A studio session from Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden. Tracks include "For All We Know", "No Moon At All", " Body & Soul", "Where Can I Go Without You", and "Don't Ever Leave Me". CD

A nice one! The MJQ record for the Beatles' label, and the record's one of their most interesting in years! The production's pretty straight, but the group's playing in a cool open-ended style that still has elements of their earlier work, but which really makes things a lot more interesting than some of the Atlantic recordings. Milt Jackson's vibes have a bit more of a bell-like quality on some parts, and the rhythm team of Percy Heath and Connie Kay kick it with a soul jazz vibe on a few numbers – a nice change from the sleepier rhythms of earlier albums. Titles include "The Blue Necklace", "Exposure", "Jasmine Tree", and "Three Little Feelings". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the most overstuffed collection of work we've ever seen from early New Orleans soul legend Eddie Bo – a set that not only includes his early classics for the Ric label, but also more obscure material for Apollo, Chess, Ace, and Swan – all brought together here with a number of unissued tracks from the time! If you don't know Eddie, you're in for a treat – as the singer first began in a more familiar New Orleans R&B mode, but already had a gritty style that helped him first pave the way towards Crescent City soul, then some even more important funk territory as the 60s moved on! This set focuses on six key years in Bo's early career – clearly a very fruitful time, as the package features 43 tracks in all – titles that include "Baby", "I'm Wise", "Happy Tears", "I'll Be Satisfied", "Walk That Walk", "Oh Oh", "My Dearest Darling", "I Love To Rock & Roll", "So Glad", "I'm So Tired", "Hey There Baby", "I Need Someone", "Tell It Like It Is", "Every Dog Got His Day", "Roamin-titis", "Now Let's Pop Eye", "Hep Hep Hooray", "I Cry On", and lots lots more! CD

A massive look at the work of guitarist James Burton – a musician who only cut a few records under his own name, but who was hugely important for his session contributions to both rock and country music in the 50s and 60s! Burton's one of those guys for whom the term "picker" was coined – the kind of cat who could show up, guitar in hand, and bring something really special to a session – a strong guitar lead that almost seemed effortless, and which was often the final element to cement the strength of a hit record! This collection focuses on key Burton contributions to the work of a number of different artists, both country and rock – in a set of 35 tracks that includes work by James Wilson & The Jimmie Cats, Maylon Humphries, David Houston Bob Luman, Dale Hawkins, The Shadows, Ricky Nelson, Dorsey Burnette, Tommy Cassel, Bobby Lee Tramwell, The Green River Boys, and The Shacklefords – most of whom are featured here on a few tracks each, all with guitar by Burton. CD

A huge amount of work from The Cats & The Fiddle – a vocal group that stands as a strong bridge between some of the male quartets of the 30s and the big wave of R&B acts to come! The music here is nice and jazzy, often with a lot of guitar used to emphasize the rhythms – maybe in the Mills Brothers mode, but much more earthy and with a stronger current of blues – especially as the 40s move in, the the Cats hit all these kind of hip, groovy sorts of styles that are in the territory of Slim Gaillard or the early King Cole Trio! The package brings together 53 well-selected tracks from their singles of the late 30s and 1940s – titles that include "Sighing & Crying", "When Elephants Roost In Bamboo Trees", "Start Talking Baby", "Wine Drinker", "Darling Can't We Make A Date", "I'm Afraid Of You", "I'm Gonna Pull My Hair", "I'll Always Love You Just The Same", "One Is Never Too Old To Swing", "Pig's Idea", "Hep Cat's Holiday", "That's On Jack That's On", "Crawlin Blues", "Chant Of The Rain", and "Killer Diller Man From The South". CD

A huge collection of work from the great Bobby Charles – a sometimes-overlooked figure in late 50s music, but a key force in developing the sound of Louisiana at the time! Bobby hailed from the cajun part of the state, but also drank heavily from the R&B that was brewing up in New Orleans – and the records within are part of a fantastic genre-crossing legacy that's always gotten Charles equal interest from fans of older rock and soul! The package is very heavy on key material that Bobby recorded for Chess Records, including a number of tracks that were not issued at the time – and the set also features some later singles for Imperial, which continue the kind of Crescent City soulfulness that Bobby really helped forge with a few key contemporaries as the start of a much bigger legacy to come. The set features 48 tracks in all – with titles that include "Oh Yeah", "Since She's Gone", "Watch It Sprocket", "I'm A Fool To Care", "Mr Moon", "Ain't Got No Home", "Laura Lee", "Take It Easy Greasy", "One Eyed Jack", "No More", "You Can Suit Yourself", "On Bended Knee", "Hey Good Lookin", "Why Did You Leave", "Your Picture", "Good Lovin", "Those Eyes", and "What A Party". Also includes a few bonus tracks that show Bobby's influence on other artists – tracks by Fats Domino, Clarence Henry, John Fred, and Bill Haley. CD

Fantastic early work from Rene Hall – a talent you've probably heard on record before in a variety of different formats – as Hall was a key arranger, producer, and session musician on the LA scene of the 50s and 60s! Yet here, Rene's also the leader – stepping out in small combo modes on a host of rare singles, both 78s and 45s – starting out in a mode that echoes some of the best jump blues/instrumental R&B styles coming out of LA in the postwar years – then moving into styles that are more rocking and early soul as the 50s move on! Hall plays guitar throughout, and other musicians include Plas Johnson and Buddy Tate on tenors, Ernie Freeman on piano, and Earl Palmer on drums – and the set features a whopping 29 tracks in all, including "My Uncle", "Bitter Winds", "Voodoo Moon", "Blue Creek Hop", "Chitling Switch", "The Parrot & The Rooster", "Southgate", "Cleo", "Thunderbird", "That's It", "The Untouchables", "Night Fright", and the fuzz guitar monster "Twitchy" – worth the price of the CD alone! CD

