The Roots make kind of a return to their own roots with Tipping Point – a loose, funky, hip hop soul opus from the legendary Philly crew! The record's got a much more streamlined and focused ambition than Phrenology or Things Fall Apart – and it's a brilliant extenuation of their established style of live funky soul under the forceful rhymes of Black Thought and soulfully sung hooks and choruses. There's that elongated, swirling psych-soul feel that trips it out in spots, but it remains a focused effort, even if the groove is loose. Nothing on the album betrays the crew's now classic approach to hip hop – no trendy concessions or a sad attempt at a radio single to be found. This, kids, is the Roots – they're not pandering to anyone. Tracks include "Star", "I Don't Care", "Don't Say Nuthin'", "Guns Are Drawn", "Stay Cool", "Somebody's Gotta Do It", "Duck Down!", "Why (What's Going On)" and a couple unlisted bonus tracks. CD

Featuring early production from DJ Muggs. 12-inch, Vinyl record

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Say what you want, we love this album! When it came out, we were such big Jam fans that we could never forgive Paul Weller – but now, nearly 20 years later, we're stunned at how great some of the soul songs on the album are. Sure, you've got to throw away about half the tracks – because they're silly early 80s bad funk numbers – but the remaining half is way more soulful than you'd remember, with a sweet, sincere, compressed sound that's made all the better by jazzy touches from Mick Talbot and Steve White. Includes the classics "My Ever Changing Moods", "You're The Best Thing", "Blue Cafe", "Paris Match", and "A Solid Bond In Your Heart". LP, Vinyl record album

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John White may not be the biggest name in 80s soul, but he comes on strong in this overlooked set – a catchy batch of tunes that stands out nicely from his contemporaries! There's plenty of beats and keyboards in the backings, but John's got a deep-ranged vocal style that creates plenty of organic warmth – a fully feeling sort of sound that really warms things up with his emotion on the tunes. Titles include "I Need Your Love", "Can't Get You Out Of My System", "Don't Let It Be Too Late", "Fooled Around", "Mood For Love", and "Victim". CD

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An incredible album – and one of the most revolutionary rock albums of the late 60s! The Who recorded this one as a tribute to mainstream radio at the time – linking together some solid stand alone tunes with shorter, wittier tracks that were recorded as commercials for products that included baked beans, acne cream, and deodorant – as well as cool announcer bits too! The end result is one of the most sonically complex records issued by a mainstream rock act of the time – sort of like The Who said "yeah, everyone's trying to copy Sgt Peppers with big arrangements, but we'll take this concept album thing in a whole new direction!" Brilliant all the way through, and with tracks that include "Armenia City In The Sky", "Heinz Baked Beans", "Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand", "I Can See For Miles", "I Can't Reach You", "Rale", "Sunrise", and "Silas Stingy". This fantastic new package features the whole album in stereo and mono – plus 26 more bonus tracks, and a 16 page booklet of new notes and photos! CD

An incredible album – and one of the most revolutionary rock albums of the late 60s! The Who recorded this one as a tribute to mainstream radio at the time – linking together some solid stand alone tunes with shorter, wittier tracks that were recorded as commercials for products that included baked beans, acne cream, and deodorant – as well as cool announcer bits too! The end result is one of the most sonically complex records issued by a mainstream rock act of the time – sort of like The Who said "yeah, everyone's trying to copy Sgt Peppers with big arrangements, but we'll take this concept album thing in a whole new direction!" Brilliant all the way through, and with tracks that include "Armenia City In The Sky", "Heinz Baked Beans", "Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand", "I Can See For Miles", "I Can't Reach You", "Rale", "Sunrise", and "Silas Stingy". Great 2LP pressing – the whole album in a brand new stereo mix, plus 12 more bonus tracks! LP, Vinyl record album

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Common lean, filler free late 80s Finding Forever – a set that's definitely the thematic follow up to the semi-comeback BE LP – and a solid one, with highpoints that equal Com's best work of the decade! The set is largely produced by Kanye West, with some terse, harder hitting moments, some laidback and soulful ones, and some really nice homages to Dilla and DJ Premier. Another winner from Com at a point just after he hit a late peak and was still riding high! Titles include "Start The Show", "The People", "Drivin' Me Wild" feat Lily Allen, "I Want You", "Southside" feat Kanye West, totally killer "The Game" featuring scratches by Premier (and a sound that's a total Primo tribute), "U Black Maybe", "So Far To Go" feat D'Angelo, "Break My Heart", "Misunderstood" and more. CD

