The last full album recorded by Minnie Riperton before she left our planet all too soon – and a killer batch of work that really has us wondering how great the world of soul music would have been, had Minnie stuck around to keep on growing into the 80s and 90s! The set's filled with the kind of all-star help that Riperton always seemed to attract over the years – strong contributions from Minnie's longtime fan/friend Stevie Wonder, plus work from Phil Upchurch, Jose Feliciano, Hubert Laws, Harvey Mason, Tom Scott, and many others – all helped out by Minnie and her partner/producer, the great Richard Rudolph – whose connection to Riperton can always be felt in the music. Titles include the great track "Memory Lane", which gets endless airplay here in Chicago, plus the beautiful ballad "Never Existed Before", and the cuts "I'm A Woman", "Lover & Friend", and "Return To Forever". CD

Great work by one of the archetypal funky soul bands of the 70s – and a group whose impact is still being felt today! Of course, one of the reasons for that is Chaka Khan's incredible vocals – caught here at a prime early point, and very nicely set against some warm electric keyboards and tight groovy guitars – which provide a groove that's live and spontaneous, and never too forced – just the right kind of energy to work perfectly with her approach to the lyrics, without any of the too-polished modes you'd fine from copycat groups trying to fake a sound like this. Rufus had been with Chaka for years by this point – fusing together a sublime blend of funk, soul, jazz, and rock – a sound they forged woodshedding in Chicago in the early days, let loose in perfect studio territory on the west coast of the 70s. The whole thing's a classic – and titles include "Jive Talking", "Sweet Thing", "Fools Paradise", "Circle", "Everybody Has An Aura", and "On Time". 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". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the biggest hits ever for Weather Report – thanks to Joe Zawinul's leadoff track "Birdland" – one of those tunes that entered the canon immediately, and saw countless covers pop up over the years – kind of a rare thing for a jazz tune at this point in time! The track's driving, building energy shows a newly focused side to Weather Report – one that's traded some of the spacier, more experimental moments of the past for a dynamic energy that still puts them ahead of most other 70s fusion supergroups. The presence of Jaco Pastorius is felt quite strongly here – especially on the way the colors ebb and flow up from the bottom – and the way that Jaco's using his bass with the energy of a solo jazz guitar! Alex Acuna and Manolo Badrena are on percussion, and Wayne Shorter's reeds still crackle with a nice degree of soul – on titles that include "Harlequin", "Rumba Mama", "A Remark You Made", "Teen Town", "Palladium", "Havona", and "The Juggler". CD

One of the biggest hits ever for Weather Report – thanks to Joe Zawinul's leadoff track "Birdland" – one of those tunes that entered the canon immediately, and saw countless covers pop up over the years – kind of a rare thing for a jazz tune at this point in time! The track's driving, building energy shows a newly focused side to Weather Report – one that's traded some of the spacier, more experimental moments of the past for a dynamic energy that still puts them ahead of most other 70s fusion supergroups. The presence of Jaco Pastorius is felt quite strongly here – especially on the way the colors ebb and flow up from the bottom – and the way that Jaco's using his bass with the energy of a solo jazz guitar! Alex Acuna and Manolo Badrena are on percussion, and Wayne Shorter's reeds still crackle with a nice degree of soul – on titles that include "Harlequin", "Rumba Mama", "A Remark You Made", "Teen Town", "Palladium", "Havona", and "The Juggler". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Candy Lips", "I Can't Beat You Doin' What You're Doin' Me", "Chizzlin' Sam", "Log Cabin Blues", "You're Bound To Look Like A Monkey When You Get Old", "A Pane In The Glass", "Walk That Broad", "Trouble", "You Ain't Too Old", "Close Fit Blues", "Lazy Mama", "He Wouldn't Stop Doin' It", "Worn Out Blues", "Chocolate Avenue", "Have You Ever Felt That Way", and "Organ Grinder Blues". CD

A famous live set, recorded at the Felt Forum – with contributions from Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Viveca Lindfors, and others! LP, Vinyl record album

A great entry in this really wonderful series – one that's shifted a lot over the years, and in the best way possible! "Classiest" may be a tough word to peg down – but here, it refers to tracks that are well-done, and completely put-together – yet which have the kind of groove you'd expect from vintage Northern Soul of the 60s! There's a Motown influence felt throughout, but many tunes are nicely varied – a spectrum of acts from different US scenes, and a mix of arranging styles that match the well-penned songs – all handled in the usual Ace/Kent tradition, which means you'll find lots of rare singles, some unissued tracks, and great sound and notes throughout. Titles include "I Need Your Love" by Brothers Of Soul, "Girl Come On Home" by Major Lance, "I've Got To Come In" by Jean Battle, "So Glad" by The Lyrics, "Ready Or Not Here I Come" by Carolyn Crawford, "The Intruder" by Melvin Hicks & The Versatiles, "She's Supreme" by The Lovers, "I Wish I Knew" by Joe Buckner & Major IV, "I'll Fly To Your Open Arms" by The Family Brick, "Soul Kind Of Love" by The Hesitations, and "I Need A True Love" by Ray Gant & The Arabian Knights. CD

One of the hippest entries in the Red Hot series so far – a set of tracks dedicated to the legendary Fela Kuti – felled by AIDS after years of influential grooves – still being felt strongly by the rich array of artists collected in the set! Most tracks are contemporary, but feature a strong influence of the 70s modes of Fela's generation – those sharp percussive lines at the bottom of the tracks, soaring Afro-styled horn passages, and a righteous energy that really drives the whole thing all the way through! The package was put together in support of AIDS/HIV awareness, but is hardly an act of charity – as it's overflowing with great cuts that more than make the set stand as an Afro Funk collection on its own. Most tracks are remakes of older Fela numbers – and titles include "Buy Africa" by Baloiji & L'Orchestre De A Katuba, "Yellow Fever" by Spoek Mathambo & Zaki Ibrahim, ""Gentleman" by Just A Band & Baja, "Go Slow" by King, "Sorro Tears & blood" by Kronos Quartet & Kyp Malone, "Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am" by My Morning Jacket, "Afrodisco Beat 2013" by Tony Allen & M1, and "Lady" by Tune Yards, ?uestlove, and Angelique Kidjo. LP, Vinyl record album

