a nicely stripped-down style that has plenty of focus on the percussion and rhythms. Titles include a sublime English language version of "Aqua De Marco (Waters Of March)", plus the tracks "Double Rainbow", "Falsa Bahiana", "Ligia", "Izaura", "Eu Vim Da Bahia", and "E Preciso Perdoar". LP, Vinyl record album

The rare 3rd album by Gilberto Gil, and a key piece of the Tropicalia puzzle – one of the most wildly experimental albums from those years, and Gil's last before going into exile! The sound is much more electric than his other albums from the late 60's – and the production, songwriting, and instrumentation get very crazy at times – but never too crazy to cover up Gilberto's excellent singing, which is still as filled with feeling as ever. Arrangements are by the mighty Rogerio Duprat, who does as great a job here of balancing Gil's sensitivities as he does on Gal Costa's sublime efforts from 1969 – and the instrumentation is a weird and wonderful mix of Bahian rhythms, fuzzy guitar, and crazy electronics – all heartfelt one minute, freaked out the next. Tracks include "Cerebro Eletronico", "Volks Volkswagen Blue", "Futurivel", and "2001", which was written by Tom Ze and Rita Lee – plus the wild cut "Objecto Semi-Identificado", which is sort of a John Cage-esque track of found radio and electronics, with vocals by Gil! CD

2 late 60s classics from Gilberto Gil – the bulk of his Tropicalia recordings on a single CD! First up is his self-titled album from 1968, a bold leap forward for Gil – his first album recorded during the Tropicalia years, and an amazing collaboration with arranger Rogerio Duprat! The album's got a sound that really bridges scenes in Brazil – elements of older folkloric musics, folded with samba rhythms, folded again with psychedelic touches from Os Mutantes – who also help out on the set – all wrapped together with a sound so revolutionary, it still crackles with energy all these many years later! The sound and style are impossible to describe accurately, which is part of the charm of the record – and it's key placement as one of the prime musical texts of the Tropicalia years. Titles include "Marginalia II", "Luzia Luluza", "Pega A Voga, Cabeludo", "Frevo Rasgado", "Domingou", and "Domingo No Parque". Next is the rare 3rd album by Gilberto Gil, and a key piece of the Tropicalia puzzle – one of the most wildly experimental albums from those years, and Gil's last before going into exile! The sound is much more electric than his other albums from the late 60's – and the production, songwriting, and instrumentation get very crazy at times – but never too crazy to cover up Gilberto's excellent singing, which is still as filled with feeling as ever. Arrangements are by the mighty Rogerio Duprat, who does as great a job here of balancing Gil's sensitivities as he does on Gal Costa's sublime efforts from 1969 – and the instrumentation is a weird and wonderful mix of Bahian rhythms, fuzzy guitar, and crazy electronics – all heartfelt one minute, freaked out the next. Tracks include "Cerebro Eletronico", "Volks Volkswagen Blue", "Futurivel", and "2001", which was written by Tom Ze and Rita Lee – plus the wild cut "Objecto Semi-Identificado", which is sort of a John Cage-esque track of found radio and electronics, with vocals by Gil! CD

A groundbreaking meeting of musical icons – with veteran jazz greats, a couple of then-young guns, and one of the MCs who helped bring jazz into hip hop in the first place! Jazzmatazz bridges both stylistic and generational boundaries in incredible ways, not only an earnest effort by Guru to pay heartfelt tribute to heroes, but to show his own and subsequent generations its the vitality and longevity jazz music – with a lineup that includes Donald Byrd, Roy Ayers, Ronny Jordan, Lonnie Liston Smith, Carleen Anderson, N'Dea Davenport and MC Solaar. 12 tracks in all, including "Slicker Than Most", "No Time To Play", "Loungin", "Sights In The City", "Le Bien, Le Mal", "Transit Ride", "When You're Near", "Down The Backstreets", "Respectful Dedications", "Take A Look At Yourself" and "Trust Me". CD

A great second set from Ides Of March – proof that the jazz rock combo had a lot more going on than just their famous single! The sextet hailed from the same scene as early Chicago (Chicago, of course!) – and have here a sound that shares plenty of the jazzy flourishes of that better-known group – blasting trumpet lines that soar, dip, and turn alongside the more uptempo tunes, and shade in the mellower ones. But there's also a more personal approach to this set overall, one that comes from the rough vocals of James Michael Peterik and some of the surprisingly heartfelt lyrics to a few of the album's best tunes – not entirely the height of early 70s singer/songwriter material, but also not that far either. Titles include the funky "Superman", plus "LA Goodbye", "Mrs Grayson's Farm", "Friends Of Feeling", "We Are Pillows", "Freedom Sweet", and "Tie Dye Princess", an extended number that runs for over 11 minutes. LP, Vinyl record album

Great double album live set with Roland leading a tight group through a long and varied set of material, all of which showcases the odd goofy sound of his music, and his offbeat approach to more familiar tracks. He talks a bit, makes the odd joke about being blind, and never ceases to amaze with his playing. A bit of vocals too, but sung in such a heartfelt way that you've gotta love 'em! Tracks include "Pedal Up", "Clickey Clack", "Prelude To A Kiss", "Bright Moments Song", "If I Loved You", and "Jitterbug waltz". CD