Common's easygoing Universal Mind Control – a record that by design doesn't cut as deep soulfully and emotionally as the previous couple of LPs – this one's spun for a slick synth heavy party rocking vibe by the Neptunes! The record was originally titled Invincible Summer and was set to drop for the open top season, later retooled a little for an icey club bounce, with several standout cuts – a couple funky numbers produced by Mr DJ of the Dungeon Family. Guests include Kanye, Cee-Lo, Martina Topley-Bird and Musinah. It's an efficient set, too, with 10 tracks: "Universal Mind Control", "Punch Drunk Love" feat Kanye West, "Make My Day" feat Cee-Lo, "Announcement" feat Pharrell, "Gladiator", "Inhale", "Everywhere" feat Martina Topley-Bird, "Changes" feat Musinhah and more. CD

With guests Kate Bush, Stewart Copeland, Youssou N'dour, Tony Levin, Manu Katche, and features "In Your Eyes", "Sledgehammer", "Big Time", "Red Rain", and more! LP, Vinyl record album

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Pat Metheny on guitar, Lyle Mays on piano and keyboards, Steve Rodby on acoustic and electric bass, Paul Wertico on drums, David Blamires on vocals, Mark Ledford on vocals and trumpet, and Luis Conte on percussion. CD

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Includes the hit "Harden My Heart" – along with "Find Another Fool", "Critical Times", "Valerie" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Big Snoop Dogg is back for '06! Blue Carpet Treatment is a slight dip back into a harder-edged Snoop – in case you thought he'd gone too cute and mainstream with the past couple records. But he's still covering a wide range of topics with a deep roster of producers and guests. Tracks include "Think About It", "Crazy" feat Nate Dogg, "Vato" feat B-Real, "That's The S***" feat R Kelly, "Candy (Drippin Like Water)" feat E-40, MC Eiht, Goldie Loc, Daz & Kurupt, "LAX feat Ice Cube, "Round Here", "I Wanna F*** You" feat Akon, "Psst!" feat Jamie Foxx, "Imagine" feat Dr Dre & D'Angelo and more! CD

Snoop brings Doggy Style over to Geffen – also the home to the Neptunes' Star Trak, Snoop's partners for this seriously strong later effort – with a diverse roster of producers and vocal guests including Alchemist, Lil Jon, 50 Cent, Hi Tek, and others. Snoops laidback rhyme style sounds really great on the Neptune productions, with that glittery minimalist electro sound and the digital handclaps that meld perfectly with Snoop's hazy delivery. The the now classic status of the standout single "Drop It Like It's Hot" is pretty much all the evidence you need, but Snoop's on a real high (artistically, that is) here, and mainstream street hop is all the better for it! Other tracks include "Bang Out", "Can I Get A Flicc Witchu" feat Bootsy Collins, "The Bidness", "Let's Get Blown", "Step Yo Game Up" with Lil Jon, "Oh No" with 50 Cent, "Pass It Pass It" and more. CD

80s keyboard maestro Harold Faltermeyer gives Donna Summer plenty of help here – with the kind of catchy, hook-heavy lines that made his famous soundtrack work such a hit at the time! Harold had played on previous Summer albums, but really takes the lead here with a snapping, syncopated approach to rhythms – one that bubbles along nicely on titles that include "All Systems Go", "Dinner With Gershwin", "Only The Fool Survives", "Bad Reputation", "Love Shock", and "Jeremy". LP, Vinyl record album

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Another branch of the large family tree of Yes, King Crimson, Emerson Lake & Palmer – featuring the tracks, "Heat Of The Moment", "Only Time Will Tell", "Wildest Dreams", "Sole Survivor", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

