It's hard to overstate the influence of Max Roach and Clifford Brown on the west coast scene of the 50s – as the two players helped draw out the bop sound of LA that was quickly getting lost in the cool jazz shuffle of the time, and gave it a strength and focus that not only made the group one of the strongest of the time, but which also sparked new life and a hardbop generation on the LA scene! This classic set of live recordings was one of the first great Brown/Roach moments – recorded during 2 different concerts by Gene Norman Presents, and featuring some great tenor work by Teddy Edwards plus some piano by the amazing "sideways" player Carl Perkins! This volume of the concert features the tracks "All God's Children", "Tenderly", "Sunset Eyes", and "Clifford's Axe". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Arranged and conducted by Bingo Miki. LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A groundbreaking debut from The Seeds – one of those albums that seemed to come out of nowhere back in the 60s, then went onto have an undeniable influence on music for decades to come! The music is gritty and garagey right from the start – but also has a sinister focus that really sets the group apart from some of their contemporaries – a knowing way of putting the whole thing over that makes the whole thing way more than just a happy accident! Vocals are by leader Sky Saxon, and the set features some classic ripping guitars from Jan Savage – and also has great use of piano and melodica – in a mode that's a bit like some of the more rock-oriented work by Love, but a bit looser and more garagey. Titles include "No Escape", "Try To Understand", "Girl I Want You", "Lose Your Mind", "Evil Hoodoo", and the searing classic "Pushin Too Hard". Great heavy vinyl pressing, with a full bonus LP of material – titles that include "Out Of The Question (version 1)", "It's A Hard Life (take 3)", "Excuse Excuse (EP mix)", "Evil Hoodoo (unedited take and intercut section)", "Nobody Spoil My Fun (alt overdub)", "Pushin Too Hard (take 1)", "Dreaming Of Your Love (version 1)", and "You Can't Be Trusted (take 3)". LP, Vinyl record album

The Seeds are caught in a web of sound on the cover – and the same thing will happen to the listener, too – as the power of this groundbreaking classic reaches out and grabs you right away! The album's not the group's first, but it's definitely the one where everything comes together amazingly – the sneering vocals of Sky Saxon, that hypnotic blend of thin organ and guitar in the grooves, and even the slight use of bottleneck guitar – an early example of taking the instrument to much more way-out territory! The album's got plenty to please both fans of garage and psych, and also has a power that went on to influence generations to come – which you can definitely hear on titles that include "The Farmer", "Rollin Machine", "Just Let Go", "A Faded Picture", "Tripmaker", and the 14 minute jam of "Up In Her Room". LP, Vinyl record album

Sunny and swinging – an overlooked Capitol Records treasure from George Shearing – and one with a group that really helped set the sound of groovy jazz in the 60s! The players here are all wonderful – Emil Richards on vibes, Toots Thielemans on guitar, and Al McKibbon on bass – plus some guest congas from Armando Peraza – an artist we mostly know from Cal Tjader's Latin records! With Richards' vibes, the record really has a great sound – deep-toned, with plenty of jazz and Latin inflections – very similar to the territory that Tjader was exploring in the late 50s. And let's not forget George, too – as his piano has that nicely-blocked feel that really fits the sublime rhythms of the tunes. Titles include "Mambo Inn", "Jordu", "Confirmation", "Some Other Spring", "Drume Negrita", and "Bernie's Tune". CD

Tracks include "Mean To Me", "Body And Soul", "Can't We Be Friends", "Crazy Rhythm", "It's Only A Paper Moon", and "Limehouse Blues" – 23 tracks total. CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A perfect example of why the Charlie Ventura group was one of the most popular live acts on the west coast scene of it's day! Producer Gene Norman really manages to capture the charm of the group in all its glory – recorded live in a lineup that features Conte Candoli on trumpet, Bennie Green on trombone, and Boots Mussulli on alto – plus some great scatted vocals from the team of Jackie & Roy! The recording's got a natural, flowing quality that really gets at the liveness of the set – and the horns come together beautifully throughout – in that wonderful mix of bop and swing that was the Ventura trademark! Titles include "Boptura", "Flamingo", "Birdland", "Dark Eyes", "High On An Open Mike", and "Lullaby In Rhythm". LP, Vinyl record album

A lesser-known bit of funky fusion from David Matthews – a set that steps off his CTI/Kudu work of the 70s, with an update of that older jazz funk vibe! The group shows Matthews' continuing connection to the best players of this mode at the time – and features keyboards from Richard Tee and Cliff Carter, baritone from Ronnie Cuber, tenor from George Young, and trumpet from Lew Soloff – the last three of whom bring in some acoustic warmth next to the more electric vibe of the set. Titles are all originals by Matthews – and include "La Tigra", "Spanish Night", "Doctor Rocker & Mr Jive", and "Mad Millie". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Lost later genius from Cali guitar great Dick Dale – a set recorded in the 70s, but one that stays very faithful to the spirit of his classic 60s material on Capitol! In fact, the sound here may even be more lean and stripped-down – as the recordings were done at the classic Gold Star Studios, but have little in the way of overdone arrangements, production, or anything else you'd guess from the date – just really raw instrumentals that have Dale still a hell of a talent on the guitar, in a small combo with second guitar, bass, drums, and some mighty nice organ! There's great echo in the production, a bit of sax on one cut – and titles include "Surf Beat", "Misirlou", "The Victor", "Let's Go Trippin", "Get Back The Feelin", and "Peppermint Man". LP, Vinyl record album

