... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A killer Norman Harris/Philly club classic, issued here on a reissue 12" that includes the original radio version of the track, plus 3 remixes by Clivilles & Cole – "David's Theme", "David's Jam", and "Love Mix". 12-inch, Vinyl record

A strong move into disco by First Choice – the group whose earlier Philly work had an undeniable impact on the genre! The sound here is smoother and more mature than the group's first few albums – a bit more in the fuller mode of the disco years, less pop overall – and done with some stone Philly production by Norman Harris and Stan Watson – and loads of great arrangements by Harris, Bobby Eli, and Vince Montana. Wonderful work all the way through – with none of the disco filler of other groups' albums from the time – and a deeply-crafted vocal sound that belies the trio's strong history in soul! Tracks include "Ain't He Bad", "Gotta Get Away (From You Baby)", "Yes, Maybe No", "I Got A Feeling", "Don't Fake It", and "Let Him Go". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

"Newsy Neighbors" is a great early groover from First Choice! It's got a very tight feel that's similar to "Armed & Extremely Dangerous", with some good Bobby Eli arrangements, and a nice Norman Harris hook. "This Little Woman" is a nice easy ballad, of the sort the group didn't do that much after this point in their career. 7-inch, Vinyl record

Two rare club tracks – pressed up here on a limited edition French single! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Music from the Electric Prunes, the Standells, the Knickerbockers, the Seeds, the Castaways, Count Five, the Leaves, the Outsiders, Love, the Music Machine, the Kingsmen, and more. CD

A killer second volume in the This Is DJ's Choice series from Unique Germany – stretching back to the 50s for a raw & rumbling set of deep rare r&b, jumping blues, and rollicking rockabilly – floor shaking numbers selected by Keb Darge & Lucinda Slim! The (mostly) wayback approach is wonderful here, as the DJs choose some incredible stuff we've never heard before (and a couple well chosen newer numbers), and it's also a much different style than the more modern first volume in the series – which bodes well for some excellent, unpredictable volumes to follow! One similarity to the first volume is that it's unmixed with full length singles, and the titles include "I Want To Ramble" by John Lee Hooker, "You Ain't Such A Much" by Blanchie Thomas, "All Night Long" by Joe Houston, "Soulful Dress" by Sugar Pie Desanto, "Love Bandits" by Cadets, "Sinsitive Mind" by General Assembly, "That's What I Want" by Syng McGowan and more. 17 tracks on the CD. CD

The first LP from Dick Dale And His Del-Tones – about as influential of a genre guitar gem as you could ask for – the great Surfer's Choice from 1962! Hilariously, a question on the top of the back cover reads, "Why Is Dick Dale The Surfer's Choice?", and although we cannot speak for actual surfers, surf guitar fans need not be asked. Raw, rumbling, exciting surf rockers from the king – much of it recorded at Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa Beach, where Dale's legend was made. Includes "Surf Beat", "Misirlou Twist", "Peppermint Man", "Surfing Drums", "Shake N Stomp", "Let's Go Trippin" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A sparkling collection of the soul jazz groovers churned out by Ramsey's famous first trio – the groundbreaking ensemble that featured Eldee Young on bass and Redd Holt on drums. The set does a good job of pushing past obvious hits, and includes some tasty little groovers like "Travel On", "Somethin You Got", "Look A Here", "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It", "Hello, Cello", and the classic "Blues For Night Owls". LP, Vinyl record album

Music from J Rawls Presents The Liquid Crystal Project, Sons Of Time featuring J-Live & Gee Bag, Sam Krats featuring El Da Sensei, Space Invadas, Melvin Sparks with Jimmy Scott, Smith & the Honey Badgers, Laura Vane & The Vipertones, Osaka Monaurail featuring Shirley Davis, Ann Sexton & The Baltic Soul Orchestra, Marc Gregor, Benjamin & The Dreamdancers, Djar One Featuring Andy Cooper, Misumami featuring First Touch, Skyy, and Hollie Cook. CD

Bill Evans' first famous appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival – a great 60s trio session, with Eddie Gomez on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums! The tunes are mostly relatively familiar ones, but the ensemble on the set gives them a freer and more lyrical feel than you might expect – especially with DeJohnette on drums, who is a somewhat more powerful choice than some of Bill's other drummers of the 60s. Eddie Gomez is great, as always – with that round bass sound that we totally love – and titles include "Nardis", "Sleepin Bee", "Embraceable You", "Someday My Prince Will Come", "Mother Of Earl", "One For Helen", and "Walkin Up". LP, Vinyl record album

