Nice mid 80s UK pop soul from Five Star – sweet family act that's kind of in the mode that's a bit of an unofficial British answer to the cheery family pop soul vibe of groups like DeBarge and New Edition at the time – and a sweet one! Lean, lightly thumping synth soul backdrops and nice vocals from the group on some very catchy songs! Titles include "Love Take Over", "All Fall Down", "Let Me Be The One", "System Addict", "Hide And Seek", "RSVP", "Crazy", "Winning" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Classic crossover soul from Five Star – one of the best of their generation for this sort of groove – and a UK group who also pick up plenty of tips from the best American acts of the time! This mid 80s set was partly produced in LA by Dennis Lambert, and partly produced back home by the group – who have more than enough ear to get things right in the studio, and ensure that the quality level of the set stays high throughout. Most numbers are filled with catchy hooks that are perfect for the youthful vocals of the group – and titles include "Somewhere Somebody", "Whenever You're Ready", "Strong As Steel", "Read Between The Lines", "Made Out Of Love", "Ain't Whatcha Do", and "Knock Twice". CD

Sweet poppy soul from Five Star – moving strongly here on a set that's got lots of early 90s new jack elements – including a fair bit of beats that really work well with the group's trading of male and female vocals! Things are plenty catchy throughout – not the deepest soul you might ever listen to, but the kind of work that definitely shines brighter than most in the mainstream R&B world at the time. Titles include "Come To Me", "Shine", "Love Can't Wait", "Right Over", "The Start Of Forever", "Sentimental", "Save A Place", and "The Love You Bring To Me". CD

The bright-eyed, good natured pop soul of UK brothers & sisters group Five Star matures nicely on Silk & Steel – a set that's grooving with more grown up vibes than the first one, but still carrying on the sound for the most part. Nice, poppy synth soul and sweet lead and group backing vocals, plus a slow jam or 2. Titles include "Can't Wait Another Minute", "Find The Time", "Rain Or Shine", "If I Say Yes", "The Slightest Touch", "Don't You Know I Love It?" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

The "J Masters" here are all Japanese jazz masters – particularly some players from the 70s who we really appreciate hearing from again! The group's an all-star assemblage, working in a nicely loose, live setting – without any one ego taking the lead, and instead this spontaneous flowering of energy between all the players. Musicians include Kosuke Mine on tenor, Shigeharu Mukai on trombone, Tomonao Hara on trumpet, Fumio Karashima on piano, Yoshio Suzuki on bass, and Hiroshi Murakami on drums – and titles include nicely swinging takes on "Recado Bossa Nova", "Moment's Notice", "Five Spot After Dark", "Norwegian Wood", and "Round Midnight". CD

Mazzy Star's second album and first for Capitol, one of those rare, wonderful moments in the early 90s when a band that had been bubbling just under the popular radar hooked up with a major label and managed to hit both a popular and creative peak! This one really hasn't aged a day since it came out. The songwriting pair of guitarist David Roback and Hope Sandoval – the former transcending pop psych influences as far back as the early 80s in The Rain Parade, the latter with one of the most hauntingly beautiful voices in rock at the time – put together their best, moodiest effort. Includes the breakout hit "Fade Into You", a cool cover of Arthur Lee & Love's then recent "Five String Serenade", "Blue Light", "She's My Baby", "Wasted", "Into Dust", "So Tonight That I Might See", "Mary Of Silence", "Unreflected" and "Bells Ring". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing 2-in-1 CD – filled with sublime work from the mighty Art Farmer! First up is Brass Shout – a great little album by this wonderful trumpeter – and one that we passed up for years because we were afraid of the words "brass" and "shout" in the title! If you're a Farmer fan, though, don't worry about this being some sort of snoozy "bold n brassy" session – because it's a much more subtle record, and features some excellent lead solos by Farmer, set amidst a larger group arranged wonderfully by Benny Golson! Golson brings a great sense of balance to the album – mixing some larger horn passages with soulfully snapping rhythms, all at a level that still allows plenty of space for Farmer to solo sweetly on trumpet. Other players on the record include Lee Morgan on trumpet and Curtis Fuller on trombone, Percy Heath on bass, and either Philly Joe Jones or Elvin Jones on drums – and titles include "Minor Vamp", "Nica's Dream", "Stella By Starlight", "Moanin", "April In Paris", and "Five Spot After Dark". Aztec Suite is a rare Latin outing from trumpeter Art Farmer – one that has him working with the mighty Cuban arranger Chico O'Farrill! The grooves here are hardly "Aztec", as Chico brings a hip postwar vibe to the session – a blend of American jazz and Latin rhythms that's totally great, and played by an all-star array of players conducted by Al Cohn! Side one of the record features the extended "Aztec Suite" – an ambitious number that begins with modern moments that are somewhere in a space between Stan Kenton and Ralph Burns' experiments of this nature, but which always has Farmer's trumpet as the center focus. Side two features tracks that are a bit more conventional Latin jazz – still played by the bigger group, but with an even stronger sense of swing! Titles include "Aztec Suite", "Heat Wave", "Drume Negrita", "Alone Together", "Woody N You", and "Delirio". CD