A mindblowing little set – and a massive overview of soul music in Spain during the late 60s and early 70s, filled with incredible tunes we've never heard before, all supported by great notes in both English and Spanish! The Spanish soul groove is a bit rougher than that of the US – kind of a reworking of familiar ideas (and sometimes familiar songs), played by artists who really love the music, but sometimes come from more rock or beat group sides of the musical spectrum. Yet as the Spanish soul movement progressed, things definitely tightened up a fair bit – as local acts were joined by visiting singers and musicians from North and South America, fertilizing the scene with new styles and ideas! The 2CD set features 37 tracks in all – nearly all of which were fresh to our ears, and made the collection even more amazing than we might have thought. Titles include "Tabasco" by Los Pekeniques, "Respect" by Circulos, "Ven Conmigo" by Finders, "Trying To Get You" by Z 66, "Black Cat" by Los Dixies, "It's My Thing" by Presidents, "Golden Soul" by Conjunto Nueva Onda, "Black Bird" by Henri Vidal Y Su Grupo Pop, "Todo Gira" by Los Impala, "Woovy Groovy" by Los Buenos, "I Will Pray" by Conexion, "Melenas Club" by Frank Miller & Hispania Soul, "I Felt For Your Love" by Calibre 38, "Family Affair" by Jimmy Stone, and "Beggin" by Duo Inter. CD

One of the most enigmatic records we've ever gotten from the Numero Group – especially since they usually go out of their way to tell the full story of most of their releases! This set purports to be the never-issued soundtrack from a 60s film titled You're Not From Around Here – but none of the film details, director, or writer show up with an internet search – leading us to believe that the label just felt that the whole thing was a great story to serve up some twang-heavy rarities from the underbelly of early 60s rock and roll. Turns out, they were plenty darn right – as the package alone is a dream – a cool octagonal box with a replica poster and a very cool look – housing a record full of rare rockers that include "A Song For Mary" by Gene Sikora, "First Love" by Bailey's Nervous Kats, "Spacewalk" by Nicky Roberts, "Wandering" by The Expressos, "Lonely Walk" by Alvie Self, "Somewhere Down The Line" by Shelley Duncan, "Haunted After Midnight" by Slim Martin, "16.88" by Hayden Thompson, "Wouldn't It Be Nice To Have Wings & Fly" by Buzz Clifford, "Tomorrow's Gone" by Charlie Megira, and "Ebb Tide" by Houston & Dorsey. LP, Vinyl record album

Great 60s work from Mose Allison – a key record cut at that time when his influence was being felt strongly on the other side of the Atlantic – by younger London singers like Georgie Fame and Zoot Money! Mose is almost answering back with this great little record – hitting things with a sharp punch, and a nice undercurrent of soul and R&B – always in that New Orleans-informed groove, with loads of wonderful self-penned lyrics that really make the set sparkle! Allison's piano is plenty strong in the lead, and the album features the unlikely rhythm team of Earl May on bass and Paul Motian on drums – adding in some interesting changes on titles that include "War Horse", "Wild Man On The Loose", "Power House", "Night Watch", and "No Trouble Living". CD

We've got to be honest and admit that we always felt that Brooklyn Funk Essentials were one of those second generation bandwagon jumpers of the acid jazz scene, though this LP is not without some redeeming moments, principally the Masta Ace remix of their take on the Pharoah Sanders classic "Creator Has A Master Plan". 12 tracks in all, including "Take The L Train To Brooklyn", "Bop Hop", "Mizz Bed-Stuy" and "Big Apple Boogaloo". 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", "Moonlight In Glory", "A Secret Life", "Come With Us", and "Mountain Of Needles". Plus, this new version adds in 7 more bonus tracks that include "Number 8 Mix", "Pitch To Voltage", "Two Against Three", "Vocal Outtakes", and "Defiant" – all a fair bit darker than the original album! LP, Vinyl record album

A jamming little set from Jan Hammer – but one that's still a lot better than most of his other work! The rock influence is strongly felt in most of the tracks on this one, but the overall style is still lean and clean – without as many of the kitschy keyboard lines that later marred the Hammer groove, and more of the well-crafted, space-oriented sounds that Jan was bringing to his best work with other players. There's a bit of vocals on the record, but the main focus here is still on the instrumentation – with Jan on Fender Rhodes, moog, Polymoog, and more – in a quartet that features Steven Kindler on guitar and violin, Fernando Saunders on bass, and Tony Smith on drums. Titles include "Magical Dog", "Evolove", "One To One", "Bambu Forest", and "Red & Orange". CD

A killer collection that brings together nearly all of Wanda Jackson's rock and roll tracks in one great set – a non-stop party that spans the space of 30 tracks from her early years at Capitol Records, along with detailed notes and a great package too! Jackson's work in these years is the stuff of legend – as the singer was one of the first truly strong female rockers, with an influence that's still being felt all these many years later – thanks to these super-raw rockabilly tracks that really blow away any of her later country records from the 60s and 70s. Jackson's got this shouting style of singing that's as bold as the best R&B singers of the time – artists who were an undeniable influence on Wanda's sound – and, male or female, you'd be hard-pressed to find another single artist rockabilly collection this great! Titles include "Tongue Tied", "Honey Don't", "Man We Had A Party", "Rock Your Baby", "Rip It Up", "Baby Loves Him", "Mean Mean Man", "Fujiyama Mama", "Brown Eyed Handsome Man", "Fallin", "Slippin & Slidin", "Sticks & Stones", "Hot Dog That Made Him Mad", and lots lots more! CD

A super-huge set from The Motels – and a record that still has the group holding onto a lot of credibility at a time when so much mainstream pop was really skewing towards the thin side of the spectrum! The vocals of Martha Davis are a big part of the album's success – as they've got this subtle sense of drama learned from the new role of female singers in the wake of punk rock, but tuned towards material that was maybe a bit more able to cross over on the charts – thanks to well-crafted guitar licks that underscore the best part of the lyrics. The approach is a nice balance – definitely less dated and a lot less cloying than some of Davis' contemporaries – on titles that include the hit "Only The Lonely", plus "Mission Of Mercy", "Take The L", "Change My Mind", "Art Fails", "So LA", "Apocalypso", "Forever Mine", and a remake of "He Hit Me (It Felt Like A Kiss)". LP, Vinyl record album