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As the subtitle says, a retrospective of the queen of hip hop soul's street and radio friendly commercial R&B with 15 tracks in all, including a few songs that were new at the time of the collection: "Reflections (I Remember)", "We Ride (I See The Future)", "You Know", "King & Queen" with John Legend, "No More Drama", "Family Affair", "Real Love", "No One Will Do", "Be Without You", "I'm Going Down", "911", "My Life '06", "Not Gon' Cry", "Be Happy" and "I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By (Razor Sharp mix feat. Method Man)". CD

BE isn't exactly a back-to-basics LP in the vein of his classic work for Relativity – but it is indeed a return to a focused, genuinely soulful, no BS approach – and it's a very welcome one at that! It seems like Com was a bit affected by some of the criticism folks had for the spacious, astral Electric Circus LP – if you ask us Common had no reason to apologize, but we'd be lyin' if we said we weren't hoping for another batch of tracks that sound like they could have been written on a front porch on the southside of Chicago. This is indeed that record – 11 tracks, few guest appearances, and a warm, consistent sound all the way through. There's a 3 track span on this album, from "Chi-City" through "Real People", that's seriously close to perfection. Welcome home, Common! Ruggedly produced by Kanye West, with a couple of stellar production contributions from Jay Dee! Other tracks include "The Corner" feat Last Poets, "Go!", "Faithful", "Testify", "Love Is. . .", "The Food (live)" (this great track has been circulating for a while since it was performed on Chappelle's Show, and we're thrilled Common and Kanye had the good sense to include it on the album), "They Say" featuring John Legend and "It's Your World (Part 1 &2)". CD

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Another smoothed out, soulful effort of dreamy soul and poetic lyricism – perhaps more of a straight up contemporary soul album than their previous and more stridently lyrical Floetic LP! If the London-bred duo struck you as a bit over-reliant on the spoken passages in the past, this one be more up your alley – with effervescent, lightly trippy production by the team of Darren Henson & Keith Pelzer, plus tracks by Scott Storch and modern master Raphael Saadiq. Tracks include "Blessed 2 Have", "SupaStar" feat Common, "My Apology", "Let Me In", "Lay Down", "Feelings", "Sometimes U Make Me Smile", "I'll Die", "Imagination" and "I Want U". CD

A record that some might call the last truly great Peter Gabriel album – and a key cap to his excellent initial solo run! The album's got a deeper feel than before – slightly richer colors, more spiritual themes, and arguably more of a sense of majesty – almost an echo of some of the Native American modes explored by Laurie Anderson, who was then a recent collaborator of Gabriel! Instrumentation builds a bit more than before – with less guitars in parts, more percussive bits, and some funkier elements at the bottom that aren't exactly funky – more just a punch in force from the ground up. Gabriel's definitely feeling a sense of power here – and titles include "Lay Your Hands On Me", "Shock The Monkey", "San Jacinto", "I Have The Touch", "The Family & The Fishing Net", and "The Rhythm Of The Heat". LP, Vinyl record album

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One of the better Wu side projects from 1998, includes "Fake MCs", "Cross My Heart", "Tai Chi", "If You Don't Know" & "Science Project", plus Killah Priest's version of the GZA classic "BIBLE (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)". CD

With Marc Johnson on bass, Billy Drewes on alto & soprano saxes, Alejandro Acuna on drums, Bill Frisell on guitar, and Nana Vasconcelos on percussion. LP, Vinyl record album

A crossover classic from Pat Metheny's keyboard player! CD

Features Pat Metheny on guitars, Steve Rodby on bass, Pedro Aznar on marimba, vibes, saxophone, and melodica, and Armando Marcal on percussion. Titles include "Have You Heard", "Slip Away", "Vidala", "Are We There Yet", and "Beat 70". CD

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Solo work from the late Cars singer – with titles that include "A Quick One", "Time Bomb", "Jimmy Jimmy", "Prove", "Something To Grab For", "I Can't Wait", "Out Of Control", and "Take A Walk". LP, Vinyl record album

Post-John work from Yoko – and a surprisingly beautiful album! Titles include "Goodbye Sadness", "Silver Horse", "Dogtown", "Turn Of The Wheel", "I Don't Know Why", "Extension 36", "Will You Touch Me", "Toyboat", and "Mother Of The Universe". LP, Vinyl record album