A quadruple package of late 60s albums from Waylon Jennings – served up here in a single set! First up is Love Of The Common People – a tremendous late 60s album from Waylon Jennings – a set that really has the singer finally finding his groove, and working that amazing vocal style towards the kind of material that would soon help him become the stuff of legend! At some level, it could be said that there are currents of folk on the album – at least in the choice of some of the tracks, including the title cut – but throughout, Waylon Jennings has a way of turning things towards the darker side of the spectrum, and delivering things in a way that goes way beyond familiar RCA Nashville territory! Titles include "Money Cannot Make The Man", "I Tremble For You", "If The Shoe Fits", "The Road", "Love Of The Common People", "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away", and "Taos New Mexico". Hangin On has Jennings emerging as a singer with a depth that goes way beyond some of the more pop-oriented country acts handled by Chet Atkins on RCA, with a way of transforming tunes and really making them feel like they were all his own! Jennings did write a few of the words on the set, but most of the music is by well-chosen contemporary songwriters – spreading out with a slightly larger scope than some of the other RCA acts might handle – which might be an indication of the larger audience that Jennings would soon reach with his music! Titles include "The Crowd", "The Chokin' Kind", "I Fall In Love So Easily", "How Long Have You Been There", "Julie", "Looking At A Heart That Needs A Home", "Woman Don't You Ever Laugh At Me", and "Lock Stock & Teardrops". Only The Greatest is a damn near perfect batch of top notch honky tonk numbers from the late 60s! Waylon's distinctive voice works its magic on a bunch of great tunes, including honky tonk classics like "Only Daddy That'll Walk That Line", Harlan Howard's "California Sunshine", plus some song choices that steer towards countrypolitan, pop and folk, but really brought into Waylon's world regardless, via his incredible voice, which is at peak power at this point. Other titles include "Weakness In A Man", "Sorry (Breaks A Good Man Down)", "Christina", "Kentucky Woman", "Long Gone", "Wave Goodbye To Me", and "Too Far Gone". Jewels is a record with a very well-put title – as the set's filled with late 60s jewels by the amazing Waylon Jennings – tracks from a time before the singer was hitting as big as he should have, but which are perfect for digging out and loving again as the years go on! Jennings has an edge and darkness here that's so different than so many of his contemporaries – a quality that maybe resonates with Johnny Cash's best moments, but which has a focus here that avoids some of the mis-steps that could often be more frequent on Johnny's studio albums at the time – really rock-solid presentation throughout, as Waylon takes on tunes by Harlan Howard, Merle Haggard, and Dallas Frazier – and throws his own tune into the mix too. Titles include "New York City RFD", "Six Strings Away", "How Much Rain Can One Man Stand", "Today I Started Loving You Again", "If You Were Mine To Lose", and "See You Around. CD

A trio of pre-stardom albums from Waylon Jennings – brought together here in a single set! First up is Just To Satisfy You – fantastic early work from Waylon Jennings – exactly the kind of record that shows how the singer could burst out of the pack, even in a familiar setting! There's still a lot of Chet Atkins elements in the production, but Waylon really pushes all that aside with his upfront, honest vocal approach – so much so that even hits by others are completely transformed in his style! Titles include "Farewell Party", "Sing The Blues To Daddy", "Straighten My Mind", "Just To Satisfy You", and "Lonely Weekends" – plus duets with Anita Carter on "I Got You" and "Rings Of Gold". Next up is Country Folk – one of the most unusual albums ever recorded during the early RCA years of Waylon Jennings – a set that features backing vocals from the male/female quartet The Kimberlys – of the sort that you might have heard from the Anita Kerr Singers on a Chet Akins production – but tuned much more towards a style that suits Waylon well! There's none of the too-sweet modes that Kerr might bring into the mix – and there's also occasional female leads that appear for a bit, creating a sense of duet with that magnificent Jennings voice – further deepened by the great choice of material, too – really unusual tracks that aren't the sort that RCA was usually adding to country sessions at the time. Titles include Jimmy Webb's immortal "MacArthur Park", plus "These New Changing Times", "Come Stay With Me", "Cindy Oh Cindy", "Games People Play", "Mary Ann Regrets", "Let Me Tell You My Mind", "Long Way Back Home", and "A World Of Our Own". Last up is Waylon – pivotal work from Waylon Jennings – a record that has him really starting to show the maturity and individuality that would make his mid 70s hits so great! Production here isn't that different than before – Chet Atkins and Danny Davis are still at the helm in the studio – but Waylon himself has really blossomed, and gone from being just an already-great country singer to a mature male interpreter of tunes – able to bring his own spin to material from an array of well-chosen sources. Anita Carter duets with Waylon on two tracks – and titles include "Brown Eyed Handsome Man", "Don't Play The Game", "The Thirty Third Of August", "Yellow Haired Woman", "This Time Tomorrow (I'll Be Gone)", "Where Love Has Died", "I May Never Pass This Way Again", and "Just Across The Way". CD

