A stellar early 70s collection of Pablo instrumental sides, tracked between the groundbreaking Java, Java, Java and East Of The River Nile records – Landmark material from a master! Like the above mentioned classics, this one features Pablo's melodica prominently, over some nice roots rhythms laid down by an all star cast, including Carlton Barrett, Santa Davis, Familyman, Fully Fullwood, Chinna Smith, Ansell Collins and many more. Includes "Dub Organizer", "Arabian Rock", "Pablo In Dub", "Skateland Rock", "Dread Eye" and "Lover's Mood". Classic! CD also includes 3 bonus cuts: "Java", "Guiding Red" and "Marabi". CD

Lee Perry at his best – really finding the best mix of Jamaican rhythms and wilder production that made him a legend! "Jungle Lion" has echoes of Al Green's "Love & Happiness" throughout – blended with lots of echo, weird effects, and a trippy rhythm that's mighty nice! There's also a great break near the start – which follows on the flipside, which is essentially a more freaked-out version of the tune! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Pivotal Black Ark material from Lee Perry – with brilliantly tripped out echoey dub production – and scorching instrumentation laid down by the mighty Upsetters! Split roughly in half between Perry's nicely gritty instrumental moodcraft and hazy vocals, this collection features some uber prime Upsetters material. It's all hear – heavily rumbling bass grooves, tripped out, though spiritually resonant vocals and just enough of smoky haze without getting too thick to breathe. Amazing stuff! Includes "Scratch The Dub Organizer", "Bush Weed Corn Trash", "When Jah Come", "Curley Dub", "Serious Joke", "Who You Gonna Run To" and "Tighten Up". CD

The debut full length from Pete Rock & CL Smooth – and a bonafide hip hop classic if there ever was one – one of the best ever! Pete Rock's trademark mix of heavy soul, jazz & funk beatcraft pretty much set the bar to a level that's been impossible to top ever sense. On top of being a front-to-back perfect album, Mecca & The Soul Brother has one of the great singles of the era, in "They Reminisce Over You (TROY)". What more can be said, really? An absolute essential! Tracks include "They Reminisce Over You (TROY)", "Return Of The Mecca", "Straighten It Out", "Soul Brother #1", "Lots Of Lovin", "Skinz" featuring Grand Puba, "The Basement" featuring Heavy D, Robo-O, Grap & Dida, "Anger In The Nation", "If It Ain't Rough, It Ain't Right", "Can't Front On Me", "It's Like That", "On And On", "Wig Out", "Ghettos Of The Mind", and "Act Like You Know". LP, Vinyl record album

Chef Raekwon cooks up one of finest hip hop albums in history – a standout moment in the Wu Tang canon and the 90s in general! Given Ghostface's presence throughout, the prime RZA production and other top shelf guests, you could almost call this one a Wu Tang Clan album, if not for Raekwon's incredible leadership behind the mic. Guests include Nas, Method Man, Inspektah Deck and more from the Wu Tang family. An absolute standard-bearer! Titles include "Spot Rusherz", "Can It Be All So Simple", "Knuckleheadz", "Criminology", "Ice Water", "Wisdom Body", and "Wu-Gambinos". This beautiful Get On Down 2LP pressing includes the bonus track "North Star (Jewels)". LP, Vinyl record album

A once underappreciated later effort from the mighty Run DMC – with slightly harder hitting beats, and an overall terse style (hence the title) that was always more effective than it got credit for at the time – and it's ultimately the crew's last solid beginning-to-end LP! Of course nothing they could do at this point would stand as a seminal classic as vital as the group rap pioneering efforts early on, but it's worthy set – "Mary, Mary", "Beats To The Rhyme", "Run's House", "They Call Us Run-DMC", "Papa Crazy", the title track and more. LP, Vinyl record album

The incredible lost album from the group Sisters Love – material slated for release in the early 70s, but never saw the light of day, save for a handful of singles – a mix of rootsier southern soul and impeccable west coast funk styles, finally brought to light and with bonus tracks, to boot! Sisters Love came to Motown/MoWest at a transitional time for the label(s), who sent the group on tour, released a rare few singles in the US & UK, but didn't get the group over into the public consciousness the way it deserved. Great songs that were written, produced & arranged by the cream of the crop of soulful talents – Willie Hutch, Hal Davis, Gene Page, Gloria Jones & Pamela Sawyer – but this is the Sisters Love show, and they shine brilliantly! Titles include the amazing "Fast Mack" (purportedly submitted for the soundtrack to The Mack – and it's funky enough!), "Communication", "Mr Fix-It Man", "Just A Little Understanding", "I'm Learning To Trust My Man", "Do What You Gotta Do","You've Got To Make Your Choice", "Sweet Inspiration", "Give Me Your Love" and "Turn On Your Love Light". LP, Vinyl record album

An early 90s win from UGK – making a strong name for themselves and for Houston as a southern hip hop capital – going strong here a couple years before the massive Ridin Dirty! Strong stuff with solid Pimp C production – Super Tight is a hella appropriate title for this one. Includes "Return", "Underground", "It's Supposed To Bubble", "Feds In Town", "Pocket Full", "Stoned Junkee", "Three Sixteens", "Front, Back & Side To Side" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Muddy Waters definitely put the "unk" in funk – although back in his day, the word meant something different than in the 70s! This set features some great late Muddy for Chess – produced in conjunction with Ralph Bass, Muddy's longtime associate in the studio, and done with a style that's a lot more rootsy than the title might imply! Instead of the electrified funky style that other Chess bluesmen were going for in the early 70s, or which Waters used on his late 60s albums, this one is a more back to basics set – with stripped down arrangements, and the kind of electric down homey feel that must have been big with the college kids. Pinetop Perkins plays piano on the set, and Carey Bell Harrington throws in a lot of harmonica. Titles include "Electric Man", "Trouble No More", "Unk In Funk", "Everything Gonna Be Alright", "Waterboy Waterboy", and "Rollin & Tumblin". CD