An important solo album from Robbie Robertson of The Band – produced with help from Daniel Lanois, and with titles that include "Hell's Half Acre", "Fallen Angel", "Broken Arrow", "Street Fire Of Love", "Somewhere Down The Crazy River", and "Sonny Got Caught In The Moonlight". LP, Vinyl record album

The classic critical breakthrough from The Roots – the one that really cemented their legacy as one great hip hop live bands ever, and help paving the way for many fascinating records to come! Do You Want More is a modern hip hop essential, chainging the way we looked at hip hop, and certainly one of the most successful efforts at bridging live band playing, sample based beats and smart rhymes. Titles include: "Proceed", "Distortion To Static", "Lazy Afternoon", "Mellow My Man", "I Remain Calm", "Datskat", "What Goes On Pt. 7", "Silent Treatment", "You Ain't Fly", "Do You Want More?!!!??!", "The Lesson Part 2" and "The Unlocking". CD

"Don't Say Nuthin'" is one of the most head-nodding, electro keyboard funky numbers we've ever heard from the group – and another curveball from the legendary Philly crew that still seems capable of anything! It's got a great, sparkly groove laid onto it by the production of Scott Storch – who helped plant the Roots all the way back with the Organix sessions in '93 – before the producer went on to help re-define the G Funk keyboard sound with Dre, Snoop and Xzibit. 12-inch, Vinyl record

The second major label set from The Roots, and what many consider their first and definitely not their last) irrefutable classic! We could make the case for the debut Do You Want More? as a bonafide classic, too, but this is certainly the tone certainly the one that cemented their status and one of the greatest live-tested hip hop bands. Given how strong and far reaching The Roots pedigree would become over the years, this one's all the more amazing to revisit – and it's fresh and distinctive to this day. 20 tracks including intro & outro, with "Respond/React", "Clones", "No Alibi", "No Great Pretender" "Universe At War" (featuring Common while he was still Common Sense), "What They Do", "Ital (The Universal Side)", Concerto Of The Desparado", "The Adventures In Wonderland" and more. CD

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A big one for Siouxsie and the group – from a time when they were both pushing forth the darker corners of mainstream pop, and making a few surprising turns for the dancefloor tune! Some of the upbeat moments here crossed over surprisingly well in the clubs at the time, but even those still have all the trademark touches intact – fuzzy guitar, space around the edges, and those haunting vocals that were always the lady's greatest calling card. Titles include "The Killing Jar", "Rawhead & Bloodybones", "The Last Beat Of My Heart", "Rhapsody", "Peek A Boo", "Ornaments Of Gold", and "Turn To Stone". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album from Steely Dan, and a really nice chapter in their career – one that's maybe a bit less iconic than the late 70s records, but in a way that really keeps things interesting! There's definitely less jazz and polish than on the later albums – but already, the group are writing the kinds of songs that nobody ever seemed to pen before, and which few other groups could match later – despite the countless legions who tried! The guitars are all nice and strong – that sharp Skunk Baxter edge that helped get the group firmly onto the charts right away – on titles that include their classic singles "Do It Again" and "Reelin In The Years", the oft-showcased "Dirty Work", and other cuts that include "Kings", "Midnite Cruiser", "Only A Fool Would Say That", "Fire In The Hole", "Brooklyn Owes The Charmer Under Me", "Change Of The Guard", and "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again". LP, Vinyl record album

A later effort from Weller and Talbot, and definitely a step further along on the slick production scale, but as with all Style Council efforts, there's a few gems contained here too! The pair continue with their sophisticated modern songwriting, with soulful and jazzy touches tempering their pop sensibilities. Includes "All Gone Away", "Come To Milton Keynes", "Internationalists", "A Stones Throw Away", "A Man Of Great Promise", "Down In The Seine", "The Lodger's", "Shout To The Top" and "Walls Come Tumbling Down". LP, Vinyl record album

Proving once again that they're one of the most resilient family groups in soul music, the Sylvers emerge here with yet another new groove – one that has the maturing ensemble tackling bass-heavy 80s funky soul – in a style that's clearly influenced by work from the Prince camp at the time! The beats snap around the bass pedals nicely – with a heavier, more pop soul feel than 80s groove – but still pretty well done overall, thanks to the strength of Leon, Foster, and the crew. Titles include "Bizarre", "Bottom Line", "Falling For Your Love", "Got To Be Crazy", "In One Love & Out The Other", "Tension", "You Turn Me On", and "Something's Gotta Give". LP, Vinyl record album