Four full albums from Waylon Jennings – served up here in one double CD set! First up is What Goes Around Comes Around – Waylon Jennings' last album of the 70s, and a set that continues the superstar run he forged during the decade – delivered with that increasing power and focus that Jennings brought to his records as the years went on – still strongly country through and through, but with a quality that helped Waylon to really reach out and find audiences that some of his contemporaries couldn't touch! The material is really well-chosen, and fits that swagger that Jennings could bring to his vocals, but without ever pushing things too far – none of the hoke that could occasionally get in the way – on titles that include "I Ain't Livin Long Like This", "What Goes Around", "It's The World's Gone Crazy", "Old Love New Eyes", "Come With Me", and "Ivory Tower". Music Man is a set recorded at a time when Waylon Jennings had really reached superstardom – and was also finding a whole new ear for his music on the TV screen, thanks to his work on Dukes Of Hazzard! Think what you might about that show, Waylon's theme is a great one – and it's presented here along with a number of other well-chosen numbers that are delivered with a nicely understated sound overall – no attempt to try to force any sort of country rock agenda on Jennings, even when he's taking on the music of Steely Dan! And surprisingly, he does a pretty great job of that – reworking "Do It Again" into a completely different sort of song – heard here next to "It's Alright", "Storms Never Last", "Nashville Wimmin", "He Went To Paris", and "Good Ol Boys". On Black On Black, Waylon Jennings gets some great help from producer Chips Moman – who creates this laidback, rootsy groove that's perfect for the singer's sound – a move that's a wonderful choice, given that at this point in his career, Jennings could have gone for an arena-filling country rock sort of approach – but instead stays true to the kind of confident, up-close material that filled his classic albums for RCA in the 70s! Titles include "Honky Tonky Blues", "Women Do Know How To Carry On", "We Made It As Lovers", "Gonna Write A Letter", "Shine", and a remake of "Just To Satisfy You". On Waylon & Company, the "company" is as key as Waylon Jennings himself – as the set features the country music legend serving up a set of duets with a surprisingly great range of other singers – an all-star lineup that includes Jerry Reed, Tony Joe White, Hank Williams Jr, Willie Nelson, and Emmylou Harris! The set's a great reminder of the collaborative spirit that Jennings really started bringing to his music in the 70s – similar to Willie Nelson, a frequent recording partner – as a way of never letting superstardom make Waylon too prideful to not share the spotlight with someone else. Titles include "Hold On I'm Comin", "Spanish Johnny", "I'll Find It Where I Can", "Sight For Sore Eyes", "The Conversation", "So You Want To Be A Cowboy Singer", and "Leave Them Boys Alone". CD

A stellar record from Ben E King – and one of a few early 60s gems that really have him leaving a longstanding mark on soul music! There's a balance here that's unbelievable – a quality that's emotive right from the start, yet also perfectly put together too – with Ben's tremendous vocals backed by some tight Atlantic backings – in a style that's virtually the blueprint for lots more uptown soul singers to come in the 60s. The song choice is impeccable too – numbers from Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman, and Phil Spector which perfectly straddle the lines of soul music at the time – tunes that include classics like "Here Comes The Night", "Don't Play That Song", "Young Boy Blues", and "Stand By Me" – plus lesser-known gems like "Brace Yourself", "I Promise Love", "Yes", "First Taste Of Love", and "Show Me The Way". LP, Vinyl record album