A mid 70s classic from Willie Colon – continuing the progression of "gangster" image by supposedly having him break out of prison! (Previously, Willie had been brought to justice on the Juicio album – but now on the loose, is described in a wanted poster on the cover – "Willie Colon & Hector LaVoe have been known to kill people with little provocation with their exciting rhythm without a moment's notice"!) That claim might be a bit far-fetched, but considering the strength of Willie's work at the time, it's certainly well-founded – as he and Hector cook things up nicely on this set by bringing in some even-earthier grooves to their blend of 70s salsa modes! The group's got Colon's tight twin-trombone approach firmly in the lead, and other instrumentation is merely piano, bass, and lots of percussion – all very stripped down, and with lots of room for LaVoe's wonderfully evocative vocals. Titles include "Pa' Columbia", "Ghana'E", "No Cambiare", "Barrunto", and "Sigue Feliz". LP, Vinyl record album

Miles Davis' first-ever performance in Japan – a really unique concert that featured the quintet with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams – augmented by a young Sam Rivers on tenor! The presence of Rivers really gives the set an edge – and although Miles is holding Sam a bit more in check than on some of his "new thing" albums from the time, there's an overall quality here that's different than the other Davis quintet albums of the time. The set was one of a number of important Miles Davis live sessions from the period – including albums from Berlin, Antibes, and Chicago – and titles include "If I Were A Bell", "My Funny Valentine", "So What", "Walkin'" and "All Of You". LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal work from Dr John – one of his key late 60s albums that set the world on fire at the time – and which still stand as some of the doctor's greatest achievements! The approach here is a fantastic abstraction of older New Orleans roots – not nearly as rigid as in some of John's later music, and really used here just as a leaping-off point for these cool tripped-out explorations – often with a style that's got a very heady quality. The arrangements are wonderful – and bring in some off-kilter jazziness to inflect John's rootsy style with a sound that shows that he was opening his ears to all that was around him at the time – all the best elements he was picking up in Nola and Cali, fused into something really unique! Titles include "Black Widow Spider", "Barefoot Lady", "Twilight Zone', and "The Lonesome Guitar Strangler". LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary Latin funk album – spearheaded by Eddie Palmieri! The record is a landmark crossover album from the early 70s – cut at the end of the Latin soul era, but featuring that genre's wonderful mix of Puerto Rican soul, Spanish Harlem Latin, and New York funk – which are then given a new sort of push in this era of strong Latin pride and new opportunities for the youthful scene in New York! The grooves are all nice and long – with plenty of hard jamming, Latin rhythms, funky solos, and even soulful lyrics in English – sung with a very righteous, positive message that's kept the album at the top of the stacks for years. Eddie Palmeri plays piano and directs the group – and titles include "Seeds Of Life", "Harlem River Drive", and "Idle Hands". LP, Vinyl record album

The percussion-heavy soul gem from Herman Kelly & Life – recorded in both Brazil & Miami – and awash with killer drum work all the way through! The album's a key part of the Miami sound especially – and really shows the way that city's 70s funk scene used congas heavily – really filling up the middle of a cut with even more energy than usual! The album's best known for the classic sample cut "Dance to the Drummer's Beat" – which is offered up here in a nice extended version, with a long percussion break that makes it even tastier than usual – and the record's also got a few other uptempo cuts like "Who's the Funky DJ?" and "Do The Handbone" – plus the tracks "Time After Time", "A Refreshing Love", and "Share Your Love". CD

Tight 80s soul from Kleeer – one of the group's standout classics, and a set that's produced with kind of a jazzy finish by Deodato, who also plays some nice keyboards on the record! The Kleeer sound is at its height here – tight, warm, and filled with great harmonies on the vocals – which are then underpinned by a lot of keyboards and bass pedal work, yet in a way that never overwhelms the vocals. The balance is beautiful – at a level that few other groups ever seemed to reach – and there's plenty of hooks that keep things catchy throughout. Titles include "Go For It", "Intimate Connections", "Next Time It's For Real", "Tonight", "Do You Want To", and "Break". CD

Nas's debut LP masterpiece Illmatic – which will probably stand forever as one of the greatest hip hop full lengths of its time – maybe even for all time. Nas has had some creative ups-and-downs over the years, but nothing can take away the impact of this damn near perfect slice of east coast street hop. Nasir, "World Is Yours", indeed. This one truly one of the great, filler free, beginning-to-end classics with not a wasted second on it – 100% lean with masterful production by DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock and Q-Tip – and the titles include "NY State Of Mind", "Life's A B***h", "Half Time", "One Love", "Memory Lane", "Represent" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Muddy Waters definitely put the "unk" in funk – although back in his day, the word meant something different than in the 70s! This set features some great late Muddy for Chess – produced in conjunction with Ralph Bass, Muddy's longtime associate in the studio, and done with a style that's a lot more rootsy than the title might imply! Instead of the electrified funky style that other Chess bluesmen were going for in the early 70s, or which Waters used on his late 60s albums, this one is a more back to basics set – with stripped down arrangements, and the kind of electric down homey feel that must have been big with the college kids. Pinetop Perkins plays piano on the set, and Carey Bell Harrington throws in a lot of harmonica. Titles include "Electric Man", "Trouble No More", "Unk In Funk", "Everything Gonna Be Alright", "Waterboy Waterboy", and "Rollin & Tumblin". CD

Ed OG's nice debut, with a slightly jazzy touch on the production and literate, intelligent lyrics. We really couldn't get with "Bug A Boo", but besides that, this first LP's solid from start to finish, from the days when that wasn't so uncommon. Drop the needle on this and head back in time to a day when backpacker wasn't necessarily a derogatory term, a beat wasn't a straight loop of a common sample, and rhyme skills included being able to follow the beat, which was typically at least a little bit funky. With the now classic "Be A Father To Your Child", plus standout tracks like "I'm Different", "Speak Upon It", "I Got To Have It" and "Life Of A Kid In The Ghetto". 12 tracks in all, also includes "Gotta Have Money", "Feel Like A Nut", "She Said It Was Great", "Dedicated To The Right Wingers", 'Let ME Tickle Your Fancy" and "Stop (Think For A Moment)". LP, Vinyl record album

