Classic work from one of the grooviest Japanese big bands of the 70s – a great combo who mix lots of great keyboard lines with soaring horn passages – all in a style that's as evocative as the title image and cover! There's a very special feel to the record – a mode that's different than the 70s electric big bands from Europe, like some of the MPS groups – as the approach is often very unified, with a bit less sense of solo voice – yet still filled with lots of personality and humanity along the way. Masaru Imada plays electric piano, Masayuki Nakatomi plays Arp and mini moog, and Himiko Kikuchi plays Fender Rhodes and clavinet – and while the horns solo more than the keyboards, those electric elements really help give the record a very cool sound – with kind of a fluid, watery feel at times. Two tracks feature wordless female vocals – and titles include "Back To The Sea", "Swingin On The Horizon", "When Waves Sing", "Natural Flow", and "Merman's Dance". CD

A very heady set of contemporary psych – music that's as trippy as it is meditative – and which almost feels like some sort of collaboration between Iasos and Spacemen 3! There's vocals on the record, but they're very muted – and most of the focus is on longform guitar lines, mixed with some really nice flute – and occasional bits of sitar, which are a nice surprise, and really help flavor the sound with the flute! Plastic Crimewave is in the group, and the whole thing's got a vibe that's similar to some of his recent project – on an album that features four long songs – "Celestial Omen", "Tragique Mechanique", "Machine D", and "Pendlewitches". LP, Vinyl record album

A very heady set of contemporary psych – music that's as trippy as it is meditative – and which almost feels like some sort of collaboration between Iasos and Spacemen 3! There's vocals on the record, but they're very muted – and most of the focus is on longform guitar lines, mixed with some really nice flute – and occasional bits of sitar, which are a nice surprise, and really help flavor the sound with the flute! Plastic Crimewave is in the group, and the whole thing's got a vibe that's similar to some of his recent project – on an album that features four long songs – "Celestial Omen", "Tragique Mechanique", "Machine D", and "Pendlewitches". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked gem from the Detroit scene of the early 80s – played by a group who came after the generation of Tribe and Strata Records, but who went on to have some really slow-burning influence in their own sort of way! The music definitely has echoes of the loft and spiritual jazz scenes of the 70s – but the quintet also really open things up with some of the more flexible rhythms that were coming out of New York during the same period, and working with a slight touch of more ambitious structures – of the sort you might have heard on overseas labels recording American jazz musicians during the 80s. Reeds are at the core of the set – playec by the trio of Faruq Z Bey on tenor and alto, Anthony Holland on alto and soprano, and David McMurray on tenor, alto, soprano, and flute – given very creative energy by Tani Tabbal on drums, and Jaribu Shahid on both acoustic and electric bass. Titles include "Xy-Moch", "Zycron", "Zenelog Aintro", "Androgeny", "Kins", and "Xy Moch". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Alice Coltrane's most ambitious albums of the early years – recorded with a full set of heavenly orchestrations! The core group features Alice on piano, organ, and harp – alongside Frank Lowe on saxes, Reggie Workman on bass, Leroy Jenkins on violin, and Ben Riley on drums. Added to this combo is a much larger set of strings – swirling around in a rich musical backdrop that gives Alice's work a sense of majesty and power we could have never imagined. This is the album that really showed the world that she was far far more than just the wife of the late great one – a true mystical visionary with a sound that demanded to be heard! Side 2 features a recitation by Alice's spiritual mentor, Swami Satchdiananda – and the album features a wonderful version of "My Favorite Things", done with both organ and harp, plus the tracks "Love Supreme", "Galaxy In Turiya", and "Galaxy In Satchidandana". CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of the most ambitious albums we've ever seen from Carlos Franzetti – a set that mixes his own keyboard-driven fusion with some surprising larger arrangements! Carlos starts the set out slow – singing a haunting version of the title track – then really takes off with some fully frenetic work on keyboards – including Fender Rhodes, arp, prophet, and other keys – mixed in with a bit of acoustic guitar as well. Added to this are some fuller horns and a bit of strings – scored almost with a soundtrack jazz sort of feel, but never in a way that's too smooth, or which doesn't match Franzetti's efforts on the keys. At times, the feel is definitely in the spacey mode hinted by the title – but other moments are somewhat warmer too. Titles include "Pavane", "Mambo Tango", "Galaxy Dust", "Pandora", and "Gravitational Forces". LP, Vinyl record album