Lost later genius from Cali guitar great Dick Dale – a set recorded in the 70s, but one that stays very faithful to the spirit of his classic 60s material on Capitol! In fact, the sound here may even be more lean and stripped-down – as the recordings were done at the classic Gold Star Studios, but have little in the way of overdone arrangements, production, or anything else you'd guess from the date – just really raw instrumentals that have Dale still a hell of a talent on the guitar, in a small combo with second guitar, bass, drums, and some mighty nice organ! There's great echo in the production, a bit of sax on one cut – and titles include "Surf Beat", "Misirlou", "The Victor", "Let's Go Trippin", "Get Back The Feelin", and "Peppermint Man". LP, Vinyl record album

A searing set of west coast psych from a very mysterious group – served up here on a record that was done as a bit of exploitation vinyl at the time, but which has gone on to achieve legendary status over the years! The set's got a raw, ragged energy right from the start – every bit as great as most of the work by labelmates The Seeds – with a similar sense of urgency and intensity that goes way beyond most garagey work of the time! Production is stark and simple, but really makes the best use of the fuzz in the mix – on titles that include "The Trip", "Love Special Delivery", "Talk Talk", "Journey's End", "Blood Beat", "Trip Maker" and "Pictures & Designs" – plus a really wild version of the New Orleans soul classic "Fortune Teller". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice little session of LA jazz – with a lot more fire than usual for this sort of set! Part of the reason for that is because Marty Paich's handling the arrangements – giving them a good swing that keeps all players moving in line. Another reason is that Jack "Mr. Bongo" Costanzo's on bongos – giving the set a nice little kick in the back line. Giuffre and Cooper play twin front tenors, and the group's also got horn work by Harry Klee and Bob Enevoldsen. Titles include "Tenors West", "Ballet Du Bongo", "Con-spirito", "Line For Lyons", and "The Dragon". LP, Vinyl record album

With William Yancy on bass, Harold Jones on drums, Joseph Diorio on guitar, and Willie Pickens on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

Very cool stuff – tracks pulled from a variety of Godzilla soundtracks from the 50s to the 70s! There's a great variety of music on the package, with tracks that run from groovy, to pop vocal, to serious and orchestral. The set features tunes from a number of films – more than we've ever seen – with titles that include "King Kong Vs Godzilla", "Godzilla Vs Gigan", "All Monsters Attack", "Destroy All Monsters", "Son Of Godzilla", "Mothra", "Godzilla Raids Again", and "Terror Of Mechagodzilla". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little album of percussion grooves – hidden under a package that looks like it's going to be a lot more rootsy, but which ends up sounding like some of the hipper conga-heavy sessions on labels like Liberty or GNP from the late 50s. Jackson plays much of the percussion, but there's other players on the set who kick in with some other percussion instruments – and some occasional piano and flute. Tracks include "Mambo Ricci", "Conga", "Jungla", "Road March", "Shango", and "Guaguanco". LP, Vinyl record album

Paul Bley returns to important territory from earlier years – the compositions of Annette Peacock, which often offered up some of his best musical moments during the 70s! The format here is different than the ECM years, though – a bit edgier, in that the piano of Bley and bass of Gary Peacock is mixed with trumpet and flugelhorn lines from Franz Koglmann, who not only really gives the set an expressive depth, but also ties the Bley/Peacock mode to a later strand of European improvisation. In fact, the record's almost a sonic shift in time – representing the newer era of avant recording by Hat Art, and instantly displaying its contrast with the earlier ECM aesthetic that brought Bley to many ears. Peacock's original tune structures provide a lot of familiar signposts along the way – even though the paths taken are quite different! Titles include "Both", "Mister Joy", "Touching", "Miracles", "Albert's Love Theme", "Cartoon", "Annette", and "Kid Dynamite". CD

Paul Bley returns to important territory from earlier years – the compositions of Annette Peacock, which often offered up some of his best musical moments during the 70s! The format here is different than the ECM years, though – a bit edgier, in that the piano of Bley and bass of Gary Peacock is mixed with trumpet and flugelhorn lines from Franz Koglmann, who not only really gives the set an expressive depth, but also ties the Bley/Peacock mode to a later strand of European improvisation. In fact, the record's almost a sonic shift in time – representing the newer era of avant recording by Hat Art, and instantly displaying its contrast with the earlier ECM aesthetic that brought Bley to many ears. Peacock's original tune structures provide a lot of familiar signposts along the way – even though the paths taken are quite different! Titles include "Both", "Mister Joy", "Touching", "Miracles", "Albert's Love Theme", "Cartoon", "Annette", and "Kid Dynamite". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album