Run-DMC's great second album, with rock hard production by Russell Simmons and classic cuts! It's fascinating to listen to this album all these years later, with the knowledge that this hungry hip hop act from Queens was so soon to conquer the world. Great stuff from a legendary crew! This is the record where Run-DMC transitioned from their earlier style that put their own distinctive stamp on early-to-mid 80s east coast rap, to the rap group who fearlessly put rock music on notice that rap was coming to takeover. Amazing! Includes "Jam Master Jammin", "Can You Rock It Like This", "King Of Rock", "Rock The House", "You're Blind", "You Talk Too Much", "It's Not Funny" and "Darryl And Joe (Krush-Groove 3)". LP, Vinyl record album

A spacey disco classic! "Go Bang" is a wonderful tune – with a jaunty vocal refrain that's laid over some off-kilter keyboard rhythms infused with bass. Arthur Russell produced and Francois K mixed – and this great vinyl single features the complete cut – Part 1 on one side and Part 2 on the flip. 7-inch, Vinyl record

The classic debut album by the DOC, from the glory days of Ruthless Records – one of the few records on the label to live up to the brilliance of NWA at their height! Dr Dre handles the production here – and there's a razor-sharp edge that really matches DOC's wordcraft – as powerful as the rest of the Ruthless crew, but in a different way too – almost more sophisticated, with the messaged buried a bit more in the lyrics. Titles include "The Formula", "It's Funky Enough", "Mind Blowin", "Lend Me An Ear", "Portrait Of A Master Piece", "Whirlwind Pyramid", "No One Can Do It Better", and "The DOC & The Doctor" – plus "The Grand Finale", which features guest work from Ren and Ice Cube. LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet! One of the harder Scratch efforts to track down over the years, one we're always glad to come across! Recorded in the late 70s, when his wigged out follies at the Black Ark had reached their peak –though there's a bit of debate over whether these tracks were actually recorded at the Black Ark – this is one of the first albums issued after the studio burned to the ground. Whichever side of the argument you fall on, you can't argue with the tracks on this one: spare instrumental Perry-isms with jaunty guitar, loping syncopated drums and bouncing bass, plus Tommy McCook's horn. Titles include "Cloak & Dagger", "Hail Stone", "Musical Transplant", "Liquid Serenade", "Iron Claw", "Rude Walking", "Cave Man Skank", "Pee Wee Special" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A killer cut from one of the most strangely-named acts to ever record for Trojan Records – a tune aimed specifically at the growing market of young Brits listening to reggae at the end of the 60s – with a fantastic groove that effortlessly blends soul and rocksteady with some very offbeat lyrics, and a great chorus too! "Must Catch A Train" has a similar percolating groove – almost "Israelites" in rhythm, but a bit murkier overall! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A genius bit of work from the legendary Weldon Irvine – a mightily righteous effort that more than lives up to its heady title and cover! After turning out 2 great albums on his own indie Nodlew label, Weldon really steps into greatness with this set – using the bigger budget of his deal with RCA to expand out his musical vision in a number of different directions. Keyboards are still very much at the forefront of his sound – played with that heavily vamping left hand that makes his work so funky – but there's also a focus on lyrics here too – sung by Weldon with support form singers Ojuleba & Nalo, in a way that creates a righteous "many voiced" mode on the lyrical tracks! Things get plenty jazzy on side two, though – and a few key tracks really take off in a heavily jamming way, mixing Weldon's keys with additional reeds, guitar, and percussion. Titles include excellent track "Walk That Walk; Talk That Talk", plus other great ones like "Love Your Brother", "Let Yourself Be Free", "Quiet", "I'll Name It Tomorrow", and "Love Jones". CD

A lost treasure from David Axelrod – an obscure 1970 rock project, and one that's almost even hipper than his work with the Electric Prunes! The style here is rock, but the sound is very much in an Axelrod mode – quite spacious, and with this wonderful undercurrent of funk – bubbling up beautifully from the drums, and given plenty of room between the guitars in the mix, which appear to be both electric and acoustic. There's some slight Latinesque tinges in the guitar – very much in keeping with the barrio image on the cover, yet different than other Chicano rock of the time – and the whole album's got a really poetic feel, with lightly flowing lines that almost remind us a bit of Tim Buckley at points, but with a definite Axlerod twist. Titles include "A Hope", "The Truth", "In The Wilderness", "Proud Sorrow", and "Song Of The Pirate". LP, Vinyl record album

Joe's up in New York, working with producer Raeford Gerald in that early 70s "southern goes disco" mode that pushed Joe further up the charts than might have been expected. Joe's vocals still have that strong down-home honesty, but most of the tracks on the album have a mid 70s east coast club groove that's not really disco, but more in that Tyrone Davis/Johnnie Taylor smooth southern modern mode. Titles include "Get Down Get Down", "In My Baby's Arms", "Music In My Bones", "It's Crying Time In Memphis", and "Fire Burning". CD

Joe's up in New York, working with producer Raeford Gerald in that early 70s "southern goes disco" mode that pushed Joe further up the charts than might have been expected. Joe's vocals still have that strong down-home honesty, but most of the tracks on the album have a mid 70s east coast club groove that's not really disco, but more in that Tyrone Davis/Johnnie Taylor smooth southern modern mode. Titles include "Get Down Get Down", "In My Baby's Arms", "Music In My Bones", "It's Crying Time In Memphis", and "Fire Burning". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the deepest soul records ever issued by Chess Records – and the album wasn't even done in Chicago! The album's the only full effort issued under the name of Kim Tolliver – a singer who'd worked previously for Fantasy as Kimberley Briggs – and it's a sublime effort from Tolliver and husband Fred Briggs, who'd worked together previously on work for Stax by Margie Joseph! The style here is quite unique – a mix of Kim's southern soul-styled vocals with some fuller, richer touches – almost in the same way that Gloria Scott comes across on her classic album with Barry White – but a bit more rough around the edges overall. The production is amazing – with a great sense of space and style – and some key use of echo that really underscores the emotion of the tunes. A good part of the album was recorded in Miami – with echoes of the TK modes of the time – but other recording was also done in Cleveland, which might account for the more unique aspects of the set. Regardless of location, though, the album's a tremendously individual effort – a bold, raw statement from Tolliver – filled with emotion that few of her contemporaries could match, and free of any crossover soul cliches that were really bogging down other artists at the time. Most tracks here are original – as original in conception as the sound of the record – and titles include "The Other Side Of Town", "The Way He Used To", "She Don't Know You Like I Do", "Takin A Woman's Stand", "I'm Losing The Feeling", "Learn To Get Along Without You", and "I Need You/Drop Whatever You're Doing". CD