(Note: This item is not for sale online until noon on Saturday, June 12. 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 Saturday, June 12. It will not be pre-sold or reserved in any way. However, after noon on June 12 we will offer up whatever we have left for sale online.) LP, Vinyl record album

A split single from War, and lead singer Lonnie Jordan. "Galaxy" is a later funky classic by the group – strutting out with some sweet funky riffing, ensemble vocals, and a powerful groove that's always been a dancefloor pleaser! "Junkie To My Music" has a syncopated Latin feel like War's best tracks, a nice funky complement to the a-side! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Somehow it seems to us that the members of Return To Forever always cut better albums under their own names than for RTF, but these sides are still not without their merit. Like everyone else, we're rethinking our distaste for fusion, and this set finds Chick Corea, Lenny White, Stanley Clarke and Bill Connors going all out from the get go, though our favorite track, "Space Circus" provides a nice breather, with an excellent electric piano intro, and a syncopated funky-ish groove in the main part of the tune that lives up to its name. Also includes the title track, "After The Cosmic Rain", "Captain Senor Mouse", "Theme To The Mothership" and "The Game Maker". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet split LP – one that features both the instrumental score for the film Guardians Of The Galaxy, and the individual songs featured on the Awesome Mix Vol 1 cassette that Chris Pratt listens to throughout the film! The mix is one of the most foregrounded uses of pop we've heard in a film in a long long time – and is even better, given that it's filled with the kind of AM radio gems we were raised on – tunes that include "Hooked On A Feeling" by Blue Swede, "Go All The Way" by Raspberries, "Moonage Daydream" by David Bowie, "Fooled Around & Fell In Love" by Elvin Bishop, "I'm Not In Love" by 10CC, "Cherry Bomb" by The Runaways, "Escape" by Rupert Holmes, "Come & Get Your Love" by Redbone, and "Ooh Child" by The Five Stairsteps – all great tracks served up on the first half of the collection. The second half features the dramatic score by Tyler Bates – nice music, but very different than the pop that reigns in the first half! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A later non-trio session with horns – featuring nice work from Harold Land and Ira Sullivan on tenor, and cornet from Nat Adderley! Titles include "Stella By Starlight", "It's Impossible", "Theme For A Tarzan Movie", and "Red Alert". CD

Titles include "Solar", "Oleo", "But Not For Me", "Love For Sale", and "Never Let Me Go". CD

A bit of a mystery session – clearly recorded in the late 40s, but without as many session details as we might like! Still, the work's great – early Milt Jackson with a nice boppish edge, recording here with Sonny Stitt on alto, Sir Charles Thompson on piano, and Russell Jacquet on trumpet. All other players are unnamed, but tracks are short and have a lot of energy – and the album's worth it for Stitt alone. Titles include "Be Bop Blues", "Red Shoes", "3rd Song", "Fine & Dandy", "Royal Wedding", and "Ratio & Proportion". CD

A masterpiece from trumpeter Josef Leimberg – a set that features guest appearances by Kamasi Washington, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson – yet a record that has an amazing sound that's all its own! Washington's working in a blend of spiritual and electric jazz currents – often in settings that blend strings from Atwood-Ferguson with his own bold solos, and some rising instrumentation that effortlessly blends vocals, reeds, guitar, and keyboards – all in a mode that hearkens back to the majestic sound of the Cadet/Concept years in Chicago, but which has a distinctly 21st Century flavor overall! The music is incredible – righteous, visionary, and full of power – and we hope we'll be hearing plenty more from Leimberg in the future. For now, the album's more than enough to blow our minds – and titles include "Interstellar Universe", "Between Us 2", "The Awakening", "As I Think Of You", "Astral Progressions", "Lonely Fire", and "Celestial Visions". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Art Pepper on alto, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Red Mitchell on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – on titles that include "Surf Ride", "Make A List", "Nature Boy", "Straight Life", and "September Song". LP, Vinyl record album