A near-lost Philly disco album – recorded at Sigma Sound, but released on Casablanca at the end of the 70s, and nearly buried under the weight of the label's collapse at the time! There's a style here that borrows bits from some of Casablanca's more mainstream artists – focusing strongly on the hooks of the tunes, and putting the female vocals upfront – but still swirling around in some mighty club arrangements from the Sigma team. Loose Change themselves are a trio in the Philly mode of First Choice or Three Degrees – and titles include "Rising Cost Of Love", "Straight From The Heart", "Darling, That's Me", "Babe", and "I Wanna Hold On To You". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the leading lights of the Munich club scene – the mighty Silver Convention, who topped the charts with a number of disco classics in the mid 70s! Silver Convention took the Philly female style of disco – popularized by First Choice, Three Degrees, and others – and pumped it up with the Munich sound of throbbing bass and repetitive beats, one of the first steps towards house music in the 80s. The set features 16 of the group's biggest tracks – as well as a few solo tunes by Penny McLean and Linda Thompson – with titles that include "Lady Bump", "Fly Robin Fly", "Get Up & Boogie (12" version)", "Save Me", "Always Another Girl", "No No Joe", "I Like It", "Mission To Venus", "You've Got What It Takes", and "I'm Not A Slot Machine". CD

A great album of jazzy club tracks – put together by John Usry Jr, who'd done some work with other 70s club acts like Three Degrees, Love Committee, and First Choice. Most of the tracks on the record feature female backing vocals – in the style of work by those other groups – but the real standout aspect is a jazzy harp, played in a manner that makes us think of Dorothy Ashby going disco. The best cut on the album is the 8 minute "Nightfall", which has some great trumpet work by Guido Basso – and other nice moments include the mellow "Touching", and the cuts "I Got Your Love" and "Love Me", which both have some nice guitar. Recorded in Canada, and very typical of that baroque Canadian approach to disco. LP, Vinyl record album

A trio of records from Sun – an excellent funk ensemble from the end of the 70s! First up is Wanna Make Love – one of the greatest records ever cut by Sun – a group whose records never made the charts as strongly as their contemporaries, but not for lack of quality! This set's a great batch of heavy ensemble funk with an edge that's not always heard on other Sun records – lots of razor-sharp guitars riffing away in saw-cut modes, striking hard at the grooves of the record, and chilling out nicely for the mellower cuts. The blend is wonderful – totally tight, and totally top-shelf all the way through – yet never in a commercial way at all. Titles include "Wanna Make Love", "My Woman", "Live On Dream On", "The Show Is Over", "Love Is Never Sure", and "They're Calling For Me". Sun Power is a solid smoker from Sun – the kind of tight funk set that made the group one of the greatest soul acts on Capitol Records during the late 70s! There's a wicked Ohio vibe going on throughout – everything focused together, and right on the money – even despite the large size of the ensemble – and touched with a slightly jazzy undercurrent that carries strong echoes of Earth Wind & Fire! Rhythms are nice and tight, with keyboards, guitar, and brassy horns over the top – and on the mellower cuts the vocals have a nicely compressed quality. Titles include "Conscience", "We're So Hot", "Organ Grinder", "She Lives Alone", "Time Is Passing", and "Light Me Up". Last up is Sunburn – a tightly crafted batch of dancefloor funk that reminds us of some of our favorite work from Fantasy Records at the time – especially some of the more righteous groups that blended equal parts jazz and soul! Sun's got a tightness here that's amazing – right up there with Earth Wind & Fire at their best, but not as commercial overall – and instead, always delivered with a nice sense of righteous energy! The set kicks off with the wicked "Sun Is Here", a guitar-driven groover with a very famous sample riff – and a sound that's somehow more stripped-down and jazz funk-driven than a lot of the group's other tunes. Other cuts are pretty great too, with lots of warm bubbly soulful moments – and titles include "Dance", "Long Drawn Out Thang", "I Had A Choice", "Sun Of A Gun", and "You're The One". CD

A really striking set of duets – one that opens up a whole new chapter in the career of pianist Helen Sung – and which maybe also offers one of the first instances we've seen of just a piano and trumpet coming together for a record! We love the music of Marquis Hill, and the sharp phrasing of the trumpeter is a perfect choice to match Helen's work here on the piano (and a bit of Fender Rhodes) – as the pair move beautifully through a set that features mostly original compositions by Sung. There's a loose feel to the tunes, but things are never too free either – and both players really feel as if they have been working together in this mode for a long time – as you'll hear on titles that include "Measure", "The Window", "Awakening", "Everybody's Waltz", "Perpetual", and "Playtime". LP, Vinyl record album