Groundbreaking work from Archie Shepp – 5 albums that helped define the Impulse Records sound of the 60s! First up is Four For Trane – an amazing Impulse debut from Archie Shepp – easily one of his boldest musical statements ever, and a key announcement to the world that a new generation of modernists was on the rise! The album was co-produced by John Coltrane – who brought Shepp to the label, and almost gets out-done by Archie's sharply crafted musical vision on the set. The style here is that mix of freer lines and tighter conception that Shepp used with the New York Contemporary Five – and players include John Tchicai on alto from that group, plus Roswell Rudd on trombone, Alan Shorter on flugelhorn, Reggie Workman on bass, and Charles Moffett on drums. The lack of piano in the album is striking – and allows for plenty of horn interplay, but in a way that's much more cutting and dark than any of the piano-less horn dates from the 50s. Titles include 4 Coltrane compositions ("Syeeda's Song Flute", "Mr Syms", "Cousin Mary", and "Naima"), as sort of a tribute to Trane – plus Shepp's excellent "Rufus (Swung, his face at last to the wind, then his neck snapped)". On This Night is one of his most successful blends of the disparate influences that comprised his style. The group is a bit smaller than usual – which gives good focus to players like Bobby Hutcherson, Henry Grimes, and Joe Chambers. Shepp contributed some of his most haunting compositions to the set – including "On This Night", "The Mac Man", and "The Pickaninny" – and the whole thing's amazing enough to make you a Shepp convert for life. Whenever we get bogged down in some of his later recordings, we only need put this one on and feel refreshed! Fire Music is fantastic stuff – easily one of Archie Shepp's greatest albums, and certainly one of the pivotal points of 60s avant garde jazz! The album features Shepp leading a crack "new thing" line up that includes Ted Curson on trumpet, Marion Brown on alto, Joe Chambers on drums, Reggie Johnson on bass, and the lesser-known Joseph Orange on trombone – all playing in a beautifully poised manner, never too far out and free, but with all the dynamic energy of the best jazz changes of the 60s! There's a vibe here that's similar to some of the Blue Note "new thing" work by players like Grachan Moncur, Jackie McLean, and Tony Williams from the time – but there's a vision that's also wider and deeper, too, given the size of the group and the way they interact. Titles include "Hambone", "Los Olvidados", "Malcolm Malcolm–Semper Malcolm", and an insane cover of "Girl From Ipanema". You can't go wrong with this one – trust us! Mama Too Tight is growing brilliance from the young Archie Shepp – a record that's not just about Archie's own amazing work on the tenor, but also his keen modern vision as a leader! The combo here is an ensemble that features some of the hippest modernists of the 60s – Roswell Rudd and Grachan Moncur on trombone, Perry Robinson on clarinet, Howard Johnson on tuba, Charlie Haden on bass, and Tommy Turrentine on trumpet – making a rare non-bop appearance here, and further enforcing our already-high estimation of his talents! The style's somewhat in the "new thing" mode of the period, but it's also a bit more tightly arranged too – almost hitting Mingus-like modes for the bigger ensemble – balancing the force of the group together with very free, bold solo impulses from the players. Side one features the extended "Portrait Of Robert Thompson (As A Young Man)" – and side two features "Mama Too Tight", "Theme For Ernie", and "Basheer". Way Ahead Is definitely the way ahead in jazz – back in the 60s, and well into the 21st Century too! Archie Shepp's in prime form here – working with a sextet that's awash in avant freedoms, but which always shows a great sense of restraint – just the right power gained from the new modes of jazz expression, as the players dance together beautifully on a razor's edge of personal creativity and ensemble exploration. Players here include Grachan Moncur on trombone, Jimmy Owens on trumpet, Ron Carter on bass, and Beaver Harris and Roy Haynes on drums – and the album also features the first piano player on most of the Shepp albums on Impulse – Walter Davis Jr, making a rare outside appearance with the group! Titles include the classic track "Frankenstein", plus "Fiesta", "Damn If I Know (The Stroller)", and "Sophisticated Lady" – all nice and long! CD

There's two stylish British hipsters on the cover, but the album's filled with classic American jazz tracks – each hand-picked by Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller, and served up with plenty of soul! The work here begins in hardbop territory, and moves through 60s soul jazz and more righteous moments in the 70s – and while there's a few more recent tracks, the vibe of the record is very vintage throughout – and really reflects that longtime London love of obscure American records – sounds from a scene that has really taught us a lot over the decades! There's a few tracks here we haven't seen in years, and some great old favorites too – and titles include "Now At Last" by Blossom Dearie, "Trees & Grass & Things" by Charles Williams, "The Hipster" by Harold McNair, "Chains" by Blacks & Blues, "Bend Your Head Down Low" by Geoffrey Stoner, "Sphynx" by Brand New Heavies, "Look At Me Look At You" by Marlena Shaw, "Get Up Off Your Knees" by David Axelrod, "Psychedelic" by Lee Morgan, "Terra Firma Irma" by Joe Gordon,"The Rhythm Changes" by Kamasi Washington, "Just In Time To See The Sun" by Leon Thomas, "Mother Of The Future" by Norman Connors, and "Mi Hermano" by Blue Mitchell. LP, Vinyl record album

The funky Root Down EP by the Beastie Boys – riding high on a mid 90s creative peak! Root Down featuring a trio of versions of the title track and Ill Communication album standout, based on the Jimmy Smith's classic of the same name – and in hindsight, you really have to hand it to the Beasties, not only sampling and celebrating classic early 70s jazz funk, but for their earnest wish to introduce Jimmy Smith to the pop culture kids of the 90s – including a killer remix by the mighty Prince Paul. Also includes some live recordings from the time of classic Beasties tracks like"Time For Livin", "The Maestro", "Somethin's Got To Give", Time To Get Ill", thier punky "Heart Attack Man", "Sabrosa" and "Flute Loop". LP, Vinyl record album