Gladys Knight with Ashford & Simpson – a perfect pairing of two post-Motown talents! Gladys Knight & The Pips are one of those groups that never stopped being great – and later albums like this are well worth tracking down, especially with the team of Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson making the quartet sound so great! As before, Gladys' lead vocals are tremendous – deeply soulful and always personal, quite far from any easy cliches – and supported wonderfully by the three male voices of The Pips. The Ashford & Simpson groove really helps keep things fresh, too – and the set's got a nice balance of uptempo cuts and some of the heartfelt mellow numbers Gladys always does so well. Titles include "Landlord", "Taste Of Bitter Love", "Get The Love", "Friendly Persuasion", "We Need Hearts", and a great reading of the club classic "Bourgie Bourgie". LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite albums by Gladys Knight – a set that seems to have a lot more edge than some of her later work, thanks to some rumbling production from the legendary Norman Whitfield! In a way, Norman's almost applying the Temptations sound to Gladys here – using fuller bass at the bottom and setting tones that are somewhat righteous – but at another level, he's also opening things up a bit for some of the more personal, heartfelt work to come – almost having Knight sing a bit like an Atlantic soul artist at times, with lots of deep soul overtones on the vocals! The mix of modes is really great – and makes for a tremendous depth to the record – and titles include "Nitty Gritty", "I Want Him To Say It Again", "I'm Losing You", "Runnin' Out", "The Stranger", and "Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone" (hmmm...wonder if Bill Withers ever heard that one!) LP, Vinyl record album

The richest album we've heard so far from vocalist Tom Lellis – a well-done set that has the overlooked singer backed strongly by the Metropole Orchestra! Given the setting, the album reminds us a bit of recent Verve dates from Mark Murphy – a sound that's timeless, yet not in any sort of easy too-standard way – very fresh charts for the orchestral backings, and heartfelt lyrics from Lellis that are never lost in the larger setting. Some tunes sparkle with creative changes in the vocals, while others are delivered in straighter ballad modes – both forms that Tom handles perfectly – and titles include "Mountain Flight", "Milton's Moment", "Tell Me A Bedtime Story", "Love Is", "Straight Up & Down", and "Taken To Heart". CD

Brilliant soul from the Detroit underground of the late 60s – a full set of work by vocalist Little Ann, issued here for the first time ever! You might recognize Ann's name from her appearance on a few of the Ace/Kent Records issues of material by Detroit producer Dave Hamilton over the years – and the work here all comes from those classic collaborations with Hamilton – trapped on tape for many years, always contemplated as a possible Little Ann album – but only issued in full all these many years later! The groove here is as offbeat as some of Dave's other great work – not nearly as tight, or uptight, as Motown music – and instead, done with a sly undercurrent of darkness on most numbers, even the mellower ones – almost that earliest mix of Detroit styles that you get on pre-fame singles from Westbound Records artists. Ann's vocals are nice and lean, and slide right into the mix with ease – heartfelt enough to grab us right away, yet without any obvious cliches as well. Titles include "What Should I Do", "Deep Shadows", "Possession", "Who Are You Trying To Fool", "Sweep It Out In The Shed", "The Smile On Your Face", and "I Got To Have You". Note that the record was mostly issued in a different form by Timmion Records – as the record Deep Shadows – save for the mixes of "What Should I Do" and "I Got To Have You" – both of which are unissued mixes that appear here for the first time. LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant soul from the Detroit underground of the late 60s – a full set of work by vocalist Little Ann, issued here for the first time ever! You might recognize Ann's name from her appearance on a few of the Ace/Kent Records issues of material by Detroit producer Dave Hamilton over the years – and the work here all comes from those classic collaborations with Hamilton – trapped on tape for many years, always contemplated as a possible Little Ann album – but only issued in full all these many years later! The groove here is as offbeat as some of Dave's other great work – not nearly as tight, or uptight, as Motown music – and instead, done with a sly undercurrent of darkness on most numbers, even the mellower ones – almost that earliest mix of Detroit styles that you get on pre-fame singles from Westbound Records artists. Ann's vocals are nice and lean, and slide right into the mix with ease – heartfelt enough to grab us right away, yet without any obvious cliches as well. Titles include "What Should I Do", "Who Are You Trying To Fool", "The Smile On Your Face", "Stand Together", "I'm Doin All Right", "Lost A Lover", "That's All I want From You", and "I Got To Have You" – plus the unissued versions "Possession (master edit)", "Deep Shadows (multi mix)", and "Sweet It Out In The Shed (master tape)". PLUS – this CD features 9 more instrumental versions of the tunes by the Dave Hamilton Band – most issued here for the first time ever – plus three more alternates of album tracks! CD

One of Cheryl Lynn's early killers for Columbia – an album of tight, bouncy, joyous soul all the way through – free from any of the too-commercial touches that sometimes slowed Cheryl's later work! Ray Parker Jr produced the set – and he as well is free from the slicker sounds of his hits – keeping things warm, personal, and real on most of the album's best tracks – and balancing Cheryl nicely between heartfelt mellow tracks and a few more uptempo tunes designed to keep her on the minds of the dancefloor scene. Titles include "In The Night", "Baby", "What's On Your Mind", "Hurry Home", and "With Love On Our Side". LP, Vinyl record album