The last full album recorded by Minnie Riperton before she left our planet all too soon – and a killer batch of work that really has us wondering how great the world of soul music would have been, had Minnie stuck around to keep on growing into the 80s and 90s! The set's filled with the kind of all-star help that Riperton always seemed to attract over the years – strong contributions from Minnie's longtime fan/friend Stevie Wonder, plus work from Phil Upchurch, Jose Feliciano, Hubert Laws, Harvey Mason, Tom Scott, and many others – all helped out by Minnie and her partner/producer, the great Richard Rudolph – whose connection to Riperton can always be felt in the music. Titles include the great track "Memory Lane", which gets endless airplay here in Chicago, plus the beautiful ballad "Never Existed Before", and the cuts "I'm A Woman", "Lover & Friend", and "Return To Forever". 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

One of the biggest hits ever for Weather Report – thanks to Joe Zawinul's leadoff track "Birdland" – one of those tunes that entered the canon immediately, and saw countless covers pop up over the years – kind of a rare thing for a jazz tune at this point in time! The track's driving, building energy shows a newly focused side to Weather Report – one that's traded some of the spacier, more experimental moments of the past for a dynamic energy that still puts them ahead of most other 70s fusion supergroups. The presence of Jaco Pastorius is felt quite strongly here – especially on the way the colors ebb and flow up from the bottom – and the way that Jaco's using his bass with the energy of a solo jazz guitar! Alex Acuna and Manolo Badrena are on percussion, and Wayne Shorter's reeds still crackle with a nice degree of soul – on titles that include "Harlequin", "Rumba Mama", "A Remark You Made", "Teen Town", "Palladium", "Havona", and "The Juggler". CD

A killer debut from Brick – the start of a massive run at the end of the 70s, a time when the group was easily one of the biggest acts to come out of the up-and-coming Atlanta scene! Like some other Atlanta acts of the time, Brick had a way of fusing older funky soul on a tighter modern groove – coming up with a sound that was nice and lean – perfect for these key transitional years of funk – with influences that were felt for years, in places as far away as the west coast! Case in point is the album's classic "Dazz" – one of those cuts that never gets old – nestled nicely in a lineup that also includes "Music Matic", "Here We Come", "Good High", "That's What It's All About", "Brick City", and "Sister Twister". LP, Vinyl record album

The title might be a bit of a joke, but the music here is something else entirely – tremendously well-formed, well-played work from a group headed by bassist Mark Dresser – who also wrote all the material on the set! There's almost an AACM vibe to the whole thing – a mixture of larger concepts and individual spirits, always coming together in a highly collaborative way – and shining in the brilliance of players who include Nicole Mitchell on flutes, Marty Erlich on clarinet and bass clarinet, Michael Dessen on trombone, Joshua White on piano, David Morales Boroff on violin, and Jim Black on drums and percussion. The woodwinds have these shading, sliding qualities that are completely sublime – and often echoed, and augmented by the violin – in work that takes us back to the 70s brilliance of players like Leroy Jenkins or Billy Bang. Dresser's presence is felt strongly throughout – and titles include "Sedimental You", "Newtown Char", "Two Handfuls Of Peace", "Will Well", and "Trumpinputinstoopin". CD

A hard-driving collaboration between Zu and Mats Gustafsson – power jazz at its fiercest, with a pedal-to-the-metal sound that comes across with a definite punk-influenced approach to jazz, and at times a garagey quality that's a nice contrast to other recent avant jazz recordings! The presence of Mats is felt very strongly in the complicated and well-blown sax lines on the set – and if anything, the record's got more of a focus overall than some of Zu's other work. Titles include "How To Raise An Ox", "Palace Of Reptiles", "Beasts Only Die", "Meat Eater Solar Bird", "The King Devours His Sons", and "Over A Furnace". CD

The one that catapulted PJ Harvey from a critical favorite to something of a popular favorite on both the US and UK – and her most remarkable creative stride to date! At the time, it felt like this was the one where Polly Harvey made a conscious choice to go "big" with sound, working with producer Flood after that famously stripped down Rid Of Me with Steve Albini engineering, but in hindsight it's amazing how the bigger sound, unafraid of electronics and all around grander atmosphere never even comes close to hiding the by turns intimate and mysterious lyricism – and it might be the best showcase for Polly's voice on record – projecting varying, unpredictable mood from track to track. Includes "To Bring You My Love", "Meet Ze Monsta", "Down By The Water", "Send His Love To Me", "The Dancer" and more. CD

Soul stirring Christmas songs from Mahalia Jackson – beautiful, deeply felt holiday recordings from the 50s – with piano and generally low key backings, wisely leaving Mahalia's powerful, soulful voice as the lead instrument. "Silent Night", "White Christmas", "Oh Little Town Of Bethelehem", "The Holy Babe", "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" and more. CD