One of the highest-concept of all 70s Kinks album – a dark exploration of fame and the price of success, done as a mini-rock opera starring Norman & The Starmaker! As with some of these sets, the best tunes here are those that are the most subtle and less dramatic – and which revisit the more everyday themes of the group's Village Green years. Other tracks are a bit more showy and gimmicky, in a way that almost makes you feel silly for caring about the subject matter – even though Ray Davies's vision of the issues at hand is still as biting as ever. A few standout tracks move into straighter rocking territory, but without the kitsch of some of the other "oldies" styled numbers – and titles include "Holiday Romance", "Everybody's A Star", "Rush Hour Blues", "Nine To Five", "When Work Is Over", "Ducks On The Wall", "You Can't Stop The Music", and "Face In The Crowd". LP, Vinyl record album

A really great collection – five full albums from keyboard giant Patrice Rushen, plus bonus tracks too! First up is Patrice – her first album for Elektra, and a stunning blend of funky jazz and soul! The record really has Patrice stepping out from her earlier years at Prestige – working in some surprisingly great vocals next to tight lines on Fender Rhodes, synth, and clavinet, handled with a smooth and soulful quality that's wonderful all the way through – a blend of soul and jazz that few other players could do this well – no matter how many others tried to copy her style over the years! Rhythms are as hard and heavy as on the Prestige years, and the keyboards have a great sort of focus too – just the right mix of jazz to offset the vocals – which themselves are a wonderful discovery. The whole album's a gem – and tracks include the great funky classic "Hang It Up", plus "Changes (In Your Life)", "When I Found You", "Play", "Didn't You Know?", and "Music Of The Earth". Pizzazz is one of the records that not only helped break her out of the jazz funk ghetto, and right into the mainstream – but a set that also had a pretty profound influence on the progression of soul in the early 80s! Rushen sings as well as plays keyboards – and really pushes the use of jazzy elements that would take R&B to the next level – almost inventing the 80s groove sound in the process! The whole thing's a totally sweet mix of funk and soul, tightened up to get everything in the door at the same time – and titles include "Givin It Up Is Givin Up", "Call On Me", "Haven't You Heard", and "Let The Music Take Me". Posh is an all-out, all-access affair – a great way for anyone to get into the grooves of the mighty Patrice Rushen! Patrice is at the height of her powers here – equally magic on keyboards and vocals, and coming up with groove after groove in a sublime blend of 70s jazz funk and Minnie Riperton-esque soul! The whole album's a winner – real magic that never gets old, and the kind of LP that makes you understand why you'll find Patrice's records in just about any soul collection from the time! Tracks include "I Need Your Love", "Time Will Tell", "The Dream", "Never Gonna Give You Up", and "Don't Blame Me". Straight From The Heart is one of those albums that completely cemented her standing in the world of jazz, funk, and soul – and a wonderful summation of everything she'd done in the years before! The young Patrice was already a breakout keyboardist on the west coast scene of the mid 70s – turning out great work on her own, and adding her talents to plenty of others – but here, she emerges as a soaring soul star in her own right – a talent who's really worked her way up, with a quality level that's head and shoulders above most of her peers! Rushen produced the set with Charles Mims, and there's a righteous blend of jazz and soul that's at the level of Minnie Riperton, so that even the catchiest cuts come off with a sense of sophistication and warmth that's so different than so much other 80s soul and fusion. Titles include the classic "Forget Me Nots", plus "Number One", "I Was Tired Of Being Alone", "Where There Is Love", "Breakout", "If Only", and "Remind Me". The album Now is a masterpiece of 80s groove with lots of jazzy touches! The keyboard sound has evolved a bit here – compressed with more electronic percussion than on Patrice's earlier records, but still done with a degree of soul that sets it apart from work by most of her contemporaries – and the music has this warm flow that really sets Rushen apart from the rest – a sublime mix of soul, funk, and fusion that holds together perfectly throughout! Titles include "Gotta Find It", "Gone With The Night", "My Love's Not Going Anywhere", "High In Me", "To Each His Own", "Heartache Heartbreak", and "Feels So Real". 5CD set features bonus tracks from original 12" singles – and other remixes too! CD