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The debut album by Weezer! The now-dubbed Blue Album was released at the height of the post-Nirvana rock era, with whom the much more enthusiastic Weezer even shared label – and that very enthusiasm made them heroes to some and pariahs to others at the time. Now, of course, it's a classic – a prime example of nerdy guys with electric guitars living the dream. Produced by elder nerd turned rock god Ric Ocasek of The Cars. Includes "My Name Is Jonas", "No One Else", "Buddy Holly", "Undone - The Sweater Song", "Surf Wax America", "Say It Ain't So", "Holiday", "In The Garage" and "Only In Dreams". CD

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A really pivotal album from XTC – a set that still has the group able to deliver the kind of tight, catchy work that made their early singles so great – but one that also really has them expanding out into a group who really understand how to put together an album the right way too! It's that quality that really helped XTC not only outlast some of their British contemporaries, but also reach out to a wider audience with a well-crafted set like this – full of gems that include "Knuckle Down", "Fly On the Wall", "Down In The Cockpit", "All Of A Sudden", "Yacht Dance", "English Roundabout", "Snowman", "Jason & The Argonauts", "No Thugs In Our House", "Runaways", "Ball & Chain", and "Senses Working Overtime". CD

30 tracks of work from his classic years at Chess! CD

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The original album, with an extra LP containing six bonus tracks! LP, Vinyl record album

"I rap with the Passion of Christ, Ni**a, cross me!" BE isn't exactly a back-to-basics LP in the vein of his classic work for Relativity – but it is indeed a return to a focused, genuinely soulful, no BS approach – and it's a very welcome one at that! It seems like Com was a bit affected by some of the criticism folks had for the spacious, astral Electric Circus LP – if you ask us Common had no reason to apologize, but we'd be lyin' if we said we weren't hoping for another batch of tracks that sound like they could have been written on a front porch on the southside of Chicago. This is indeed that record – 11 tracks, few guest appearances, and a warm, consistent sound all the way through. There's a 3 track span on this album, from "Chi-City" through "Real People", that's seriously close to perfection. Welcome home, Common! Ruggedly produced by Kanye West, with a couple of stellar production contributions from Jay Dee! Other tracks include "The Corner" feat Last Poets, "Go!", "Faithful", "Testify", "Love Is. . .", "The Food (live)" (this great track has been circulating for a while since it was performed on Chappelle's Show, and we're thrilled Common and Kanye had the good sense to include it on the album), "They Say" featuring John Legend and "It's Your World (Part 1 &2)". CD

The Dazz Band may be wild and free in the title, but the album's tighter than ever – a lean, focused approach to the Dazz Band sound – done here with loads of 80s production and instrumentation in the mix! The rhythms are heavy with drum machine lines – often mixed with keyboard bits and swirled together with a sound that's even more crossover than some of the group's earlier work. Vocals often take a back seat to the grooves – but on the ballads they shine through nicely, and remind us of the group's roots. Titles include "The Beat That's Right", "Wild & Free", "Love MIA", "Sunglasses", "Something You Said", and "Time Will Heal A Broken Heart". CD features bonus tracks – "Wild & Free (ext dance rmx)", "Last Chance For Love", "Love MIA (house mix)", and "A Place In My Heart". CD

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Includes the classic hit "The Boys Of Summer" – along with "Man With A Mission", "Sunset Grill", "All She Wants To Do Is Dance", "Land Of The Living", and more! LP, Vinyl record album

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With Lyle Mays on autoharp, harmonium, electric piano, piano, clavinet, celeste – plus Steve Rodby on bass and Paul Wertico on drums. CD

With Steve Rodby on bass, Lyle Mays on autoharp, harmonium, electric piano, piano, clavinet & clesta and Paul Wertico on drums. CD

Features Pat Metheny on guitars and synths, Lyle Mays on piano and keys, Steve Rodby on bass, Paul Wertico on drums, and Armando Marcal on percussion. Tracks include "Minuano (Six Eight)", "Last Train Home", "Distance", and "In Her Family". CD