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

Four early 80s classics from Johnny Mathis – presented here in a single 2CD package! Different Kinda Different is a tremendous start to the 80s for Johnny Mathis – and a set that really continues that strong shift into soul-based territory he begun in the 70s! Gene Page handles a lot of the arrangements here, and gives the whole thing that strong blend of strings and soul that he worked on other 70s classics for different artists – a perfect approach for that magnificent Mathis voice, especially when the tunes have a bit of a groove! Two of the best numbers here – "Different Kind Of Different" and "I'll Do It All For You" – are duets with Paulette McWilliams, who'd recorded on her own, but who really seems to hit her stride with Johnny, and in a way that's different than any of his other soul partners in duets. Other titles include "Never Givin Up On You", "With You I'm Born Again", "I Will Survive", "The Lights Of Rio", and "Love Without Words". Friends In Love is mature 80s work from Johnny Mathis – a set that features two duets with Dionne Warwick, plus some other nice material that shows that Johnny wasn't going to be left behind in the shadows of his older work! At some level, the approach of the 80s, and the rise of a new sort of adult contemporary scene, really helped Mathis find a new audience – especially when teaming with Dionne, who was also having a rebirth at the time! Titles include the classic duet title cut "Friends In Love", and another duet on "Got You Where I Want You" – plus other titles that include "What Do You Do With The Love", "When The Lovin Goes Out Of The Lovin", "I Remember You & Me", and "Somethin's Goin On". Special Part Of Me is a sweet 80s set from Johnny Mathis – one of those great later albums when he brought a good deal of soul into the mix! The feel here is almost more modern R&B than the vocal jazz mode that first brought Johnny fame – and it turns out that the Mathis mode is wonderful for such a setting – rich and full of feeling, and arguably better than some of his younger contemporaries on the charts! The ballads are beautiful, but there's also a few surprising midtempo numbers – and titles include a sublime remake of "Love Won't Let Me Wait", done with Deniece Williams – plus "Love Never Felt So Good", "Simple", "Priceless", "One Love", "Right Here & Now", and "Lead Me To Your Love" – plus "You're A Special Part Of Me", a duet with Angie Bofill. Live is a later live album from Johnny Mathis, and one that brings together classics, newer cuts, and a few titles he'd never sang before – all served up with a sound that shows the continuing strengths of the legendary singer! There's a variety of arrangers used on the set – including Gene Page and Michel Colombier – and titles include "Orange Colored Sky", "When A Child Is Born", "Begin The Beguine", "I Believe In Love", "Fly Away", "99 Miles From LA", and "A Certain Smile". CD

Mad music from the legendary NRG Ensemble – a key early force in Chicago's avant jazz scene in the 80s, teamed here with the mighty reedman Charles Tyler! The group itself is already heavy on dynamic reeds – with leader Hal Russell on tenor and Chuck Burdelik on tenor, alto, and clarinet – but Tyler's presence is really felt strongly, as he adds this deeper dimension of spirituality to the music – one that gets past some of the deft movements of the Ensemble, and brings them to richer territory they sometimes never hit this well. Tyler plays baritone, alto, and clarinet – and Russell also handles cornet, vibes, drums, and shenai – with that multi-instrumental talent that always made him so great. The group also features Steve Hunt on vibes and drums, Curt Bley on bass, and Brian Sandstrom on guitar and trumpet – and titles include "Tatwas", "Cascade", "Generation", "Sponge", and "Sinus Up". CD also features two previously-unissued tracks – "This Fence Is A Loving Machine" and "Uncontrollable Rages". CD

Part of a generation of US Acid Jazzers we could never really get behind at the time, this set fares a little better in retrospect. The playing has a crispness about it that we felt lacked edge back then, but betrays a debt to some of our favorite 70s jazz funk on second listen. Includes "Jazz In The Present Tense", "Keep The Rhythm Strong", "Montuno Funk", "Blood Brother", "Daddy Love", "Now This Is How We Do It", "Inside Is A Stride", "Morning After Paradise" and more. 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". CD

One of the best records ever by Sylvia Telles – a very tight set of bossa grooves, with some warm and complicated arrangements by the great Moacir Santos! Santos' influence on the session is felt especially on the tracks that feature him soloing on alto and flute – adding in some dark edges that work wonderfully with Sylvia's vocals, and really transform familiar tunes into strange new versions. The whole thing's got a sense of depth that's right up there with the best Elenco work of the 60s – a much more sophisticated take on the bossa than you'd hear from American sessions at the time. Titles include "Samba Do Aviao", "Dorme", "Rio", "Vagamente", "Amor E Paz", and "Voce E Eu". 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

A snapping batch of 80s soul from Lenny White – and a set that has him very strongly moving into the R&B mainstream of the time! Lenny's still got his hand on the drums for the set, but the real strength of the album is in its overall sound – a smooth, soulful approach that puts equal focus on the vocals of singers who include Jon Palmer, Vaneese Thomas, Michael Murphy, and Bernard Fowler – and on the smooth fusion backings from the larger studio group. White arranged and wrote about half the tracks – and although he's not super-jamming like before, his presence is still very strongly felt in the set. Titles include "Attitude", "You Bring Out The Best In Me", "Just Say The Word", "The Ride", "My Turn To Love You", and "Didn't Know About Love". CD

Steve Albini's early loner version of Big Black – ferocious, jagged metal bucket postpunk that holds up strongly to this day and is the blueprint for the full sensory onslaught to come! Albini recorded Lungs mostly on his own, save for his once and future pal Roland, of course, a little blurting sax from John Bohnen on one track and a little bit of additional howling vocals from Mark Hayes on another. Early Big Black is certainly Big Black. The strings sound like they are made of rusty razor wire and the drum machine sounds like it's powered by busting steam engine. The biggest differences from earlier to later Big Black is a rawer, self driven sound, and the recognizable influences, particularly Suicide, while the later stuff felt completely unprecedented. When we were younger, we didn't think Lungs compared to the later stuff, and with a little age and wisdom we see how dumb we were. Lungs is an excellent EP, and the blueprint of a blistering future to come in the Chicago rock underground. Titles include "Steelworker", "Live In A Hole", "Dead Billy", "I Can Be Killed", "The Crack" and "Rip". LP, Vinyl record album

Pretty hairy stuff from Peter Brotzmann and crew – a set that blasts right out of the gate with some really bone-rattling noise! The album's a live set, recorded recently in Amsterdam – featuring Brotzmann on alto, tenor, b flat clarinet, and tarogato – alongside Toshinori Kondo on electric trumpet, Massimo Pupillo on electric bass, and Paal Nilssen Love on drums. The electricity in the instruments can definitely be felt on the title track "Hairy Bones" – a hard-driving tune that runs for over 30 minutes, and which really recalls the energy that Brotzmann had a few decades before, when crossing over big to new audiences around the globe. "Chain Dogs" is even longer, but starts a bit slower – but then really bursts forth with more noisy elements on trumpet and bass – some really speaker-rattling stuff! CD