Hard-swingin tracks from Ernie Wilkins – one of the most soulful arrangers of his time, working here in a wonderful all-star session from the 50s! The album's definitely got the "top brass" promised in the title – a lineup that features Donald Byrd, Ray Copeland, Idrees Sulieman, and Joe Wilder on trumpets – all working at a level that allows plenty of space for well-blown solos, but tied up in tighter ensemble formation overall – all with that Wilkins sense of swing that really set Ernie apart at the time. Rhythm is from a trip that includes Hank Jones on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Kelly Clarke on drums – and titles include "58 Market Street", "Trick Or Treat", "Speedway", "Dot's What", "Top Brass", "Imagination", and "Willow Weep For Me". Also features the album Trumpets All Out – an all-trumpet affair, one that features 5 different players on the instrument – Art Farmer, Emmet Berry, Charlie Shavers, Ernie Royal, and Harold Baker – supported by spare rhythm from the trio of Don Abney on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Bobby Donaldson on drums. There's a definite swing-based approach here – different than usual for some of Farmer's outings of the time – but the differences between the players are nicely pronounced, and the amazing thing about the album is how it manages to pack so much solo energy in such a relatively small space, in a way that still lets you hear the different voices clearly. Titles include "She's Just My Size", "Five Cats Swingin", "Blues In 6/4", "Trumpets All Out", and "Low Life". LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks include "Baby I'm For Real" by the Originals, "Does Your Mama Know About Me" by Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers, "Darling Baby" by the Elgins, "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted" & "Walk Away From Love" by Jimmy Ruffin, "Helpless" by Kim Weston, "Get Ready" by Rare Earth, "You've Made Me So Very Happy" by Brenda Holloway, "Twenty Five Miles" by Edwin Star, "Love's Gone Bad" by Chris Clark, "I'll Always Love You" by the Spinners, and "I've Got A Feeling" by Barbara Randolph. CD

An incredible collection of records – a series of albums that forever changed the sound of Latin music around the world! These five sets were all cooked up in the changing Cuban scene at the start of the 60s – where musicians were getting looser and freer, with a sound that was quite different than the tighter big bands of a few years before – strongly influenced by changes in American jazz, including the jam session mode that was big on record during the 50s! In a way, these sides are an answer to that – as they feature all-star musicians coming together on long, more spontaneous tracks – often in smaller combos with heavy influence on rhythm, and lots of work from the key soloists on the dates. Each record has a different leader, but often some of the same musicians – and there's some especially great work on trumpet and tenor by other members of the group – at a level that went on to influence the small combo sound of artists like Joe Cuba, the grooves of the Latin Soul/boogaloo scene, and even the all-star American groups like the Alegre All Stars and Fania All stars in years to come. Records 1 and 2 feature leadership by Julio Gutierrez, record 3 is led by Nino Rivera, record 4 (the most famous) is led by bassist Cachao, and record 5 is led by flautist Fajardo. Great box set – all CDs in small LP-styled sleeves with original art – alongside a 96 page booklet of notes and photos! CD