Art Pepper's first time in Tokyo – the start of a great run of Japanese live dates from the late 70s! This set's a bit different than some of Pepper's other sessions overseas – in that the group's almost a bit more expanded – with Clare Fischer on keyboards on all tracks, plus the vibes of Cal Tjader and guitar of Bob Redfield added on a few others. The presence of both Tjader and Fischer make for a bit more of a Latin/Brazilian vibe than usual – especially towards the end of the set – and it's great to hear Pepper's alto shining nicely in such a setting. Titles include "Manteca", "Manha De Carnaval", "Felicidade", "Cherokee", and "The Spirit Is Here". CD

An excellent album of bluesy soul by Little Johnny Taylor – not to be confused with Johnnie Taylor, who later sang for Stax! This Johnny's got a style that's a bit bluesier, set up here in some nice larger arrangements that make the album feel like some of Bobby Blue Bland's best work for Duke back at the same time. Johnny's voice is incredible – much better than on his later records – and titles include "You're The One", "As Quick As I Can", "She Tried To Understand", "You Gotta Go On", "Part Time Love", and "Stay Sweet". LP, Vinyl record album

Long, open-ended later work from Chet Baker – the kind of album that still had him working out interesting ideas in his music! The group features Harold Danko on piano, Greg Herbert on tenor, Ron Carter on bass, and Mel Lewis on drums – on cuts that include "ESP", "Shifting Down", "Tidal Breeze", and "Once Upon A Summertime". CD

A quartet date with George Cables, David Williams, and Carl Burnett. CD

Plenty of dark matter here – as we might guess on a record that's mixed by Bill Laswell, and which also features the sonic pioneer on bass – joining the trio of Monte Cimino on sound effects, Chris Sneeringer on analog electronics, and Chris Whitley on violin! The whole album feels like a universe of sound, as hinted at by the cover – some dark galaxy where familiar elements come together in new sonic laws of being – handled superbly by Laswell, but with a fresh approach that makes the whole thing a bit different than some of his other projects too. The album features three long tracks – "Black Aether Transmission", "Caravan To The Stars", and "Waiting In The Void". CD

Fantastic Fender Rhodes from Yusuke Hirado – plus a fair bit of other keyboards too – all delivered in a set that mixes 70s space jazz funk with some great contemporary elements, and in a way that's nicely different than Hirado's work in the group Quasimode! The set's got some old school rhythms, but plenty more moments that soar and take off with very contemporary cosmic energy – very strongly in a jazz perspective overall, but with a strong knowledge of all the other musical changes that have taken place on the hipper scenes around the globe over the past 20 years – woven into classic keyboard sounds that take on a whole new shape in the setting! Titles include "The Kicker", "Early Bird", "Sonar", "Blue Sky", "Circle", "Galaxy Highway", and "Heady Dayz". CD

One of the most ambitious albums ever from Rob Mazurek – and a set that really continues the legacy of community building and world healing that's become such an important part of his music! Rob's a player who was great at the start – a hell of a trumpeter, and a great experimentalist with electronics – but in recent years, he's matured to become a real messenger for the farther, future reaches of jazz – with an energy that makes a collaborative project like this come off in a way that might never have occurred in the hands of any other musician! Mazurek is at the head – director, composer, arranger, and instrumentalist too – and the large lineup is filled with heavyweights from the Chicago scene that Rob helped shape over the past few decades – plus others as well – players who include Damon Locks on voice and electronics, Nicole Mitchell on flutes, Tomeka Reid on cello, Joel Ross on vibes, Jaimi Branch on trumpet, Jeff Parker on guitar, Ingebrigit Haker Flate on bass, and Chad Taylor, John Herndon, and Mikel Patrick Avery on a variety of drums and percussion. There's a richness here that tops other Exploding Star Orchestra performances – and more of a focus, too – so that the whole thing comes together as even more than the sum of its mighty parts, as one of the best International Anthem releases to date. Titles include "Galaxy 1000", "Parable Of Inclusion", "Autumn Pleiades", "Minerals Bionic Stereo", "Dimensional Stardust", "Abstract Dark Energy", and "The Careening Prism Within". CD