A lasting classic from Digable Planets, and a record that really helped push the bar forward for hip hop at the time – at a level that's still kept this one strong all these many years later! Digable Planets weren't the first group to bring in some influence from jazz to their work – but they definitely found the right balance here, and a way of setting things up that was real and organic, instead of maybe just a nodding reference to the past that always felt a bit out of place. The use of live instrumentation next to samples is also key to the record's sound – common now, but pretty important at the time, especially in a world of declining sample access. The trio of Butterfly, Ladybug, and Doodlebug have a wonderful way of tripping through the lyrics – and titles include "The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug", "Black Ego", "Dog It", "Jettin", "Borough Check", "Highing Fly", "Dial 7", "The Art Of Easing", "KBs Alley", "Graffiti", "Blowing Down", "9th Wonder", and "For Corners". CD

A lasting classic from Digable Planets, and a record that really helped push the bar forward for hip hop at the time – at a level that's still kept this one strong all these many years later! Digable Planets weren't the first group to bring in some influence from jazz to their work – but they definitely found the right balance here, and a way of setting things up that was real and organic, instead of maybe just a nodding reference to the past that always felt a bit out of place. The use of live instrumentation next to samples is also key to the record's sound – common now, but pretty important at the time, especially in a world of declining sample access. The trio of Butterfly, Ladybug, and Doodlebug have a wonderful way of tripping through the lyrics – and titles include "The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug", "Black Ego", "Dog It", "Jettin", "Borough Check", "Highing Fly", "Dial 7", "The Art Of Easing", "KBs Alley", "Graffiti", "Blowing Down", "9th Wonder", and "For Corners". LP, Vinyl record album

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 tremendous early statement from the great guitarist John Fahey – and a record that has all his best ideas coming into really sharp focus! Fahey was a very collaborative person right from the start – even as a record collector, before his own recordings – and that spirit is felt here on some of the duet tracks, in which John and associates perform these acoustic instrumental tunes that plumb the past of underground America, but turn it out again into something completely new and fresh – not folk revial, but more a reworked fantasy of the nation, almost as a refuge for the changes of the late 60s. The sound is beautiful – with a flute accompaniment here, a bit of fiddle there, and even Fahey duetting with himself on guitar – thanks to the magic of overdub. As usual with these early Takoma records, the style is very fluid – sometimes very tied to the 78rpm generation, but other points much more towards the freewheeling guitar introspection of some of Fahey's underground contemporaries. The overall sound is amazing, too – as Fahey almost uses the studio as an additional instrument, but in very subtle ways. Titles include "Bottleneck Blues", "Bill Cheatum", "Lewisdale Blues", "Bean Vine Blues", "A Raga Called Pat (part 3)", "A Raga Called Pat Part IV", "Train", "Je Ne Me Suis Reveillais Matin Pas En May", "The Story Of Dorothy Gooch (part 1)", "Nine Pound Hammer", and "Lonesome Valley". CD

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

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

One of the most righteous albums of jazz ever recorded – a brilliant blend of soulful and avant garde styles, backed up by a chorus of voices that have a really soulful sound! The album's the second recorded for Blue Note by the Ghetto Music ensemble of trumpeter Eddie Gale – a lesser-known talent who recorded previously with Cecil Taylor, but who made a turn away from modernism at the end of the 60s, in order to express himself at a level that he felt was more clearly grounded in the people. The result of that effort is sheer brilliance – an album that sounds like nothing else you can imagine. Part of the style shares the energy of similar vocal/jazz projects by Max Roach and Billy Harper, but Gale's conception of the music is much more dynamic, and very carefully rooted in song structures – with a sound that's as powerful today as it was when it was recorded! Titles include "Ghetto Love Night", "Song Of Will", "Ghetto Summertime", "Black Rhythm Happening", and "Look At Teyonda". CD

A beautiful Brazilian Rhapsody from Lee Konitz – part of the altoist's later life exploration of the sounds of Brazil, and one of the best dates to come across in that style! Lee's horn really has a great sense of feeling here – some raspy edges that are drenched with feeling, especially on the alto numbers – although his soprano sax work on the set is quite nice too. And since the rhythms are usually light, Konitz's presence is felt all that much more strongly – really carrying the soul and the spirit of the tunes beautifully. Other players include Romero Lubambo on guitar, Peggy Stern on piano, and Duduka Dafonseca on drums – and two of the tracks feature a bit of vocals. Titles include "Lunasea", "Manha De Carnaval", "Samba Triste", "Berimbau", and "Menina Moca". CD

Oh No is back as Dr No – following up the stellar Middle Eastern rooted Oxperiment set with an even better batch of hip hop instrumentals spun from global funk, jazz & psychedelia – the raw, funky and intoxicating beatcraft of Dr No's Ethiopium! Before the Oxperiment, we felt Oh No was one of the more underrated figures on Stones Throw – but given the keys to the a vault full of Turkish, Lebanese and Greek rarities as a springboard he really shot into the upper echelon of innovative producers at Stones Throw, or anywhere else in the boundary busting hip hop funk underground. He steps out even further with Ethiopian – this time with access to Stones Throw/Now Again guru Egon's collection of rare funk, jazz & psychedelic rock LPs from 60s & 70s Ethiopium – a consistent, head nodding funky hip hop trip with Oh No's personal stamp now instantly identifiable despite the sprawling pool of sounds used to craft it. It's not only a fantastic sound in its own light, it's increasingly influential – remember, Mos Def utilized Oh No's and his bro Madlib's explorations on his return-to-excellence Ecstatic LP – and this might be the Dr's most effective script yet! 36 instrumentals, most on the shorter side, allowing lots of terrain to be covered in just under an hour. Titles include "Pardon Me", "Madness", "The Funk", "Carnival", "Problematic", "Fuego Tribe", "Midnight Missions", "The Pain", "Questions", "Fresh Bacon", "Melody Mix", "Excalibur", "Electronic Monsters", "Drive By", "Loopadors" and more. CD

Deeply soulful work from Orgone – a group who are working at a level here that we never would have expected a decade back! Orgone have always been great, but sometimes they felt less like an organic funk combo than one who had an ear for the right sorts of sounds – something they still have here, but which they bring out with a masterful approach that really rises above previous efforts – a larger, richer approach to funk that sometimes even hits cinematic territory – but all without ever losing its small combo edge! The keyboards and production are especially nice, and the drums are super funky – on titles that include "Parasols", "Basilisk", "Zum Zum", "Running Low", "The Husk", "Tula Muisi", "Coronado", and "Hallowed Dreams". CD