A massive package of greatness – the first four solo albums from Chicago soul genius Curtis Mayfield! First up is Curtis – a record that not only foregrounds all the subtle politics he'd been forging in the Impressions during the 60s – but one that also really has Mayfield exploding as a force to be reckoned with in the studio! The album's a personal masterpiece – to the career of Curtis what the early solo albums of Issac Hayes were to his own genius – a bold, unfettered statement of pride and power – of the sort that would both make Mayfield and the Curtom Records label forces to be reckoned with in the 70s. Every cut is a classic – and titles include "Move On Up", "If There's a Hell Below We're All Gonna Go", "Miss Black America", "Wild & Free", "Give It Up", "The Makings Of You", "The Other Side Of Town", and "We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue". Roots is one of our favorite Curtis Mayfield albums ever – a massive early 70s effort that's filled with wonderful songs all the way through, and quite possibly one of the most perfect realization of the righteous vibe of the early 70s Curtom years! Curtis is in fine form throughout – as a singer, composer, and producer – but he's also got some excellent Chicago soul help from arrangers Riley Hampton and Johnny Pate – both key talents on the 60s Windy City scene, still able to come up with a deeply soulful groove here – and both able to blend together strings and funk in the way that Curtis was going for at the time. Titles include the massive "We Got to Have Peace" – a tune that never gets old – plus "Underground", "Keep On Keepin On", "Now You're Gone", "Get Down", "Love To Keep You In Mind", and "Beautiful Brother of Mine". Back To The World is pure genius from Curtis Mayfield – and a record that's got all the righteousness and political power you might guess from the cover! The album burns with a sense of empowerment that's every bit the best strength of Curtom in the 70s – a sublime blend of heavy soul, funky undercurrents, and far-reaching arrangements that still always manage to groove! And Curtis' vocals are great too – echoing out with a newfound presence that far surpasses the raspy quality of his early work with The Impressions. Arrangements are by Rich Tufo, production is by Mayfield, and titles include "Future Song" (aka "Future Shock"), "Keep on Trippin", "Can't Say Nothin", "Back To The The World", and "Right On For The Darkness". Sweet Exorcist is a wonderfully wicked album from Curtis Mayfield – one that's not nearly as famous as his Superfly set, but which is every bit as great! The groove here is lean, mean, and totally righteous – a bit more stripped-down than some of the rumbling funk of other Curtom efforts, and served up with a fluid groove that makes the album a killer from start to finish! As with Superfly, there's a nice blend here between uptight funky tracks and some more laidback soul – showcasing both sides of the Curtis Mayfield sound of the 70s – the brash society-changing soul, and the mellower, more fragile voice that first came to prominence in The Impressions. Titles alone tell you the vibe of the record – and they include "Ain't Got Time", "To Be Invisible", "Kung Fu", "Suffer", "Power to the People", and "Make Me Believe In You". All albums newly remastered – in sleeves with the original artwork too! LP, Vinyl record album

There's two stylish British hipsters on the cover, but the album's filled with classic American jazz tracks – each hand-picked by Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller, and served up with plenty of soul! The work here begins in hardbop territory, and moves through 60s soul jazz and more righteous moments in the 70s – and while there's a few more recent tracks, the vibe of the record is very vintage throughout – and really reflects that longtime London love of obscure American records – sounds from a scene that has really taught us a lot over the decades! There's a few tracks here we haven't seen in years, and some great old favorites too – and titles include "Some Kinda Mean" by Sam Jones, "Now At Last" by Blossom Dearie, "Trees & Grass & Things" by Charles Williams, "Cherrystones" by Eugene McDaniels, "The Hipster" by Harold McNair ,"Chains" by Blacks & Blues, "Bend Your Head Down Low" by Geoffrey Stoner, "Sphynx" by Brand New Heavies, "Look At Me Look At You" by Marlena Shaw, "Get Up Off Your Knees" by David Axelrod, "Psychedelic" by Lee Morgan, "Terra Firma Irma" by Joe Gordon, "Rhythm Changes" by Kamasi Washington, "Just In Time To See The Sun" by Leon Thomas, "Bolivia" by Ulf Sandberg, and "Mi Hermano" by Blue Mitchell. CD

A killer classic from Bob "Catfish" Hodge – a hell of a singer from the heady Detroit scene of the 60s, and one who really made his mark with this fantastic debut on Epic Records! Bob's a blues-inspired artist at the core, but he opens up here with enough freak and fuzz to match the music of Shuggie Otis at the start of the 70s – thanks to great guitar from Mark Manko – and like some of Shuggie's first two sets on Epic, the whole thing is a mad mix of blues and rock, funk and soul – with searing guitar solos that really hold the whole thing together! The whole thing's a seminal effort for pushing this style of music past any blues rock cliches – and titles include "Catfish", "No Place To Hide", "The Hawk", "Sundown Man", "Tradition", and "Catfish/Get High Get Naked Get Down". LP, Vinyl record album

The final album in the initial run of genius from Felt – a set that marks a short step from Creation Records over to El at Cherry Red – where they receive some nicely expanded handling on the production! Adrian Borland produced, and the tunefulness of the songs really comes to the forefront – all while still providing a perfect showcase for the lyrical and vocal talents of Lawrence, set up beautifully amidst the swirling Hammond lines that made their Creation material so distinct! There's definitely some new ideas bubbling up here – which Lawrence would explore more freely in later work – and titles include "I Can't Make Love to You Anymore", "Budgie Jacket", "Down An August Path", and "Get Out of My Mirror". LP, Vinyl record album