One of the most ambitious albums ever from Rob Mazurek – and a set that really continues the legacy of community building and world healing that's become such an important part of his music! Rob's a player who was great at the start – a hell of a trumpeter, and a great experimentalist with electronics – but in recent years, he's matured to become a real messenger for the farther, future reaches of jazz – with an energy that makes a collaborative project like this come off in a way that might never have occurred in the hands of any other musician! Mazurek is at the head – director, composer, arranger, and instrumentalist too – and the large lineup is filled with heavyweights from the Chicago scene that Rob helped shape over the past few decades – plus others as well – players who include Damon Locks on voice and electronics, Nicole Mitchell on flutes, Tomeka Reid on cello, Joel Ross on vibes, Jaimi Branch on trumpet, Jeff Parker on guitar, Ingebrigit Haker Flate on bass, and Chad Taylor, John Herndon, and Mikel Patrick Avery on a variety of drums and percussion. There's a richness here that tops other Exploding Star Orchestra performances – and more of a focus, too – so that the whole thing comes together as even more than the sum of its mighty parts, as one of the best International Anthem releases to date. Titles include "Galaxy 1000", "Parable Of Inclusion", "Autumn Pleiades", "Minerals Bionic Stereo", "Dimensional Stardust", "Abstract Dark Energy", and "The Careening Prism Within". LP, Vinyl record album

Quite an obscure little live set from Sun Ra – and that's saying a heck of a lot, given the amount of live material he's got out there! The performance was found on a reel simply titled "Spacemaster Concert", and recorded at an undetermined date in the early 70s – and it's easily one of the starkest, most challenging recordings so far in the Lost Reel series! There's a fair bit of electric keyboards on the set – often played with some noisier tones, and offset with vocals by June Tyson, and instrumentation by John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, and Kwami Hadi. Many numbers are less orchestral than sparer small combo performances – and titles include "Outer Space/Untitled Improvisation", "Exotic Forest", "Shadow World", "Strange Worlds/Untitled Improvisation", "Stardust From Tomorrow", and "Friendly Galaxy/Watusi". CD

Fantastic material from the legendary Sun Ra – groundbreaking solo piano material, which shows a completely different side of his genius away from his work with the Arkestra! The package presents all volumes of Ra's seminal sides from 1966 – including a third volume, which has never been released at all – making for the most comprehensive package to ever document this side of his work in a more intimate manner! There's a sensitivity to these tracks that's really amazing – still moments of freedom that reflect Ra's connection to the avant garde of the time – but also echoes of Art Tatum and other stylists who influenced his initial vision in the early days – interwoven with his own sense of cosmic creation, in ways that are similar to his later solo projects – but which didn't often show up in other Saturn material of the time. Some tracks are altered standards, but many others are really great originals – and titles include the unreleased "Soundscapes", "The Eternal Tomorrow", "The Changing Wind", "World Island Festival", "Today Is Not Yesterday", "How Am I To Know", and "Yesterdays" – plus "Caloundronius", "Perspective Prismis Of Is", "Solar Boats", "The Ninth Eye", "Space Towers", "Cognition", "The Galaxy Way", "The Alter Destiny", and "Blue Differentials". CD

Fantastic material from the legendary Sun Ra – groundbreaking solo piano material, which shows a completely different side of his genius away from his work with the Arkestra! The package presents all volumes of Ra's seminal sides from 1966 – including a third volume, which has never been released at all – making for the most comprehensive package to ever document this side of his work in a more intimate manner! There's a sensitivity to these tracks that's really amazing – still moments of freedom that reflect Ra's connection to the avant garde of the time – but also echoes of Art Tatum and other stylists who influenced his initial vision in the early days – interwoven with his own sense of cosmic creation, in ways that are similar to his later solo projects – but which didn't often show up in other Saturn material of the time. Some tracks are altered standards, but many others are really great originals – and titles include the unreleased "Soundscapes", "The Eternal Tomorrow", "The Changing Wind", "World Island Festival", "Today Is Not Yesterday", "How Am I To Know", and "Yesterdays" – plus "Caloundronius", "Perspective Prismis Of Is", "Solar Boats", "The Ninth Eye", "Space Towers", "Cognition", "The Galaxy Way", "The Alter Destiny", and "Blue Differentials". LP, Vinyl record album