Given Hank Crawford's soulful legacy on the alto sax – one that already made him a star in Ray Charles group by the time of this LP – it would be hard to add More Soul to his bag – but that's what he's going for here, and we've gotta say that it works pretty darn well! The session's a small group one – with Hank's alto alongside tenor by David Newman, trumpet by Phillip Guilbeau, and baritone sax by Leroy "Hog" Cooper – and in addition to tenor, Hank also plays some piano on the set as well. The tunes have an easygoing soul jazz groove that makes the record feel more like a Prestige jazz session than an Atlantic one – and there's a nice variety to the record, which helps it get past some of the hoke on Hank's other sets from the time. Titles include "Boo's Tune", "Four Five Six", "The Story", "Sister Sadie", and "Dat Dere". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little double-length live set – one that not only features some searing material from the Isley Brothers at their funky best, but also work from some very hip related groups too – all coming together in a real all-star package! The Isleys sing some killer versions of their funky 45s – including "I Turned You On", "It's Your Thing", and "I Know Who You Been Socking It To" – and they then turn out a seven minute romp of their classic "Shout". The set then moves on to a full side of work from the Edwin Hawkins Singers – who deliver an eight minute version of "Oh Happy Day", and a seven minute take on "Joy Joy" – then moves into a full side of work by The Brooklyn Bridge, who perform a whole set of Curtis Mayfield tracks as a medley. The last side features a side each of work from other groups – as The Five Stairsteps deliver their great version of the Curtis Mayfield tune "Don't Change Your Love" – alongside "Love Is What You Make It" by The Sweet Cherries, and "Somebody's Been Messin" by Judy White – both of which were penned by The Isley Brothers. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the highest-concept of all 70s Kinks album – a dark exploration of fame and the price of success, done as a mini-rock opera starring Norman & The Starmaker! As with some of these sets, the best tunes here are those that are the most subtle and less dramatic – and which revisit the more everyday themes of the group's Village Green years. Other tracks are a bit more showy and gimmicky, in a way that almost makes you feel silly for caring about the subject matter – even though Ray Davies's vision of the issues at hand is still as biting as ever. A few standout tracks move into straighter rocking territory, but without the kitsch of some of the other "oldies" styled numbers – and titles include "Holiday Romance", "Everybody's A Star", "Rush Hour Blues", "Nine To Five", "When Work Is Over", "Ducks On The Wall", "You Can't Stop The Music", and "Face In The Crowd". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer album by this legendary jazz supergroup – a Japanese-only set that we'd rank right up there with some of Herbie Hancock's Japanese albums from the same time! The group features Herbie on piano, Wayne Shorter on tenor, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums – all working here in an acoustic mode, but one that's definitely informed by some of the shapes, tones, and styles of the players' electric explorations of the 70s. The album's only got 4 tracks, and they're all nice and long – beautiful little tunes that are filled with soul and feeling – all composed by different members of the group. Titles include "Skagly", "Finger Painting", "Mutants On The Beach", and "Circe". LP, Vinyl record album

A lost funky soul LP by Starfire, billed here as "The Baddest Five Stars in the Galaxy", and hailing from Richmond, VA! The group's got a sound that's a bit like Earth Wind & Fire in the mid 70s – one that mixes up funk and ballads nicely – but which also has some cool spacey production touches that give some of the best cuts a clubbier sound – one that almost shows a few hints of Go Go at times! This set mostly focuses on the group's more uptempo styles – and side one of the record features initial versions of the clubby tracks "Dancing & Singing", "Super Sensuous Woman", and "Get Up Everybody" – while side two features the great ballad "Loneliness Has Got Me Down", plus the upbeat tracks "Out Of The Ghetto", "Don't Come Back", and "Fussin". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Arguably one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time – and the key flowering of the partnership between David Bowie and Mick Ronson! The guitars here are heavy – so much so that the record's always crossed over big with crowds who are always suspicious of Bowie's artier work of the 70s – and represented a crucial moment when his groundbreaking music also found a large mainstream audience as well. And despite the fact that Ziggy's an androgynous space rocker with a spurious pedigree, the manufactured posturing of the album's come to be taken quite literally over the years – a vivid text of alienation, expression, and redemption – served up beautifully over a host of classic tracks that include "Five Years", "Soul Love", "Moonage Daydream", "Suffragette City", and "Ziggy Stardust" – all further proof of Bowie's 70s ability to slide in wherever he wanted with ease! LP, Vinyl record album