Damn funky work from the west coast scene of the late 60s and early 70s – just the kind of tracks to dispel the idea that too much sun or cannabis might have left the Cali scene a bit weak! Instead, these cuts are right on the money, stone funky throughout, and light years from any sort of California connotations you may have – no west coast jazz, smooth AOR, or breezy Bay Area – and much more of the grit and groove that was brewing up on funky 45s from all points east! Drums are heavy, guitars are sharp, and vocals are super-righteous – filled with the kind of messages that you could only get across on the sort of small label releases that make up most of this set – and which also include a few unreleased tracks appearing here for the first time ever. As usual with BGP, the package is as superb as the music – great sound, detailed notes, and a wonderful track selection that includes "Earthquake" by Rulie Garcia, "Hang Up (part 1)" by Warm Excursion, "Pickin Cotton" by Johnny Talbot & De-Thangs, "If She Wants To Go" by Choice Of Colors, "Just Ain't My Day" by The Entertainers IV, "The Git Down (parts 1 & 2)" by Little Johnny Hamilton & The Soul Pack, "Strike" by Union, "I'm Gonna Speak Out" by Eddie Horan, "The Man" by Jesse & Anita, "Check Me Out" by Little Denise, "The Sneak" by The Douzer, "You Don't Know The Damage You've Done" by Vernon Green & The Medallions, and "Tuned In Turned On" by Alvin Robinson. CD

Damn funky work from the west coast scene of the late 60s and early 70s – just the kind of tracks to dispel the idea that too much sun or cannabis might have left the Cali scene a bit weak! Instead, these cuts are right on the money, stone funky throughout, and light years from any sort of California connotations you may have – no west coast jazz, smooth AOR, or breezy Bay Area – and much more of the grit and groove that was brewing up on funky 45s from all points east! Drums are heavy, guitars are sharp, and vocals are super-righteous – filled with the kind of messages that you could only get across on the sort of small label releases that make up most of this set – and which also include a few unreleased tracks appearing here for the first time ever. As usual with BGP, the package is as superb as the music – great sound, detailed notes, and a wonderful track selection that includes "Earthquake" by Rulie Garcia, "Hang Up (part 1)" by Warm Excursion, "Pickin Cotton" by Johnny Talbot & De-Thangs, "If She Wants To Go" by Choice Of Colors, "Just Ain't My Day" by The Entertainers IV, "The Git Down (parts 1 & 2)" by Little Johnny Hamilton & The Soul Pack, "Strike" by Union, "I'm Gonna Speak Out" by Eddie Horan, "The Man" by Jesse & Anita, "Check Me Out" by Little Denise, "The Sneak" by The Douzer, "You Don't Know The Damage You've Done" by Vernon Green & The Medallions, and "Tuned In Turned On" by Alvin Robinson. CD

Deep Jamaican sounds from the 70s – all work produced by the legendary Sonia Pottinger, and which shows that her talents for roots music were every bit as great as her work with earlier styles too! With Pottinger, the key is almost less what she does in the studio than what she does with her ear – as her ability to identify key talent at the right moment is something that really graces most of her recordings – definitely the case here, in an overstuffed 2CD set that features rare singles from the High Note label, most appearing on CD for the first time ever, 8 of which are previously unissued! As with other releases on the Doctor Bird label, the choice of cuts are as great as the overall presentation – which includes very detailed notes – to support a set list of 35 tracks that includes "Winey Winey (12" version)" by The Kingstonians, "King Of Kings" by Mind Body & Soul, "Babylon A Run Come" by The Mellows, "Sufferer's Child" by Delroy Denton & The Silvertones, "Lonesome I" by The Roots Defenders, "Trouble & Strife" by The Africans, "Whole Lot Of Feeling (12" version)" by Justin Hinds & The Dominoes, "See It Deh (12" version)" by Enos McLeod, "World World" by Joseph Burke & Tribute, and "Love & Inity" by Ras Miller. CD