Very early electronic sound library material from Eric Siday – so much so, that all these tracks were originally issued as 78rpm singles – at a time before the sound library scene moved into using full LPs! A number of cuts here were used as early passages on the first Doctor Who episodes – and others follow nicely in a similar vein – with very bold, powerful explorations of the earliest elements of analogue electronics – and an especially strong ear for the darker side of the spectrum! Most numbers here are never too noisy – not as much so as avant compositional work of the time – but they hang on the edge in a really great way, creating a lot of stark spacey elements with just a few deft touches. Titles include "Comet", "Ultimate", "Moonscape", "Galaxy", "Suspended Animation", "The Machines", "Pavane", "Pizzicato Piano", "Challenge Of Space", and "Eclipse". LP, Vinyl record album

A really cool collection, and one that's got a very special focus – an imaginary soundtrack for the record-breaking British summer of 1976 – a searingly hot time that really pushed the nation to the brink! Bob Stanley's given us some great collections on Ace Records before – often with Pete Wiggs, or as Saint Etienne – and this set continues the very special vibe of those sets, by bringing together cuts that we never would have thought would work so well otherwise – a sublime mix of soul, rock, and pop – all glowing together with the warm vibe of the summer of 1976! Titles include "I'm Mandy Fly Me" by 10CC, "Walking So Free" by Spike Janson, "Sugar Shuffle" by Lynsey DePaul, "Liquid Sunshine" by John Cameron, "Not On The Outside" by Sylvia, "You Are My Love" by Liverpool Express, "You're The Song" by Hollywood Freeway, "Discover Me" by David Ruffin, "Stoned Out" by Simon Park, "Montreal City" by Azimuth, "Stay With Me" by Blue Mink, "Music" by Carmen McRae, "Rock N Roll Star" by Barclay James Harvest, "Fallin In Love" by Hamilton Joe Frank & Reynolds, "Inspiration Information" by Shuggie Otis, and "Miss My Love Today" by Gilbert O'Sullivan. Imagine the mixtape from Guardians Of The Galaxy, but done by a much hipper ear, and you'll get a good idea of this one! CD

A really cool collection, and one that's got a very special focus – an imaginary soundtrack for the record-breaking British summer of 1976 – a searingly hot time that really pushed the nation to the brink! Bob Stanley's given us some great collections on Ace Records before – often with Pete Wiggs, or as Saint Etienne – and this set continues the very special vibe of those sets, by bringing together cuts that we never would have thought would work so well otherwise – a sublime mix of soul, rock, and pop – all glowing together with the warm vibe of the summer of 1976! Titles include "I'm Mandy Fly Me" by 10CC, "Walking So Free" by Spike Janson, "Sugar Shuffle" by Lynsey DePaul, "Liquid Sunshine" by John Cameron, "Not On The Outside" by Sylvia, "You Are My Love" by Liverpool Express, "You're The Song" by Hollywood Freeway, "Discover Me" by David Ruffin, "Stoned Out" by Simon Park, "Montreal City" by Azimuth, "Stay With Me" by Blue Mink, "Music" by Carmen McRae, "Rock N Roll Star" by Barclay James Harvest, "Fallin In Love" by Hamilton Joe Frank & Reynolds, "Inspiration Information" by Shuggie Otis, and "Miss My Love Today" by Gilbert O'Sullivan. Imagine the mixtape from Guardians Of The Galaxy, but done by a much hipper ear, and you'll get a good idea of this one! LP, Vinyl record album

A massive batch of rare club tracks unearthed by Chicago's Past Due label, packaged together wonderfully as a document of a lost side of soul and disco! So far, Past Due's efforts have only surfaced as expensive 12" singles – so this collection is the first full length set to showcase the label's music – a treasure trove of under-discovered gems from the indie soul underground of the late 70s and early 80s! The music is to the far left of some of the better-known club work from the east coast of the time – including that of P&P Records – and most cuts here almost fall more in the upbeat funk mode than conventional disco grooves you'd find on bigger labels. Most numbers groove along in a wave of bumping bass, sweet keyboards, and other hip instrumental touches – and vocals are usually deep and soulful, much more so than in ordinary club. Titles include "Galaxy" by Visions Of Tomorrow, "Midnight Rhythm" by The Right Direction, "The Heat Is On" by Lonnie Givens, "Get Up Get Down & Let Your Body Pop" by Greyship Daviz, "Dance" by Destiny In Time Band, "Party" by Monofide, "Kiss You Everywhere" and "You Are Number One" by Devarne, "You Bring Out The Best In Me" by Destiny In Time, and "If You Like What We're Doing" by The Fabulous Kings. LP, Vinyl record album