Arguably one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time – and the key flowering of the partnership between David Bowie and Mick Ronson! The guitars here are heavy – so much so that the record's always crossed over big with crowds who are always suspicious of Bowie's artier work of the 70s – and represented a crucial moment when his groundbreaking music also found a large mainstream audience as well. And despite the fact that Ziggy's an androgynous space rocker with a spurious pedigree, the manufactured posturing of the album's come to be taken quite literally over the years – a vivid text of alienation, expression, and redemption – served up beautifully over a host of classic tracks that include "Five Years", "Soul Love", "Moonage Daydream", "Suffragette City", and "Ziggy Stardust" – all further proof of Bowie's 70s ability to slide in wherever he wanted with ease! LP, Vinyl record album

A huge amount of material – 131 tracks in all, almost everything this groundbreaking pioneer recorded with his small combo at the start of his career! CD

An incredible version of this rock and roll classic – featuring a book-style cover that contains the full original Ziggy Stardust album, plus a bonus CD's worth of demos, alternate takes, and other rare tunes! Arguably one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time – and the key flowering of the partnership between David Bowie and Mick Ronson! The guitars here are heavy – so much so that the record's always crossed over big with crowds who are always suspicious of Bowie's artier work of the 70s – and represented a crucial moment when his groundbreaking music also found a large mainstream audience as well. And despite the fact that Ziggy's an androgynous space rocker with a spurious pedigree, the manufactured posturing of the album's come to be taken quite literally over the years – a vivid text of alienation, expression, and redemption – served up beautifully over a host of classic tracks that include "Five Years", "Soul Love", "Moonage Daydream", "Suffragette City", and "Ziggy Stardust" – all further proof of Bowie's 70s ability to slide in wherever he wanted with ease! CD

Arguably one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time – and the key flowering of the partnership between David Bowie and Mick Ronson! The guitars here are heavy – so much so that the record's always crossed over big with crowds who are always suspicious of Bowie's artier work of the 70s – and represented a crucial moment when his groundbreaking music also found a large mainstream audience as well. And despite the fact that Ziggy's an androgynous space rocker with a spurious pedigree, the manufactured posturing of the album's come to be taken quite literally over the years – a vivid text of alienation, expression, and redemption – served up beautifully over a host of classic tracks that include "Five Years", "Soul Love", "Moonage Daydream", "Suffragette City", and "Ziggy Stardust" – all further proof of Bowie's 70s ability to slide in wherever he wanted with ease! LP, Vinyl record album

Arguably one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time – and the key flowering of the partnership between David Bowie and Mick Ronson! The guitars here are heavy – so much so that the record's always crossed over big with crowds who are always suspicious of Bowie's artier work of the 70s – and represented a crucial moment when his groundbreaking music also found a large mainstream audience as well. And despite the fact that Ziggy's an androgynous space rocker with a spurious pedigree, the manufactured posturing of the album's come to be taken quite literally over the years – a vivid text of alienation, expression, and redemption – served up beautifully over a host of classic tracks that include "Five Years", "Soul Love", "Moonage Daydream", "Suffragette City", and "Ziggy Stardust" – all further proof of Bowie's 70s ability to slide in wherever he wanted with ease! CD

