One of the darkest albums of the Krautrock scene in the 70s – an album that was actually recorded in a WWII-era bunker – where the duo were free to open up their instruments, jam for a very long time, and play with the sorts of effects and techniques you might know from bigger groups of the period! Yet there's a brooding quality here that's different than Can, Faust, or other groups – maybe because German Oak were a duo without a very clear path forward, and also because recording an album in an underground concrete bunker was bound to produced some weird vibes on the session! One of the group members recalls in the notes that in the space, he couldn't help thinking of the trauma of WWII – and you can definitely hear that in the music, and see it in the look of the package – which carries tunes that include "Screaming Skeletons", "Missile Song", "Belle's Song", and "Nothing". This fantastic package offers up some great notes from the group – in both German and English – and also adds in rare material too – the tracks "Bear Song", "Happy Stripes On Cats", "Ghost Guitar", "Belle's Song (extended)", "Python Vs Tiger", "Giant Rock Boulder Golem", "Missle Song (extended)", "Harpy & Peregrine", and "Bear Song (alt version)". CD

One of the darkest albums of the Krautrock scene in the 70s – an album that was actually recorded in a WWII-era bunker – where the duo were free to open up their instruments, jam for a very long time, and play with the sorts of effects and techniques you might know from bigger groups of the period! Yet there's a brooding quality here that's different than Can, Faust, or other groups – maybe because German Oak were a duo without a very clear path forward, and also because recording an album in an underground concrete bunker was bound to produced some weird vibes on the session! One of the group members recalls in the notes that in the space, he couldn't help thinking of the trauma of WWII – and you can definitely hear that in the music, and see it in the look of the package – which carries tunes that include "Screaming Skeletons", "Missile Song", "Belle's Song", and "Nothing". This fantastic package offers up some great notes from the group – in both German and English – and also adds in rare material too – the tracks "Bear Song", "Happy Stripes On Cats", "Ghost Guitar", and "Bear Song (alt version)". LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool little package – one that comes in a 10" record jacket, features a 10" record, and also a bonus booklet of notes and a CD with lots more music too – all to document the ultra-rare Oak Records label – a small company that put out some real killers at the end of the 50s! Oak was a tiny imprint way out in tobacco country in North Carolina, but they had a great ear for some homegrown talent who really knew how to knock a tune out in the studio – the kind of cuts that would leap right from the grooves of an indie 45, at a level that's made these gems some top-shelf treasures for collectors over the years. The package features 12 tracks on the LP, 25 on the CD, and comes with a full color booklet of notes and images, telling the Oak Records story – alongside cuts that include "My Honey My Honda" by Frank Rice, "Haystack Rock & Roll" by P Jay & The Haystackers, "Little Heart Attacks" by Glenn Johnson & The Acorns, "Sweet Thing" by Bobby Green & The Sportsmen, "Run Here Honey" by Glenn Johnson & The Acorns, "Liza Jane Bop" by Don Hager & The Hot Tots, "Dr Nack's Tom Cat" by Frank Rice, "Bermudas" by Big Jay Mercer, "Little Heart Attacks" by Bobby Green & The Sportsmen, and "Sure Is A Cryin Shame" by Big Jay Mercer. LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant sounds from trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff – a rare live set that captures the modern jazz giant at the height of his powers! The set was recorded around the same time as Albert's famous Now Jazz Rammwong record – and it's got a very similar feel, with lots of elements from Eastern and Indian music styles – touches of the exotic intertwined with modal rhythms, soulful solos, and some occasional freer jazz moments! The blend of sounds is completely captivating, and the recording quality is excellent – sharp enough to make the whole thing feel like some lost Saba/MPS gem from these incredibly creative years in German jazz. In addition to Mangelsdorff's trombone, the set also features tenor and soprano sax from Heinz Sauer, alto from Gunter Kronberg, bass from Gunter Lenz, and drums from Ralf Hubner – on titles that include "Sakura Waltz", "Raknahs", "Now Jazz Ramwong", "Oakaka", "Theme From Pather Panchali", "Burungkaka", and "Far Out Far East". CD

The great Cliffie Stone was a key figure in the rise of country music on the west coast in the postwar years – a figure who linked together the music industry in Hollywood and the new talents coming up in Bakersfield – with a blend of sounds and styles that very much fit that mode! Back east, Cliffie might have been a hip bandleader mixing jazz and R&B – but out west, he also picked up a bit of twang – in a way that made his charts a great backdrop for singers who were likely to cross over big, and which also made Cliffie's own records pretty darn great too! This set's the best we've ever seen to focus on the very wide talents of Cliffie Stone – served up in a beautiful Bear Family package, and filled with great cuts that mix some of Cliffie's backings for others with his own recordings for Capitol. Titles include "Country Junction" and "Shotgun Boogie" by Tennessee Ernie Ford, "Gonna Marry That Gal" by Bob Roubian, "Bim Bam Baby" by Jeanne Gayle, and "Square Dance Boogie" by Les Gotcher – plus Cliffie Stone tunes that include "Barracuda", "He's A Real Gone Oakie", "Cream Of Kentucky", "Please Please", "Tater Pie", "Peepin Through The Keyhole", "Dirty Dishes", "B-One Baby", "Board Of Education", "Philosophy", "Here Comes The Train", and the great "Grunt Song". CD

The cover's a bit creepy, but the set's a great one – way more soulful than the image of a dummy might make you expect! The collection follows strongly in the same territory as the funk titles on the Tramp Records label – and like those, digs deep in the American underground to find a host of under-exposed gems from back in the day – tunes that start out in the fast funk years of disco, but also move into some great 80s grooves as well! There's a huge number of cuts here we've never heard before – but that's no surprise, given the way that Tramp puts a set like this together – and titles include "The Freeze" by Steven Toll, "SOS" by Tyree Glenn Jr, "Missing You" by Silky Vincent Group, "Sights & Sounds" by Jeffords Brothers, "Medicine Man" by Grayson Street, "Puss (part 1)" by Oakland Express, "A Fool No Longer" by Afrodisia, "Don't It Make You Feel Good" by Deep South Dance Band, "Touchdown Cleveland Browns" by Ray Jay Band, "Future" by Keither Florence & The Associates, "Anytime" by Empulse, "Beautiful Day" by Mel O Madnezz, and "Dig This Piece" by Progressive Sounds Band. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album