The fine folks at BBE, building on their success with the Disco Spectrum series, have teamed up with the respected French DJ, Dimitri From Paris, to release this classy triple CD boxset of massive disco tunes. Dimitri has compiled a irresistible mix of disco classics and harder to find rare tracks with an emphasis on a soulful jazzy groove with a Latin edge to mix things up. Tracks include "We're On Our Way Home" by Brainstorm, "I Got A Thing" by Silver Platinum & Gold, "Flight To Jamaica" by Crashers, "You're So Right For Me" by Eastside Connection, "My Love Supreme" from Milton Hamilton, the Universal Robot Band's "Barely Breaking Even", "Ain't No Stopping Us Know" by Charanga 76, "Que Tal America" by Two Man Sound System", the LTG Exchange's "Corazon", "Love Hangover" by Touch, "Smile" from Skylite, Little Scotty's "Shout at the Disco", Pat Lundy's "Work Song". CD 1 is a solid mix of music – and CDs 2 and 3 are unmixed, with two tracks not on CD 1: Jimmy Roma's "Beyond the Galaxy" and "I Don't Wanna Lose It" by Bambu. CD

Stunning sounds from the Disques Debs label in the 70s – a powerhouse imprint in the French Caribbean scene, and a company who were really coming into their own during the decade! The "cadence revolution" in the title is a reference both to the revolution in new musical sounds that Debs was helping encourage, and the rise of the cadence style in Guadeloupe and Martinique – a mode that borrows the faster rhythms of Haitian music, then folds together some elements of Afro-Cuban styles, and maybe just a touch of West African influence – part of that back/forth activity across the Atlantic that seemed to happen so effortlessly during the 60s and 70s. A good number of the tracks here are nice and long – pulled from Debs LPs, not just 45s – and as with the first volume, the package does a great job of providing plenty of historical context, information on the music, and some great vintage images too. Titles include "Ambiance" by Les Vikings, "Lina Femm Foll" by Smoke, "Lage Yo" by Koumbit, "Disco Funk" by Galaxy, "Ping Pong" by Guy Conquette & Son Groupe, "Experience" by Tabou No 2, "Moin Domi Derho" by Super Combo, "Good Trip" by HWT Band, "Stranger" by Midnight Groovers, and "Moin Ce Roi Roi" by Guadafrica Combo. CD

A sweet little mix of London and New York grooves – all of them plenty darn soulful, and all coming from the great catalog of UK-based Sole Records! There's a positive-grooving feel here that hangs on throughout – a love of deeper soul mixed with vibrant dancefloor rhythms, in a way that many other labels try for, but never seem to do this well. Titles include "Back To The Top (Waiwan rmx)" by Open Door, "The Bottle (Richard Earnshaw rmx)" by Overstreet with Sharlene Hector, "Galaxy Of Sound" by Milton Jackson, "Do What You Wanna (Terry Hunter rmx)" by Bugz In The Attic present Homecookin, "Funkatuca" by DJ Spinna, "Rhythm Revolution" by Guiro featuring Kriminul, "Flyin" by Steviesole, and "FF To The Money Shot (Dave Storm rmx)" by Guiro featuring Angela Johnson. CD

A great late live date from Art Pepper – as well-recorded and as strongly played as his best work of the time on Galaxy or Contemporary Records – and done with a similar group as well! The album's no cheapy concert for the overseas crowd – as Art's working here with George Cables on piano, David Williams on bass, and Carl Burnett on drums – all grooving tremendously on these long-flowing tracks that show the best late Pepper modes firmly at work. Echoes of Coltrane come through his horn, as does a bit of Latin as well – but there's also a soaring, soulful quality to most of the tunes that really stands out – thanks in part to Cables, whose piano is always well-placed throughout! Pepper has a wonderfully sharp tone on most numbers – and titles include "Landscape", "Red Car", "Goodbye", "Straight Life", "Road Waltz", "For Freddie", and "Body & Soul". CD