An instant classic from Five Corners Quintet – acoustic jazz played with a dancefloor groove, and the perfect summation of a brilliant run of initial singles! The FCQ return jazz to its grooviest roots – played live, without processing or electronics, and able to hit a snapping groove that takes us back to the days when Blue Note and Prestige got plenty of play on the radio and jukebox! Most tracks roll along in a modal or waltzing mode that shares a lot with the best Nicola Conte projects of recent years – but the group have also got a real feel for their own tonal colors, effortlessly shading in each space and corner of the tunes with a sublime blend of ringing vibes, dancing piano, and beautifully-toned horn passages. Mark Murphy guests on vocals on the tracks "This Could Be The Start Of Something", "Before We Say Goodbye", and "Jamming" – and Okou sings on "Blue Cycles" and "Case Study" – leaving the remaining instrumentals "Trading Eights", "Interlope", "Straight Up", "Three Corners", "Lighthouse", and "Unsquare Bossa". US CD features the bonus tracks "Taxi Driver". CD

Stringbean may look a bit silly on the cover, but he's a dead serious banjo player – one of the greats of his generation, and an artist who's sometimes overlooked on his instrument, because of a penchant for humor in his live performances! And although some of the songs here have a bit of wit at the start, once things get going, Stringbean's in that great mix of old time styles that the Starday Records label was hitting hard in the 60s – one of the few strong outlets for more country-flavored work on banjo, at a time when so many of the folk revival kids wanted things steered a bit more their way! Needless to say, you probably never would have caught Stringbean headlining a club in the Village – but that difference is what makes a record like this so great to discover – as you'll hear on titles that include "Birdie", "Don't Bob Your Hair Girls", "Herdin Cattle", "Keep My Skillet Good & Greasy", "Give Me Back My Five Dollars", and "Wake Up Little Betty". CD

Jazzy magic from the current Japanese underground – a hip group bubbling under, but with the same magic energy Jazztronik! Like Jazztronik, J's Bee blends together solid jazz roots and modern production – searching out some richly organic grooves that start slowly, build with spare keyboards and rhythms, and then take off to the skies with a really righteous sound. There's a bit of vocals on the set, but like Jazztronik, the group's equally well suited to working in an instrumental mode too. Tracks include "Eclipse", "Glow", "Naked", "Floating", "DB (Deep Blue)", and "Desert Skyline (Version 2)". CD

Three rare albums from this overlooked UK singer/songwriter – presented here with lots of bonus tracks too! First up is Message To A Harlequin – heady pop from Tim Hollier, who's working with some especially nice arrangements from John Cameron – all in an orchestral pop mode that almost gives the record a Moody Blues sense of space and ambition! Hollier's vocals are sometimes folky, but have a trilling quality that reminds us a bit of Tom Rapp – a sound that's somewhat thin, but supported nicely here by Cameron on a batch of original tunes penned in a very painterly mode! Titles include the great "Full Fathoms Five", plus "Message To A Harlequin", "Streets Of Gold", "Hanne", "Jimmy", "In Silence", and "And Where Were You That Morning Mr Carroll". Next up is the self-titled Tim Hollier album – a record that seems to have its roots in folk, but which pushes forward with so much more going on – maybe a bit like some of the more unique hybrids on Island Records at the time! Tim's got a way of singing that certainly seems inspired by folk – distinct phrasing, a gentle trill, and strong use of his own work on acoustic guitar next to the lyrics – but there's also larger arrangements on the set, and some heavier, headier moments too – all of which give the whole thing the same sort of moody vibe that earlier artists like Tim Buckley were starting to unlock. There's an almost eerie sound to the album at times – and titles include "Man Of Gentle Sunlight", "Seagull's Song", "And It's Happening To Her", "Love Song", "Maybe You Will Stay", and "Would I Sing". Last up is the Skysail album – a set that seems to have Hollier really maturing his style, and getting very strongly past his roots – with an approach that really leans on his strong vocal ability, set to larger arrangements by John Cameron and Ed Coleman. Titles include "Time Has A Way Of Losing You", "Tenderly Stooping Low", "Sunshine Moonshine", "Through The Darkness", "While London's Days Increase", "Tomorrow Is The First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life", and "Beauty Of The Gardens". CD features bonus tracks – 10 more live tracks from BBC sessions and other sources – plus the single tracks "The Circle Is Small" and "In A Corner Of My Life/Time Stood Still". CD