Rick James is massively throwing down on this classic set – tight, right, and on the money all the way through – in that trademark groove that so many others would try to cop, but never get this right! The album bristles with energy right from the start – lots of bass at the bottom of the grooves, riffing guitar in the middle, and those badass vocals of James' that mange to sound nasty even when they're sweet! But if you know Rick, you know that sweetness isn't the aim here – and the album drips with party sex all the way through – over funk classics that include "Standing On The Top", "Teardrops", "Money Talks", "Throwdown", "Hard To Get", "69 Times" and "Dance Wit Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic work from the massive electric years of the Cannonball Adderley Quintet – one of the group's last records to feature the keyboards of Joe Zawinul – and also one of the heaviest from the time! The set's a double-length gem that presents the group in an open live setting – one that really displays the full charm of their approach at the time, and that wonderfully crowd-winning mode that made Cannon a key act at this time for rock and soul audiences too! Adderley raps a bit at key points, and brings some righteous energy to the concert – while the rest of the group follow up with performances that really send the whole thing home – Nat Adderley on cornet, Zawinul on Fender Rhodes and piano, Walter Booker on bass, and Roy McCurdy on drums. Cannon plays some soprano sax, in addition to his familiar alto – and titles include "Alto Sex", "Lonesome Stranger", "Wild Cat Pee", "Soul Virgo", "Painted Desert", "Directions", "Pra Dizer Adeus", "Rumplestiltskin", "Price You Got To Pay To Be Free", "Esquisition", "Get Up Off Your Knees", "Down In Black Bottom", and "The Scene". Produced by David Axelrod too! LP, Vinyl record album

Overlooked later work from America – not the huge AM radio hits from the time when the group was a trio, and produced by George Martin – but instead, material from a point when they'd trimmed down to a duo, and really found a great way to move their music forward! The approach here still has all the harmonic interplay of before, and as the albums move on, older AOR modes get shed for some slightly more contemporary styles – but still with that kind of golden glow that always made the America approach a lot stronger than most of their contemporaries! Songs are nicely understated, as is the production – and if, like us, you're a fan of the group with a love that goes way deeper than the hits, then you'll find plenty to love here. The package features six full albums, each in original album-styled sleeves – with the releases Silent Letter, Alibi, View From The Ground, Your Move, Perspective, and In Concert. CD

Fantastic! The lost link in the Chicago soul scene of the 60s was Baby Huey – and he was a pretty darn big link too, if you've ever seen him in pictures! Weighing in at about 300 pounds, Baby Huey was sort of a rockin' soul star who played clubs on both sides of the city, to audiences of all types – working in a party-styled blend of funk, rock, and soul that was one of the most powerful grooves going down in the Windy City at the time! Huey sadly passed away at a very young age, leaving only this full album as his legacy – a great batch of hard-hitting soul tracks that are among some of the funkiest work ever recorded for the legendary Curtom label! The set includes Huey's classic version of "Mighty, Mighty", a club favorite from the live shows – plus the excellent Curtis Mayfield tune "Hard Times", famous as an oft-used sample track! Other titles include "A Change Is Going To Come", "California Dreamin", "Running", and "Mama Get Yourself Together". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe not the first album from the legendary Band – but a record in which the group get everything completely right all the way through – and sparkle with that special sound that continues to influence generations of music makers, and music lovers! All the great elements the group were bringing to their work with Bob Dylan are in place here – but the focus is completely different, with this warm glow that really fits the vocals of Levon Helm, and a sense of unified vision that makes it really hard to even come up with a match for the energy of the group on this album. The great John Simon adds a few special touches to the overall sound – and titles include "Rockin Chair", "Across The Great Divide", "When You Awake", "Up On Cripple Creek", "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", "Look Out Cleveland", and "King Harvest". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe not the first album from the legendary Band – but a record in which the group get everything completely right all the way through – and sparkle with that special sound that continues to influence generations of music makers, and music lovers! All the great elements the group were bringing to their work with Bob Dylan are in place here – but the focus is completely different, with this warm glow that really fits the vocals of Levon Helm, and a sense of unified vision that makes it really hard to even come up with a match for the energy of the group on this album. The great John Simon adds a few special touches to the overall sound – and titles include "Rockin Chair", "Across The Great Divide", "When You Awake", "Up On Cripple Creek", "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", "Look Out Cleveland", and "King Harvest". 2CD 50th anniversary edition features lots of bonus tracks – including 13 more early, alternate, and instrumental versions of tracks on the album – and a bonus 11 track Live At Woodstock 1969 set, with original rough mixes of tunes that include "I Shall Be Released", "This Wheel's On Fire", "Long Black Veil", "Ain't No More Cane On The Brazos", "Tears Of Rage", "Chest Fever", and "We Can Talk". CD

Maybe not the first album from the legendary Band – but a record in which the group get everything completely right all the way through – and sparkle with that special sound that continues to influence generations of music makers, and music lovers! All the great elements the group were bringing to their work with Bob Dylan are in place here – but the focus is completely different, with this warm glow that really fits the vocals of Levon Helm, and a sense of unified vision that makes it really hard to even come up with a match for the energy of the group on this album. The great John Simon adds a few special touches to the overall sound – and titles include "Rockin Chair", "Across The Great Divide", "When You Awake", "Up On Cripple Creek", "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", "Look Out Cleveland", and "King Harvest". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most adventurous voices of the Nashville Sound era of the 60s! Bobby Bare is one of those incomparable characters who had a gaggle of big hits and a legendary stylistic range – and he STILL doesn't get all the credit he's due. Talk Me Some Sense is sort of a country-politan companion to Johnny Cash's Orange Blossom Special LP – in that it applies a country approach to the then contemporary folk song styles. Includes the tracks – "A Little Bit Later On Down The Line", "Got Leavin On Her Mind", "Long Black Veil", "All The Good Times Are Past & Gone", "You Can't Stop The Wind From Blowing", "Heaven Help My Soul", "It Ain't Me Babe" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few rare albums on the Maple label – a 70s imprint that's known for some incredible funk and soul! Despite the title, the set's a record that sounds a lot more down-home than uptown – thanks to hard-wailing vocals from Gloria Barnes herself, and a nicely rough-edged quality to the instrumentation overall – supposedly handled by Lee Moses and The Ohio Players – the latter of whom wrote a few of the songs too! The album's one of the few on Maple – and in a way, it's almost a female soul counterpart to the Lee Moses record on the same label – done in a similar mix of rootsy modes and east coast indie soul – occasionally sweet at points, but mostly deep soul overall. Titles include "Gotta Get Away", "I Found Myself", "Old Before My Time", "I'll Go All The Way", "She Wants A Stand In", and "You Don't Mean It". CD