If this is disco, point us in the direction of Studio 54! The album's one of Ra's greatest from the 70s – recorded in Italy in 1978, and featuring some incredibly otherworldly keyboards that are some of his most enigmatic on record! The track "Disco 3000" is an incredible workout on synthesizer, with a tiny bit of drum machine, a little "Space Is The Place" breakdown, and all of the wild sound you'd expect from a Sun Ra album. The cut goes on for quite some time, and is really fantastic. Side two of the record features three more long tracks – the sweetly soulful "Friendly Galaxy", a great soul jazz number; "Dance Of The Cosmo Aliens", which has spooky organ, frenetic bass, and somber percussion; and the track "Third Planet". LP, Vinyl record album

If this is disco, point us in the direction of Studio 54! The album's one of Ra's greatest from the 70s – recorded in Italy in 1978, and featuring some incredibly otherworldly keyboards. The track "Disco 3000" is an incredible workout on synthesizer, with a tiny bit of drum machine, a little "Space Is The Place" breakdown, and all of the wild sound you'd expect from a Sun Ra album. The cut goes on for quite some time, and is really fantastic. Side two of the record features two more long tracks – the sweetly soulful "Friendly Galaxy", a great soul jazz number, and "Dance Of The Cosmo Aliens", which has spooky organ, frenetic bass, and somber percussion! LP, Vinyl record album

The Ebony Godfather is grooving here with a set of fuller backings – sweet clubby funk, arranged and conducted by Brad Baker (of B Baker Chocolate Company fame) – all as a showcase for Joe's sweet work on flute and tenor sax! There's a fair bit of keyboards on the tunes – played by Pat Rebillot and Barry Miles – and Steve Gadd's playing the drums on the date, which helps the rhythms keep a bit of an edge, even amidst the larger backing. Some cuts have backing chorus vocals, in a style used on other Thomas albums – and although definitely touched by a bit of disco fever, the album's still got a jazzy element too – like some of the crossover club sessions on the Kudu label from the 70s! Titles include "Funky Fever", "Feelins From Within", "Polarizer", "Coco", "Galaxy Dreamin", and "Venus". LP, Vinyl record album

A motherlode of great jazz tracks – 3LPs worth of material pulled from the catalog of the legendary Impulse Records, and laid out back to back, as kind of a progression of the modern throughout the label's history. Titles include "New Blue" by Marion Brown, "Bulbs" by Cecil Taylor, "Aires" by Freddie Hubbard, "Garvey's Ghost" by Max Roach, "Holy Ghost" by Albert Ayler, "John Coltrane Was Here" by Michael White, "The Creator Has A Master Plan" by Pharoah Sanders, "Leo" by John Coltrane, "Galaxy Around Olodumare" by Alice Coltrane, "Song For Che" by Charlie Haden, "Hora Decubitus" by Charles Mingus, and "Teenie's Blues" by Oliver Nelson. LP, Vinyl record album

A mad mix of space-age instrumentals, groovy vocal tunes, and lots lots more – and definitely one of the coolest compilations we've ever seen! The cover states that "a galaxy of stars goes where no other compilation has ever gone before" – and we can definitely agree with that claim, given the unique feel of the music, and the wonderful assortment of tracks in the set! The set list draws on many different genres – early rock, offbeat country, easy instrumentals, sound library gems, and lots more – all to bring together a startling array of sounds that's more than enough to send you into outer space on your own. Weird tracks are mixed nicely with tuneful numbers – so that there's a really great sense of discovery as the set rolls on – a vibe that's as well-chosen as some of Ace Records' Halloween compilations, but in a sci fi sort of mode. Titles include "Armstrong" by John Stewart, "Destination Moon" by The Ames Brothers, "Lunar Rhapsody" by Les Baxter, "Happy Blues For John Glenn" by Lightnin Hopkins, "Theme From Star Trek" by Leonard Nimoy, "Everyone's Gone To The Moon" by Bobby Womack, "Doctor Who" by BBC Radiophonic Workshop, "Visa To The Stars" by Jean Jacques Perry & Gershon Kingsley, "Rocket To The Moon" by Moon Mullican, "Forbidden Planet" by David Rose, "Everybody Gets To Go To The Moon" by Themla Houston, and "Footprints On The Moon" by Johnny Harris. CD