Deeply soulful work from Orgone – a group who are working at a level here that we never would have expected a decade back! Orgone have always been great, but sometimes they felt less like an organic funk combo than one who had an ear for the right sorts of sounds – something they still have here, but which they bring out with a masterful approach that really rises above previous efforts – a larger, richer approach to funk that sometimes even hits cinematic territory – but all without ever losing its small combo edge! The keyboards and production are especially nice, and the drums are super funky – on titles that include "Parasols", "Basilisk", "Zum Zum", "Running Low", "The Husk", "Tula Muisi", "Coronado", and "Hallowed Dreams". LP, Vinyl record album

The second album from Mica Paris – an crisp, effervescent modern soul effort from 1993! The album features production on the better tracks by Narada Michael Walden & Ron Templeton – a mix of sleek, club friendly soul and some ballads! The second track "I Wanna Hold On To You" is a great one, with rollicking hip hop-inspired beats and some echoey horns – one that should have took up residence on the charts, but we missed the boat in the US! Other tracks include "I Never Felt Like This Before", "I Wanna Hold On To You", "You Put A Move On My Heart", "Whisper A Prayer", "Two In A Million", "Positivity", "Can't Seem To Make Up My Mind", "You've Got A Special Way" and "Love Keeps Comin' Back". CD

Three classic albums from Redbone – served up in a single set! First up is Potlatch – a killer album from Redbone – one that has the group really hitting on all burners – using that strongly solid groove that Pat and Lolly Vegas first forged through years on the west coast club scene, and turning it into a more powerful message that made the group such a top-shelf act at the time! And sure, most folks remember Redbone as being a crucial first nation group – but there's a quality to the music here that instantly pushes them into competition with the best of the mainstream too – a sharp, soulful sound that comes on strong right from the start – on tunes that include "Without Reservation", "Maggie", "Light As A Feather", "Drinkin & Blo", "Bad News Ain't No News At All", and "Alcatraz". Message From A Drum is great – a record that has Redbone opening the door to a bit more elements from their roots than before, but also while expanding their sound in all these ways that are completely unexpected too! The approach is great – and almost as if Pat and Lolly Vegas had shown to the rest of the world that they could conquer mainstream rock at the start of the 70s, then felt free to experiment a bit more with the overall shape of their sound – using some rootsy elements that echo the drum in the title, but also tripping things out a bit too – often with a heady vibe that makes the album one of their best. Titles include "The Witch Queen Of New Orleans", "The Sun Never Shines On The Lonely", "One Monkey", "Chant 13th Hour", "Jericho", "Niji Trance", "Message From A Drum", and "Fate". Cycles is a bit later, from 1977 – and is a record that's maybe a bit more soulful than usual for Pat and Lolly Vegas – thanks to production from Linda Creed – who gives the pair a groove that's a nice change from their early 70s records, and underscores some of the more soul-based modes that were always lurking in their music! There's some warm keyboards on the record, and some very nice grooves that never try to change up the group at all – but instead open these currents of funk and mellower soul that turn out to be a great showcase for the vocals of the Vegas brothers! Titles include "Cycles", "Open", "Gamble", "Dancing Bones", "Funky Silk", "Don't Say No", and "Give Your Our Love Another Try". CD

Passionate, artful warmth and beauty from the late finger-style guitar great Jack Rose, who left us at far too early an age – a wonderful record that should have been only his first for the Thrill Jockey label! Rose works with and transcends prewar folk & blues traditions from Appalachia to St. Louis and other points regional and cosmic, from bluegrass to the buzz of Eastern raga sounds – all deeply felt and rewarding. Rose is on guitar and lap steel, with accompanying players on tack piano, harmonica, Jew's harp, banjo and guitar. Includes "Blues For Percy Danforth", "Lick Mountain Ramble", "Woodpiles On The Side Of The Road", "When Tailgate Drops, The Bulls**t Stops", "Moon In The Gutter", "Luck In The Valley", a fresh take on the WC Handy dusty "Saint Louis Blues", "Tree In The Valley" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best albums ever cut by trombonist Frank Rosolino – an open-ended quartet session that really lets him do his thing! The tracks are long, with plenty of room for solo space, and Frank's working with a really great quartet that includes the legendary Sonny Clark on piano – a key force on the west coast scene during his stay in the late 50s – plus Wilfred Middlebrooks on bass, and Stan Levey on drums. Rosolino's tone is tremendous – a perfect tone, but never too polished – and although Clark doesn't play with the same sense of fire as on his Blue Note sessions, his presence is still strongly felt on the date. 3 of the album's tracks are over 7 minutes long – quite rare for a Bethlehem session – and titles include "Doxy", "My Delux", "Flamingo", "I May Be Wrong", and "Frieda". CD

Great work by one of the archetypal funky soul bands of the 70s – and a group whose impact is still being felt today! Of course, one of the reasons for that is Chaka Khan's incredible vocals – caught here at a prime early point, and very nicely set against some warm electric keyboards and tight groovy guitars – which provide a groove that's live and spontaneous, and never too forced – just the right kind of energy to work perfectly with her approach to the lyrics, without any of the too-polished modes you'd fine from copycat groups trying to fake a sound like this. Rufus had been with Chaka for years by this point – fusing together a sublime blend of funk, soul, jazz, and rock – a sound they forged woodshedding in Chicago in the early days, let loose in perfect studio territory on the west coast of the 70s. The whole thing's a classic – and titles include "Jive Talking", "Sweet Thing", "Fools Paradise", "Circle", "Everybody Has An Aura", and "On Time". CD

The first three albums of Japanese noise legends Ruins, all presented in a single set – sounds that are as powerful and mindblowing as when they were first unleashed to the world back in the 80s! The style here is still completely revolutionary – even though so many others have tried to copy it over the years – sounds that were born in punk, but inflected by noise and free jazz – often moving at a blistering pace that's as breathtaking as it is bold! We might make some slight comparison between these guys and the Pussy Galore/Royal Trux generation of American noise guitar – but Ruins are also completely different, and made waves from halfway around the globe that are still being felt today. 51 tracks in all – with titles that include "Crisis", "Human Being", "Entropy", "Makarom Iyaike", "Government", "Grudge", "Divide", "Octopus", "Amalgam", "Infect", "Dadaism", and "Flagment". CD