Classic work from Brick – a group who went onto become surprisingly successful during the 70s with a hot Atlanta blend of funky soul and uptempo club grooves. The group has a feel that would be taken up heavily a few years later by LA funk combos – particularly those on the Solar label – and their style of slicking up funky licks into a tightly compressed sound was obviously a bit hit with the kids of their generation, and hip hop sample heads in years to come. This 12 track greatest hits set includes the classic g-funk number "Dusic", plus "Music Magic", "Dazz", "Good High", "Free Happy", "We Don't Wanna Sit Down, We Wanna Get Down", and "Living From The Mind". CD

A surprisingly groovy set of tunes – from a singer that we really only know from Biker Soundtracks! Tony Bruno wrote all the tracks on the set himself, and the album's part uptown soul, part 60s male vocals – but arranged with an oddly hip edge by the great Artie Butler, who makes a nice little bounce on the best tracks. The album's really a great example of 60s pop at the crossroads – on one hand Tony looking a bit like Bobby Darin, but on the other coming off with traces of late 60s rock/pop. Titles include "The Grass Will Sing For You", "Helaina", "They Say", "Slow Up", "Small Town Bring Down", "Somewhere There's A Someone", and "Hard To Get A Thing Called Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Blistering! From an era before the machines ruled the Kingston studios, when reggae artists still put together formidable live sets, this late 70s LP from Winston Rodney features mightily rocking renditions of some of his best material! Don't get us wrong, we get down with the digital sound too, but these golden era recordings bring an entirely different kind of heaviness to bear on roots tracks. 7 essential numbers: "Marcus Garvey", "Slavery Days", "Black Soul", "Lion", "Old Marcus", "Man In The Hills" and "Throw Down Your Arms". LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous solo act from GC Cameron – a singer who first rose to fame in The Spinners, but who really sounds wonderful on his own! GC's moved away from The Spinners here – into a wide range of styles that show him ready to take on most of the rest of the competition! He's working here with the best of the best of Motown – production from Stevie Wonder and Willie Hutch – and arrangements by both, plus Paul Riser, Gene Page, James Carmichael, and Frank Wilson – all of whom really give their best to the record, and show that Motown was putting plenty of effort into making GC one of the next big stars of the 70s. We're not sure why things never took off as strongly for Cameron, but whatever the case, the album's a great step for the solo artist – on cuts that include "If You Don't Love Me", "Tippin", "All In Love Is Fair", "If You're Ever Gonna Love Me", "Come Get This Thang", "I'm Gonna Give You Respect", and "Let Me Down Easy". CD

An extended rock mass from Canterbury Glass – a very early entry in the genre that included work from David Axelrod, Mind Garage, and many others! There's less of a "holy" feel going on here than on other efforts of this type – as Canterbury Glass bring in a fair bit of heavy guitar to their work, mixed with harpsichord and flute to lighten things up at times – and topped with some chanted vocals to accent the spiritual feel of the music. Production is good, but relatively stripped down – which keeps a more earnest quality in place, and never lets things get too overblown. Titles include "Kyrie", "Nunc Dimittis", "Gloria", and "Prologue". LP, Vinyl record album

You know, over the years, you get exposed to so many cliches about Ray Charles that it's easy to forget how great he is – but you won't after hearing this set! This totally essential box pushes way past any other collection to pull together the raw early R&B sides by Ray – much harder stuff than any of his later country soul work, and way more rockin than even his instrumental sides that show up more as "jazz" efforts. No, this stuff kicks ass – and is right up there with the best 50s R&B work by artists like Tiny Bradshaw, Wynonie Harris, or Ray Brown. Plus, a huge amount of the cuts on here never really appeared on full LPs, so it's not like you'll be able to track them down that easily on other reissues. There's a wealth of excellent material here that will open up a whole new side of Ray for you – and which will fill in loads of holes if you've already got some of his work. There's a total of 53 tracks in all, plus a great set of notes and a very handsome box – and titles include "What Kind Of Man Are You", "Get On The Right Track", "Leave My Woman Alone", "Roll With My Baby", "Jumpin In The Morning", "It Should Have Been Me", "Feelin Sad", "Mess Around", "I Wonder Who", "Blackjack", "Greenbacks", "A Fool For You", "Hard Times", "A Bit Of Soul", "I Want To Know", "It's Alright", "Ain't That Love", and "That's Enough". All cuts are vocal – and this is some of the most satisfying Ray Charles you could ever buy! CD

Tina Charles has plenty of gumption – just the right kind of persistence that's going to make her a soul singer to watch in years to come! Charles starts out in the territory of a female vocalist working with a funk band – but she also brings a lot more to her music than just straight support of retro modes – a richness that partly comes from her willingness to experiment a bit more with the overall sound, which often includes tweaks on older funk or soul modes – while her own vocals still get strong play right down the middle! The record has a great way of collapsing the space between decades, but without making things feel slavish at all – and all tunes are Charles originals, with titles that include "Dans Les Nuages", "Cool Scorpio", "Love Overdue", "Going Home", "Upside Down", "Cadillac Moon", and "Look At Us Now". LP, Vinyl record album