There's few folks who know the British mod scene better than Eddie Piller – as the DJ and head of Acid Jazz records has done plenty in recent decades to both give exposure to older British groups who never got their due, and also help some contemporary mod combos get the exposure they deserve! Yet here, Eddie's going way back to the roots – to present a set of tracks that really gets at the full scope of musical genius that exploded on the British scene in the mid 60s – not music that us Americans were digging in the Brit Invasion, but grittier groups who were drawing heavily from soul, jazz, and R&B – and really setting the scene for all the musical changes that were beginning to take place in England. At some level, this might be the first moment where British groups really started to diverge from American rockers – something you can definitely hear in the way the rhythms, vocals, and instrumentation come together – superbly directed through Piller's great choice of material. 4CD set features a massive 100 tracks in all – with work from Sharon Tandy, The Eyes, Carnaby, The Creation, Birds, Fleur De Lys, Syndicats, Wynder K Frog, Bluesology, Love Affair, PP Arnold, Apostolic Intervention, Alan Bown Set, The Quik, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Georgie Fame, Small Faces, High Numbers, Artwoods, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Richard Kent Style, Dusty Springfield, The Organisers, Tony & Tandy, and Jimmy James & The Vagabonds. Sleeve notes from mod author Paul Anderson – in a cool book-styled package with photos as well! CD

Grandmaster Flash is best known for his work in the world of hip hop, not the sort of club scene that Salsoul helped feed back in the day – yet this surprisingly great package has Flash adding in some hip hop energy to the catalog of the legendary label – spinning tracks that emphasize the funkier currents of Salsoul, and drawing a link between disco singles and the sorts of rhythms that first helped feed the old school street party scene! Titles include "High" by Skyy, "Doctor Love" by First Choice, "Make Up Your Mind" by Aurra, "Runaway" by Salsoul Orchestra, "Let's Celebrate" by Skyy, "Slap Slap Lickedy Lap" by Instant Funk, "Love Sensation" by Loleatta Holloway, "Ten Percent" by Double Exposure", "I Got My Mind Made Up" by Instant Funk, "Spring Rain" by Silvetti, "Ooh I Love It" by Salsoul Orchestra, and "Checkin You Out" by Aurra. LP, Vinyl record album

A 2LP set that features some of the bigger Salsoul cuts that reined during Larry Levan's days at the Paradise Garage. Titles include "Make It Last Forever (unreleased mix)" by Inner Life, "How High" by Salsoul Orchestra, "The Greatest Performance Of My Life" by Loleatta Holloway, "First Time Around" by Skyy, "Double Cross" by First Choice, and "I Got My Mind Made Up" by Instant Funk. (Note: This item is not for sale online until 7:00am on Sunday, April 23. It is in limited supply – and by nature of the Record Store Day rules it will be offered for sale first to customers who visit the Dusty Groove retail outlet in Chicago the morning of Saturday, April 22. It will not be pre-sold or reserved in any way. However, after 7:00am on April 23 we will offer up whatever we have left for sale online.) LP, Vinyl record album

A well-remembered set from The Cocteau Twins' sublime 80s run on the 4AD label – a set that was one of the duo's first American titles, culled together from some of their early singles and import EP releases! The song choices are wonderful – some of the most focused, expressive cuts from the first few Cocteau years – magical moments that have the wordless vocals of Liz Frazier carving out these really beautiful melodies – while lush keyboards and splashy rhythms fill in the background with that unique 4AD style of production. There's still never been anything like the group at this point over all the years that have past – and the album's filled with gems that include "Wax & Wane", "Pearly Dewdrop Drops", "From The Flagstones", "Lorelei", "Aikea Guinea", "Pepper Tree", and "Musette & Drums". LP, Vinyl record album

Solo bass from the great Barry Guy – titled after the painting Comet, by Albert Irving – an image which graces the cover of the record – but served up here in a style of sound that's completely Barry's own! The music has that mindblowing quality that Guy can hit when he's really at his best – that way of opening up the instrument to new sonic possibilities that first made him such an exciting improviser at the start of his career, and which is still best heard in a solo setting like this – one that shows that Barry has lost none of his fire, nor is ever willing to just hang around in territory that's too familiar from earlier periods in his career. The painting in the title is apt – as at times, Guy has a very painterly style in sound – really making all the right choices all feel so right – on titles that include "Comet", "Oscillating", "Old Earth Home", "Barehead", and "Closed Space". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic from the American 80s run of Tania Maria – a moment when the Brazilian singer hit our shores, started adding a bit more soul to her music, and really opening up her style! Tania had been recording for nearly two decades by the time of this set – first in Brazil, then in France – where she really perfected her blend of piano and jazz-tinged vocals – used in ways that are always very different than most of her contemporaries! As with some of her other Capitol albums, Tania's bringing in some influences from R&B, but never losing the charm at the core that makes her so wonderful – on titles that include "Am I Too Late", "Forbidden Colors", "O Bom E", "Chuleta", "Please Don't Stay", "It's Only Love", and "Choices". CD