A set recorded during that tremendous late 80s/early 90s point when guitarist Sonny Sharrock was really hitting on all creative burners – and one that also features the legendary Pharoah Sanders on tenor, who gives the record a slightly different vibe than some of Sharrock's other records from the time! Make no mistake, Sonny is very strongly in the lead – and he also produced the record with Bill Laswell, whose efforts are definitely felt here – but there's also more of a jazz core to the whole thing, with long tracks that have a very live, spontaneous vibe – as Sharrock fuzzes out his guitar, but is matched with soulful energy from Sanders on tenor – and given some great pulsating rhythms from Charnett Moffett on acoustic bass and Elvin Jones on drums. These three players really offset some of Sonny's more self-indulgent tendencies – and titles include "Little Rock", "Promises Kept", "Who Does She Hope To Be", "As We Used To Sing", and "Many Mansions". CD

A trio of albums from the reborn Steppenwolf – all presented here in a single set! First up is Slow Flox – a set that has the group really coming back into the fray, after John Kay had left for a bit and recorded as a solo act! All the raw power of the group is still very much at play here – plenty of searing guitars, at that level that made Steppenwolf such a key precursor to the hard rock sound of the 70s – maybe answered to by the group themselves here, who felt a need to reform and show the younger acts how things were done! But there's also some fuller production at times too – touches of soul inspiration that hit a few of the songs, but without ever knocking the guitars out too much – on titles that include "Get Into The Wind", "Children Of The Night", "Smokey Factory Blues", "Morning Blue", "A Fool's Fantasy", and "Gang War Blues". Hour Of The Wolf is a record that seems to have Steppenwolf adapting nicely for the 70s – not in any sort of too-commercial way, but with a vibe that brings in all these nice shifts to their sound! The guitar and bass are still plenty high in the mix, but the vocals of John Kay are varied a bit more from track to track, as is the use of organ – which sometimes steps out as a great force in the sound, even at a time when so many other groups had switched to more modern styles of keyboards. Titles include "Caroline", "Just For Tonight", "Two For The Love Of One", "Someone Told A Lie", "Mr Penny Pincher", "Another's Lifetime", and "Annie Annie Over". Skullduggery is a set with a skull on the cover and some massive drums at the start – both of which are key signals to the world that Steppenwolf are still alive and well! Despite their lack of chart success at this point, the group are still super-sharp – burning on all the best elements that made their classics so great – burning organ, bubbling basslines, searing guitar, and those vocals from John Kay that really send things over the top – schooled on soul in the 60s, but turned much more towards a hard rock standard here – on titles that include "Rock N Roll Song", "Life Is A Gamble", "Skullduggery", "Lip Service", "Pass It On", and "Train Of Thought". 3CD set features two bonus tracks – "Angeldrawers" and "Caroline (mono promo mix)" – plus a big booklet of notes! CD

Stereolab at the top of their game! They're riding high here with a mindblowing swirl of older elements from the past – with references to old Moog records, French pop, and a bazillion other things streaming through their ears – but also refined and given a bit more vision, too as the group matures their own distinctive sound! Part of the help seems to come from two key talents on the Chicago scene of the time – producers John McEntire and Jim O'Rourke – whose contributions can be felt, but are also stated on the label as an indication of just how much the band were also sharing the city's musical wealth at the time too. Titles include "Velvet Water", "People Do It All The Time", "Fuses", "The Free Design", "Italian Shoes Continuum", "The Emergency Kisses", and "Strobo Acceleration". 2019 remastered version includes a bonus LP of demos and alternate versions. CD

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". LP, Vinyl record album

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". CD

Quite possibly the greatest collection of future soul issued on one LP package – all put together by the man who's helped make most of it happen! The influence of DJ Gilles Peterson has been felt the world over for well over a decade – and has spread the word on countless artists who've helped to redefine the concept of groove in the 21st century. As one way of saying "thanks", many of these artists have contributed exclusive tracks to this massive project spearheaded by Gilles – donating some of their best work to the set, and making it a super-fresh package filled with tracks you won't find elsewhere! The groove changes nicely throughout the set, but is unified by Gilles sharp ear for the best of the best – effortlessly sliding from Neo Soul to soul jazz to jazzy club – all by top-shelf artists all the way through! 3LP version features the tracks "Wheel Within A Wheel" by Cinematic Orchestra, "Puffin Dance" by UMOD, "The Show" by NSM, "Sophisticated & Coarse" by TY with Eska, "Book Klicky Boom Klack" by Jazzanova with Shaun Escoffery, "A Matter Of Time" by Outlines, "Couldn't Hear Me" by Eric Roberson, "Brilliant Circles" by Two Banks Of Four, "Night Of The Dancing Flame" by Matthew Herbert & Roisin Murphy, "Batacumbele" by Deadline Vs Batacumbele, "Wanin Moon" by Nicola Conte, and "The Blessing Song (Take 1 mix for Worldwide)" by Build An Ark. LP bonus tracks include "Reaching For The Highest Pleasure" by Roy Ayers and "Living Lime Light" by Peven Everett. LP, Vinyl record album

An early 80s set from Cherry Red Records, and one that shows just how important the British label was to the world of post-punk music at the time – as you'll hear from an assortment of tracks that's more than enough to give labels like Factory or Rough Trade a run for their money! Cherry Red always had a way of thinking outside of the norm – mixing experimental sounds with more tuneful moments, and sometimes showcasing artists who weren't afraid to put their feelings on the line – at a level that other British indies would pick up more strongly a few years later. There's plenty of formative sounds here – and titles include "Plain Sailing" by Tracy Thorn, "My Face Is On Fire" by Felt, "No Noise" by Eyeless In Gaza, "Don't Blink" by The Nightingales, "Some Things Don't Matter" by Ben Watt, "Modi 2 (extract)" by Piero Milesi, "All About You" by Thomas Leer, "Portrait" by Five Or Six, "Eine Symphonie Des Grauens" by The Monochrome Set, "Lazy Ways" by The Marine Girls, "I Unseen" by The Misunderstood, and "On My Mind" by Everything But The Girl. This massive 3CD version of the collection is overflowing with great material – a whopping 72 tracks in all, 17 of which are unreleased, presented in a book-style package with plenty of notes! Added material includes work from The Nightingales, Kevin Coyne, The Passage, Monochrome Set, Jane, Five Or Six, Thomas Leer, Martyn Bates, Creation Rebel, The Reflections, Swallow Tongue, Bodhi Beat Poets, and even Patrick MacNee & Honor Blackman of The Avengers! CD