The full spectrum of Chic magic from back in the 70s – all the group's early albums, rare singles and mixes, and even the Sister Sledge album handled by Nile Rodgers too! First up is the group's self-titled album – classic work from Chic, and a great batch of choppy funky dancefloor tunes! By the end of the 70s, Chic were so ubiquitous it was hard to remember the early power of this set – but from the perspective of 30 years later, the album's a real gem – set up with a simple focus on the rhythms that's made even better by the choppy guitar of Nile Rodgers, and his superbly soulful work on production alongside Bernard Edwards. Vocals are by Luther Vandross, Norma Jean, and Edwards – and titles include "Dance Dance Dance", "Strike Up The Band", "You Can Get By", and "Sao Paolo". Next is C'Est Chic – a massive set from the legendary Chic – and a set that has the dancefloor combo coming down perfectly throughout! Riffing Nile Rodgers guitars really make the tunes cook – as does the superb production – and although the record played plenty in discos and radios of the mainstream, it's still got a raw funky power that holds up brilliantly over the years! The set features the legendary "Le Freak" – a classic cutting track from the old school – plus "I Want Your Love", "Sometimes You Win", "Savoir Faire", "Happy Man", and "(Funny) Bone". Risque is a massive classic from Chic – a record that's worth it alone for the classic cut "Good Times" – a buoyant groover that was instantly timeless upon release, and went on to transform the sound of disco, hip hop, and many other styles to come! The whole thing's great, though – full of that perfect Nile Rodgers studio genius – with just the right sort of bass, beats, and riffing guitars – all peppered with vocals that really do a heck of a lot with just a little. In addition to "Good Times", other cuts include "A Warm Summer Night", "My Forbidden Lover", "What About Me", "My Feet Keep Dancing", and "Can't Stand To Love You". Next is the album We Are Family – possibly the greatest moment ever from Sister Sledge – a set that has the Philly quartet teaming with the Chic team of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards! Rodgers' guitar brings in a hell of a groove to the record – that choppy, skittish sound that made Chic such a favorite at the time – which makes for a surprisingly great combination with the sweeter vocals of the group. There's a definite sense of groove going on here – heard most famously in the huge hits "We Are Family" and "He's The Greatest Dancer" – and continuing strongly through other numbers like "Thinking Of You", "Easier To Love", "One More Time", and "Lost In Music". The set also features a full extra CD – with bonus cuts that include "Everybody Dance (12" mix)", "Dance Dance Dance (7" edit)", "You Can Get By (7" edit)", "My Forbidden Lover (12" mix)", "My Feel Keep Dancing (7" edit)", "Le Freak (7" edit)", "Good Times (7" edit)", and "I Want Your Love (7" edit)". All CDs newly remastered – and comes with a 40 page booklet too! CD

A rare gem that's worth all the attention it's bound to get over the years – never-issued material from the legendary John Coltrane Quartet – an instrumental session recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's studio on the day before his famous record with singer Johnny Hartman – completely fantastic throughout! The material here shows the group really starting to stretch out – Impressions would be their next record to follow, and its spirit is certainly in place here – as Coltrane blows magnificently on tenor and soprano sax, alongside McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. There's a few tunes that the group would fix on later, but which sound very different in this context – and there's even a few excellent numbers that didn't even receive titles at the time of recording. Tracks include "Untitled Original 11383", "Untitled Original 11386", "Slow Blues", "One Up One Down", "Vilia", "Impressions", and a short version of "Nature Boy". CD

A rare gem that's worth all the attention it's bound to get over the years – never-issued material from the legendary John Coltrane Quartet – an instrumental session recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's studio on the day before his famous record with singer Johnny Hartman – completely fantastic throughout! The material here shows the group really starting to stretch out – Impressions would be their next record to follow, and its spirit is certainly in place here – as Coltrane blows magnificently on tenor and soprano sax, alongside McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. There's a few tunes that the group would fix on later, but which sound very different in this context – and there's even a few excellent numbers that didn't even receive titles at the time of recording. Tracks include "Untitled Original 11383", "Untitled Original 11386", "Slow Blues", "One Up One Down", "Vilia", "Impressions", and a short version of "Nature Boy". LP, Vinyl record album

Pivotal west coast rap from Compton's Most Wanted! NWA cast such a long shadow in the late 80s, especially in the nascent gangsta rap and G Funk scenes, it was tough for top shelf peers and followers to get their due, but CMW deliver the goods and this record stands the test of time! Production by LA old school-er the Unknown DJ and CMW's DJ Slip give this set a nice stripped down west coast sound, with MC Eiht holding up his own end of things (and taking up the slack for the Chill MC) on the mic. 11 tracks in all, including "It's A Compton Thang", "One Time Gaffled Em", "This Is Compton", "Late Night Hype", "Duck Sick", "I'm Wit Dat" and "Rhymes Too Funky Pt 1 (Live at Lonzo's 1988)". CD

A rare funk album with a prison pedigree – a set created by inmates at Chicago's Cook County prison in the 70s, following a tradition of cellblock soul that includes groups like The Escorts and Power Of Attorney! These guys get help from Chicago soul legend Cash McCall – who arranged and produced with Zach Prather, and who really keeps things sharp, tight, and on the money – lots of bouncing boogie funk rhythms at the bottom, at a level that really belies the group's identity behind bars – as it sounds like they're having a heck of a good time making the record! There's a few mellower ballads that balance things out, and show that these guys aren't just a funk band at the core – sweet soul numbers that really round out the record, which includes the tunes "Life Ain't Nothin But A Groove", "Funk Some More", "Inner Flight", "You're The One", "Party Down", "Star Wars", "Space Dancin", and "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Heavy funk from the Peruvian scene – the massive first album from Cosa Nostra, and a burning blend of soul, Latin, and psychedelic influences! Cosa Nostra clearly come from the rock end of the spectrum, but have picked up plenty of funky grooves along the way – and hit a genre-blending style that rivals some of their contemporaries on the South American scene! Guitars are mixed with conga, keyboards, and some especially great vocals that are often in English – and titles include a few covers – the best of which is a nice take on Pete Rodriguez' "I Like It Like That" – and a number of nice originals, like "Get Down & Do It", "Squeeze It Tight", "Cosa Nostra", and "Change Of Mind". CD

The stunning debut of CCR – a record that still burns with an undeniable fire after all these years! Sure, all the elements here have been copped by many – the fuzzy guitar, lean bluesy groove, and raw soul-inspired vocals of John Fogerty – but the way the group puts them together is tremendous – and there's a lean, raw vibe to the whole record that instantly communicates the urgency the group's music had back in the second half of the 60s! Even the group's take on other artists' songs never sound dated at all – and taken together, the mix of material on the record is even greater than the sum of its parts – with a power that punches more than any of these songs on their own. The whole thing's also a great testament to Fogerty's guitar skills too – with some raw solos that blow away most of the blues rock pretenders of the period – on titles that include "Get Down Woman", "The Working Man", "Gloomy", "Walking On The Water", "Ninety Nine & A Half", "Porterville", and "Susie Q". LP, Vinyl record album