A trio of mid 80s albums from Narada Michael Walden – all together in one 2CD set! First up is Looking At You Looking At Me – an album with plenty of beats– so much so you might forget that Narada Michael Walden first rose to fame as a drummer – but all the electricity is fine with us, given the 80s groove sound of the set! There's a nice sense of energy that informs most of the tracks – a somewhat funky undercurrent that almost shows traces of the Minneapolis influence on soul at the time, but without a too-Prince sort of sound overall. There's also a few key ballads too – some gentler cuts that round out the set nicely, and which showcase the increasing confidence Walden's had with his vocals over the years. Titles include "Reach Out", "Looking At You Looking At Me", "Burning Up", "Shake It Off", "Dream Maker", and "Tina". Nature Of Things is a highly electric set from Narada Michael Walden – a mid 80s effort that's filled with catchy little tunes! The style's certainly more mainstream than we might have guessed, given Walden's early career – but it's still much better than most of the pop of its generation – thanks to Michael's strong jazz pedigree, which does seem to inform some of his arrangements and instrumental choices on the album. Most of the percussion is in the form of beats, but Walden's also credited with playing drums (roto-toms, perhaps?) – and in addition to his own lead vocals, the set also features work by Patti Austin and Marth Wash. Titles include "Live It Up", "Nature Of Things", "High Above The Clouds", "Gimme Gimme Gimme", "Suspicion", and "Dancin On Main Street". Divine Emotion is sweet 80s soul from Narada Michael Walden – a set that has the singer/drummer very confidently in the tight R&B territory that served him so well during the decade! As with previous records, there's a fair bit of 80s electronic elements in the mix – bursting, bubbling, and exploding with a joyful groove that really fits Walden's spirit – and serves to emphasize his ever-growing talent for penning at catchy tune! Titles include "Wild Thing", "Explosion", "Jam The Night", "Divine Emotions", "Can't Get You Outta My Head", "That's The Way I Feel About Cha", and "Certain Kind Of Lover". CD

A deeply soulful record from Lauren Elysie – an artist who seems to instantly bridge classic and contemporary soul styles with her music – working with all the richness of a female soul artist of the 60s or 70s, but also coming across with some of the urgency of the neo soul movement too! Subject matter is often very down to earth, but handled with a sense of majesty that really elevates every day life – in the best tradition of classic soul. The blend is fantastic, and Lauren knocks it out of the park from the very first note – on titles that include "Joyriding", "Cry", "Overdose", "Wolves", "Devour Me", "Bad Choices", and "Peaks & Valleys". LP, Vinyl record album

Two rare albums from Chicago soul singer Larry Dixon – plus an even more obscure array of rare singles and lost tapes from the same time too! The set begins with Larry's wonderful indie set I Am So In Love – originally issued on vinyl with a glued-on photocopy on the cover image! The album's a self-produced effort from Chicago soul singer Larry Dixon – and a great mix of sweeter soul and a few clubbier numbers – all of which sound surprisingly great, given the homemade look of the package! According to the label, the album was recorded live – most likely live in the studio, but with a freewheeling freshness that gets away from some of the cliches of this time – and which is really in keeping with the honest, personal approach Larry brings to the record. Titles include "What I Am", "Body", "Show Me", "Star Time", "Free Me", "Hey Girl", and "I'm So In Love". Next up is 1984's Can't Price Love – done with a bit more of an 80s soul vibe, but still villed with wonderfully sweet vocals from Larry! Dixon co-wrote some of the tunes and his guitarist Charles Parks takes credit for some of the others – and titles include one gospel song "Wait For Me" (both vocal and instrumental) , "Can't Price Love" (also vocal and instrumental version), "Doing What Comes Naturally", "Dance To The Beat", and "Make Up Your Mind". The second half of the collection is maybe even cooler than the first – a huge array of rare tracks done by Larry Dixon, from the early 70s through the mid 80s – really showing the evolution of both the indie soul sound of the time, and of the sort of artists who never fully got their time in the spotlight! Some tracks are by Dixon, others feature a different singer in the lead – and together, the work really illustrates the choices made by indie singers who were usually working a few years behind mainstream trends, but with a sharpness that really belies their lesser-star status. The music is already great on the rare funk or harmony singles at the start – but gets even more interesting as Larry and musicians cook up a sweet jazzy take on club – one that's almost more cosmic funk at times, with kind of a Cali-Tex vibe, than any sort of the disco on the east coast – especially given the placement of really strong musicians in the group. These 20 tracks are a huge revelation – and titles include "Next Time", "The Only One", "Don't It Make You Dance", "Love In Your Heart", "Feelings So Fine", and "Being With You" by Larry Dixon; "Space Caravan", "Groove It All Night", and "Love We Had (demo)" by Charles Parks III & The High Society Players; and "Ready For Your Touch", "That Kind Of Love", and "Ready For Your Touch (Jerome's dub)" by Chuck-A-Luck. CD

