A compelling title – as the record was recorded at Nola Penthouse Studios in New York, one of the hippest places to lay down tracks at the time – but the cover shows an image of the Playboy building in Chicago, famous from the TV show Playboy's Penthouse, Hugh Hefner's first foray into television! The actual music is equally compelling too – as the record is one of Ahmad's first non-trio sessions, and features some great larger arrangements from Joe Kennedy – backing the trio of Jamal, Vernel Fournier, and Israel Crosby with some light strings that create a wonderfully dreamy feel! Ahmad's piano glides along wonderfully in such a setting – set free a bit more than usual, and really sounding great on tracks that include "Ivy", "Comme Ci, Comme Ca", "Tangerine", "Never Never Land", "Ahmad's Blues", and "Seleritus". CD

A fantastic early 70s album from Jim Sullivan – one of the few that he ever gave us before departing the planet, and a set that was one of a handful of albums issued by the Playboy Records imprint! The sound is a lot more rootsy than anything you'd ever hear at Hugh Hefner's mansion, though – very faithful to the spirit of Jim's classic UFO album, but also with these added light arrangements that really open up the lyrics too – in a way that maybe seems to let Sullivan focus even more strongly on his own vocal interpretation of his words, all with a sound that makes the whole thing one of the overlooked singer/songwriter masterpieces of the time. Arrangements are by Jim Hughart, who also plays bass in the core combo – and the songs are Jim Sullivan material of the highest quality – with titles that include "Amos", "Tea Leaves", "Don't Let It Throw You", "Lonesome Picker", "Sandman", "I'll Be Here", and "Plain To See". CD