Oh No once again delivers on the conceptual front – an allstar hip hop project built on Dolemite samples – produced and arranged by Oh No and featuring a stellar guest roster with Erick Sermon, MF Doom, Evidence, Alchemist, Big Pooh, Frank Nitt, Roc C, Guilty Simpson, Jose James, Phife Dawg and more! Rudy Ray Moore and his Dolemite are a vital part of underground hip hop' DNA, so to Oh No's credit, he doesn't go for most obvious fodder or weigh it all too heavily with movie dialogue or the most memorable soundtrack bits. Like the best hip hop ever made, Oh No crafts personal, unique and original music out of samples, and this record belongs to him and his guests! Includes "Real Serious" with Evidence & Alchemist, "The Guns" feat Guilty Simpson & MED, "Time" feat Roc C & Chino XL, "Hallucinations" feat Prozack Turner, "Ohnomite Jazz", "Touch It" feat Frank Nitt, "Dues N Donts" feat Jose James & Phife Dawg, "Runnin The Show" feat Erick Sermon. CD features 2 bonus tracks: "Life Games" feat LMNO and "Overload" feat Wildchild. CD

The short but brilliant career of The Runaways, served up here in a really great box set – one that features all four of their studio albums (including one not released in the US at the time), and their more obscure live album from Japan! Together, the five records tell the tale of a group who forever transformed the sound of female rock and roll – a searing hard rock outfit who were almost punk, and certainly did a great job of playing with emotions and expectations, while also having a hell of a lot of fun in the process! And sure, Joan Jett went on to become a superstar in the following decade, but here alongside the young Cherie Currie and Lita Ford, she's part of a well-formed, super-tight group who brought a much harder edge to female rock than anyone might have expected in the generation of girl groups and singer/songwriters! The box set features the full albums The Runaways, Queens Of Noise, Live In Japan, Waitin For The Night, and And Now The Runaways – all with original cover art, and a nice booklet of notes. CD

Four albums from this wonderful group – all brought together in a single set! First up is the self-titled Spanky & Our Gang – the first, and perhaps the most conventional album by the group, but still pretty darn insane! Spanky & Our Gang are a strange mix of 60s styles – with bits of We Five, bits of Harpers Bizarre, bits of The Association – but a totally strange and totally fun approach to pop that's very much their own. Cuts on the album are a mix of originals and covers – and highlights include the incredible "5 Definitions Of Love" by Bob Dorough, "Distance" by Joe Renzetti, "Commercial" by the band, and the track "It Ain't Necessarily Bird Avenue". Great groovy stuff – and with arrangements by Renzetti, Dorough, and Stuart Scharf. Like To Get To Know You is a tiny little pop masterpiece was produced and arranged by Stuart Scharf and the great Bob Dorough, and is filled with one of the grooviest approaches to pop we've heard in ages. The album includes the sublime hit "Like To Get To Know You", set in a very different LP setting – plus great versions of "Suzanne" and "Everybody's Talkin", and the cuts "Stardust", "The Swingin Gate", and "My Bill". Anything You Choose is the third movement in the fantastic pop symphony that is Spanky & Our Gang! The record's perhaps their oddest to date – and mixes groovy vocal stylings with some fairly advanced production approaches that work perfectly with the incredible songs written by Stuart Scharf and Bob Dorough. The voices swirl about in a mad rush – interweaving lines of melody and poetry, punctuated by strange sounds, spacey airy instrumentation, and wonderful little rhythms. Titles include "Anything You Choose", "1-3-5-8", "Without Rhyme Or Reason", "Give A Damn", and "Nowhere To Go". Live is an unusual album from this groovy group – especially given that most of their famous work was in the studio – and done with really inventive arrangements and production! Yet those qualities still come through here, even in a live setting – as the record's got this stripped-down approach that shows just how much of the group's own inventive vocal interplay and harmonies were part of their fantastically groovy style! Titles include "Wasn't It You", "Dirty Old Man", "The Klan", "Nagasaki", "Amelia Earhart's Last Flight", and "That's What You Get For Lovin Me". CD