One of the most enigmatic records we've ever gotten from the Numero Group – especially since they usually go out of their way to tell the full story of most of their releases! This set purports to be the never-issued soundtrack from a 60s film titled You're Not From Around Here – but none of the film details, director, or writer show up with an internet search – leading us to believe that the label just felt that the whole thing was a great story to serve up some twang-heavy rarities from the underbelly of early 60s rock and roll. Turns out, they were plenty darn right – as the package alone is a dream – a cool octagonal box with a replica poster and a very cool look – housing a record full of rare rockers that include "A Song For Mary" by Gene Sikora, "First Love" by Bailey's Nervous Kats, "Spacewalk" by Nicky Roberts, "Wandering" by The Expressos, "Lonely Walk" by Alvie Self, "Somewhere Down The Line" by Shelley Duncan, "Haunted After Midnight" by Slim Martin, "16.88" by Hayden Thompson, "Wouldn't It Be Nice To Have Wings & Fly" by Buzz Clifford, "Tomorrow's Gone" by Charlie Megira, and "Ebb Tide" by Houston & Dorsey. LP, Vinyl record album

Old Idea, maybe, but a fresh, engrossing and straight up excellent set of modern jazz with an ear for classic avant garde – coronet player Josh Berman's debut as a leader! We're not sure if Berman has shown admirable patience and restraint in waiting until he felt ready to get put out marquee record of his own as leader, or if he's just been so swept up in being such a dynamic part of so many other exceptional improvisational projects (Exploding Star Orchestra, Rolldown, etc), but it's a really strong record, and we hope he stays active in this capacity! It's a quartet setting, with Rolldown leader Jason Adasiewicz on vibes and bringing some excellent atmosphere to the record, Keefe Jackson on tenor sax, Anton Hatwich on bass and Nori Tanaka on drums. Kinetic, unpredictable, but very, connectively textured and grooving. Josh handles all of the compositions, and the titles include "On Account Of A Hat", "Next Year" (Parts A, B & C), "Let's Pretend", "Nori", "What Can?", "Db" and "Almost Late". CD

A hell of a record from Brazilian pianist Amaro Freitas – an artist we already loved before, but who's really stepping forth boldly with this release! Freitas has a way with the piano that's unlike anyone else we can think of – that freshness we maybe first felt when hearing a player like Robert Glasper many years back – and he works in a trio setting at a level that completely transforms the format – thanks in part to the very inventive assistance he gets from Jean Elton on bass and Hugo Medeiros on drums and percussion! If you think Freitas looks righteous on the cover, just wait until you hear his music – as he's definitely the real deal, and bound to be a big force in the jazz generation to come. Titles include "Malakoff", "Nascimento", "Sankofa", "Ayeye", "Vila Bela", "Baquaqua", and "Cazumba". LP, Vinyl record album

A very different setting than some of the more spacious Barre Phillips albums of the 70s – as this set has him working in a mixed electric/acoustic mode – with a core quartet that features John Surman on baritone, soprano, and bass clarinet – plus Stu Martin on drums and Dieter Feichtner on electronics – a trio that really gets going when Martin and Surman also play some electronics as well! The mode is maybe more like some of Surman's albums that mix reed lines with electronics – although the presence of Phillips is still often felt in the deeper, darker corners of the record and the album features a long suite of "Mountainscapes", with an appearance from guitarist John Abercrombie on the final passage. CD

Gregory Porter arrives on Blue Note Records – and the result is Porter's most fully-formed set so far – just the kind of album that will push him firmly into the limelight – a place that we've felt he's deserved for quite a few years! Porter's a hell of a singer, and a hell of a songwriter too – and although his roots are in jazz, he's got a rare ability to step between genres with plenty of soul – a special space that belongs to a very rare few – like Nina Simone, Bill Withers, Roberta Flack, or Gil Scott-Heron! Gregory's voice is amazing, his lyrics are both personal and pointed – and he does so much here with so little, the album should be handed out to the hundreds of mis-directed vocalists who think that a few extra tweaks in the studio is all they really need. Most numbers just feature small combo backing, with wonderfully warm piano from Chip Crawford – and the whole thing's got a timeless feel that makes us think this is the beginning of a rich new season for Porter. Titles include "Free", "Water Under Bridges", "Lonesome Lover", "Liquid Spirit", "No Love Dying", "Brown Grass", "When Love Was King", and "Wind Song". This great 3LP deluxe version features special guest bonus tracks on the fifth side – Water Under The Bridge" with Laura Mvula, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" with Jamie Cullum and "Grandma's Hands" with Ben L'Oncle Soul – plus Rainer & Grimm, Claptone, 20syl, St Germain and Knuckle G remixes on the sixth side! LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Life Changes", "Brother To Brother", "It's A Guitar Thang", "We'll Make It Last Theme", "Yours Unconditionally", "Moments", "Tell Her Love Has Felt The Need", "Cruisin", "New Blues", "For The Soul In You", "I Know That's Right", "Loving You Always", and "Life Changes Theme". CD

One of the best records ever by Sylvia Telles – a very tight set of bossa grooves, with some warm and complicated arrangements by the great Moacir Santos! Santos' influence on the session is felt especially on the tracks that feature him soloing on alto and flute – adding in some dark edges that work wonderfully with Sylvia's vocals, and really transform familiar tunes into strange new versions. The whole thing's got a sense of depth that's right up there with the best Elenco work of the 60s – a much more sophisticated take on the bossa than you'd hear from American sessions at the time. Titles include "Samba Do Aviao", "Dorme", "Rio", "Vagamente", "Amor E Paz", and "Voce E Eu". LP, Vinyl record album

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