Tenorist Jack Sels may not be one of the best-known names on the European jazz scene of the postwar years – but that's likely because he passed away earlier than most, but not before leaving a strong legacy of jazz on the Belgian scene! Sels is a hell of a player – modern in conception, but possessed with a wonderfully soulful tone – one that goes deeper than some of the other European modernists of the period, and which has as much of a sense of Jack's person in the music as it does his overall vision for the sound. This package might be the first that most of us on this side of the Atlantic have experienced his work – and it's a wonderfully-done set that lives up to the quality of the other Belgian funk and jazz sets on this excellent label – with great song choices and very detailed notes. Sels plays with some of his own groups, but also with Lucky Thompson on tenor, Philip Catherine on guitar and Lou Bennett on organ, and also as part of the Saxorama group. Titles include"Zonky", "Gemini", "Dong", "Tchack Tchak", "La Campimania", "African Dance", "Blue Triptichon", "Rain On The Grand Place", "Spanish Lady", "Ginger", and "Night In Tunisia". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest soundtracks ever from the legendary Ennio Morricone – a real standard-setting record that's one of the top choices we go to again and again to illustrate the genius of his music! The score is a fantastic mix of the two best sides of Morricone's work – the kind of light, lilting melodies that are schooled in bossa, but turned loose on their own devices – and the darker, more atonal passages that would come to play more strongly during the 70s. The light wins over the darkness in most of the record – especially the tracks that feature the sublime wordless vocals of Edda Dell'Orso, which swell and fall with the movement of the strings and keyboards. The whole thing's wonderful – and titles include "Le Foto Proibite", "Nel Vuoto", "Intermezzino Pop", "Amor Come Dolore", and "Quelle Foto". (Note: This item is not for sale online until 7:00am on Sunday, April 23. It is in limited supply – and by nature of the Record Store Day rules it will be offered for sale first to customers who visit the Dusty Groove retail outlet in Chicago the morning of Saturday, April 22. It will not be pre-sold or reserved in any way. However, after 7:00am on April 23 we will offer up whatever we have left for sale online.) LP, Vinyl record album

Tortured souls and troubled hearts – served up here in a dark set of narratives from the classic years of country music! As with previous volumes in this excellent series, the package goes way beyond the big hits, to turn up lots of great songs from the shadowy corners of country – songs about bad deeds and poor choices – handled by a variety of different singers who really keep things interesting! There's way more love of the music here than the sense of kitsch you might expect from the cover – and although you might first find the songs appealing from a gimmicky perspective, we can bet that you'll be getting the message before long. Titles include "Dead Man's Cave" by Bobby Griggs, "Marbone Swamp" by Bill Browning & The Dark Hollow Boys, "Endless Sleep" by Hank Williams Jr, "There Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down" by Bobby Grove, "Dark Day In Dallas" by Tex Ritter, "Bury Me Face Down" by Cowboy Copas, "No Hiding Place" by Sunshine Boys Quartet, "Satan's Jeweled Crown" by The Louvin Brothers, and "East Dallas Dagger" by Durwood Daily. (Note: most of the contents are the same as the LP 777 in the series – but the CD has 32 titles in all!) CD