Rare cuts from The Spinners, Harvey, Johnny & Jackey, Shorty Long, Lorri Rudolph, Eddie Burns, The Merced Blue Notes, The Ervin Sisters, The Jordan Harmonizers, Challengers, Five Quails, Davenport Sisters, Jr. Walker All Stars, and Loe & Joe – 22 tracks in all! CD

Sweet electro grooves from the South African scene of the 80s – funky, soulful sides that are quite different than some of the nation's sounds that were getting bigger global play at the time! The 80s was a time of great worldwide awareness of the political struggles of South Africa and its people – and much of the musical exports were focused on righteous sounds that reflected that moment. Yet back at home, some of the biggest cuts were more playful and party-oriented – maybe provided as a respite from the challenges of society – as very clubby modes were an antidote to the hardship of life in New York. The grooves here are quite far from the sorts that Paul Simon and his compatriots were pushing up north – and much of this music is a fusion of 80s electro soul with more regional elements and maybe a bit of influence from the Caribbean – a bit like the clubby cross-cultural sounds from Paris at the start of the decade, but maybe a bit more gritty and beat-heavy overall. This set's one of the first to really dig deep into this generation for a global audience, and it's presented with the usual sense of care and history we've come to expect from Soundway Records – in a set of 15 tracks that include "My Brother" by The Survivals, "Mind Games" by Stimela, "Wayawaya" by Zoom, "Heartbeat" by Monwa & Sun, "Selallane" by Black Five, "Picnicing" by Starlight, "Africa" by Sabela, "Arrow Dub" by Zasha, "Listen To Me" by General Peter Maringa, and "She's Impossible" by Condry Ziqubu. CD

An amazing look at a sometimes-overlooked scene in the world of gospel music – the upsurge of strong local talent on the stages and churches of Louisville, Kentucky – a key border city between the north and the south, especially during the Civil Rights years in which much of this music was recorded! Louisville has always been a really compelling crossroads – and while most folks think of punk bands and post-rock when thinking of the city, the scene actually has a much larger legacy in African American styles – including soul, funk, and jazz – which all seem to echo in the gospel work within! The set is meticulously done – with a superb selection of rare 45s that we'd never have heard otherwise, all dripping with the kind of deep soul vocals and sharp instrumentation you might expect. Titles include "Let Me Lean On You" by The Religious Five Quartet, "Been Dipped In Water" by The Guiding Stars, "He's All Right" by Green Street Baptist Church Youth Choir, "Thank You Jesus" by Indiana Wonders, "I Feel Like Pressing My Way" by Joe Thomas, "He Knows It All" by Rev Thomas N Pride, "Calvary" by Newburg Radio Chorus, "My Time Ain't Long" by God's Girls, "We Are Trying" by The Golden Crowns, and "He Made A Way For Me" by The Ecclesiastics. 2LP version features 26 tracks in all – in a heavy cover with a great set of notes! LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing look at a sometimes-overlooked scene in the world of gospel music – the upsurge of strong local talent on the stages and churches of Louisville, Kentucky – a key border city between the north and the south, especially during the Civil Rights years in which much of this music was recorded! Louisville has always been a really compelling crossroads – and while most folks think of punk bands and post-rock when thinking of the city, the scene actually has a much larger legacy in African American styles – including soul, funk, and jazz – which all seem to echo in the gospel work within! The set is meticulously done – with a superb selection of rare 45s that we'd never have heard otherwise, all dripping with the kind of deep soul vocals and sharp instrumentation you might expect. Titles include "Let Me Lean On You" by The Religious Five Quartet, "Been Dipped In Water" by The Guiding Stars, "He's All Right" by Green Street Baptist Church Youth Choir, "Thank You Jesus" by Indiana Wonders, "I Feel Like Pressing My Way" by Joe Thomas, "He Knows It All" by Rev Thomas N Pride, "Calvary" by Newburg Radio Chorus, "My Time Ain't Long" by God's Girls, "We Are Trying" by The Golden Crowns, and "He Made A Way For Me" by The Ecclesiastics. 4CD set is amazing – 83 tracks in all, in a heavy book-style package, filled with notes and images! CD