Classic work from Thurston Harris – one of those key 50s R&B artists who also had a big impact on the sound of rock and roll as well – the kind of crossover artist who set the stage for countless others to come! Yet by crossover, we don't mean that Harris' music is weak or commercial – and instead, it's so bold, powerful, and downright catchy that you can't help but love the man and his records – 35 of which are served up on this nice little set – filled with singles for Aladdin, plus some later Dot Records material too! Titles include "Runk Bunk", "Tears From My Heart", "I'm Out To Get'Cha", "Do What You Did", "I'm Asking For Forgiveness", "Tell Me So", "Fine Fine Frame", "Send Me Some Loving", "Mr Satan", "Goddess Of Angels", "Paradise Hill", "Slip Slop", and "Smokey Joe's". CD

Stonewall Jackson may not be one of the best-remembered singers of his generation, but during the time covered in this set he really delivered a fantastic string of singles for Columbia Records – the kind of classic country gems that are often equally great on both sides of the record! Jackson's got this raw twang on his vocals on most of these tracks – a warbling charm that's somewhere in the Lefty Frizell side of the spectrum – and even as he moves into some folksier material during the second stretch of this set, his vocal charms hold things very strong – especially as he moves back to straighter country towards the end. 32 tracks in all – with titles that include "Hungry For Love", "Leona", "That's Why I'm Walkin", "Waterloo", "Don't Be Angry", "A Broken Heart A Wedding Band", "I Need You Real Bad", "A Wound Time Can't Erase", "Can't Hang Up The Phone", "Slowly", "Thirty Links Of Chain", "Run", "Grieving In My Heart", and "Gettin Older". CD

A great run of music from Annie Laurie – not a New Orleans native, but a singer who helped forge the Crescent City sound in the band of Paul Gayten – before then moving onto work on a whole host of other labels! Laurie was a big act back in her day – and has the dynamic flexibility of a singer like Dinah Washington – easily at home with jazz, jump blues, and other modes too – as you'll hear in this fantastic collection of work! Tracks appeared on the DeLuxe, Okeh, Regal, Ritz, Cosmo, and other labels – brought together here in a batch of 30 tracks that includes "Lonesome & Blue", "Get Me Some Money", "Since I Fell For You", "Rockin & Rollin Again", "It Must Be You", "Annie's Blues", "Cuttin Out", "Stop Talkin & Start Walkin", "It's Gonna Come Out In The Wash Someday", "Hold On To What You Got", "Nobody's Going To Hurt You", "Please Honey Don't Go", "I'll Never Be Free", "My Rough & Ready Man", and "I Feel So Right Tonight". CD

Formative work from Bobby Mitchell – an early star of New Orleans soul music, and one who cut some killer singles for Imperial Records back in the 50s! The music here has plenty of elements that would flourish more strongly in both the worlds of soul and rock – but Bobby was one of the originators, and does a really great job here throughout the entire run of music – first starting out with his Toppers group, then recording as a solo act, and working with the orchestra of Dave Barthlomew too – all in the kinds of groundbreaking grooves that made Imperial Records one of the best labels to understand the Crescent City sound in the 50s. 32 tracks in all – and titles include "She Couldn't Be Found", "Baby's Gone", "One Friday Morning", "I'm Crying", "I'm A Young Man", "School Boy Blues", "Sister Lucy", "I Wish I Knew", "I've Got My Fingers Crossed", "When We First Met", "I Love To Hold You", "64 Hours", "You Better Go Home", "I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday", and "I Try So Hard". CD

A big overview of the early work of Johnny Nash – a singer that most folks know for a huge crossover radio hit in the early 70s, but who got his start much earlier, through years of recording for ABC Records! The label really saw the young Nash as a singer to challenge Nat King Cole or Johnny Mathis – and he definitely does a great job in the territory of both here, but also really finds his own space too – eventually ending up more as a precursor to the sorts of 60s male singers who were adept at more heartbreaking material, ala Jerry Butler or Chuck Jackson. Arrangements are large and rich, often with a bit of vocals behind the lead of Nash – on 31 tracks that include "Moment Of Weakness", "Love's Young Dream", "Too Much Love", "World Of Tears", "Kisses", "The End Of The World", "Almost In Your Arms", "Roots Of Heaven", "The Wish", "Too Proud", and "Take A Giant Step" – plus the unusual "Teen Commandments", done with Paul Anka and George Hamilton IV! CD

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Early work from two different singers – each featured here on rare singles for the Cadence Records label! First up is Lenny Welch – a singer with a voice that's as smooth as butter, and a key link between some of the more pop-oriented vocalists of the 50s, and the new generation of 60s "icemen" like Jerry Butler and Chuck Jackson! Like those two, Lenny's got a great way of putting over a sad tune with just the right balance of emotion – never too overdone, nor self-indulgent – but perfectly poised with a nicely mature quality. And Lenny's also a great singer on a more upbeat number – a surprisingly rocking vocalist when he wants to be, as you'll hear on some of the more groove-oriented titles on this set – tunes that have a classy early soul approach, one that's almost a bit like uptown soul of a few years later. CD features 19 Welch titles – including "Rocket To The Moon", "I'd Like To Know", "Darlin", "You Don't Know Me", "Pony Time", "You Can Have Her", "Mama Don't You Hit That Boy", "Taste Of Honey", "Congratulations Baby", and "The Last Star Of Evening". The bigger surprise here is OC Smith – recording her as Ocie Smith – years before his big country soul hits at the end of the 60s, and in a style that's as cool and classy as Lenny Welch, but maybe a bit more rocking too – with nice use of electric bass at the core of larger arrangements, and a nice sense of rhythm that often brings in a bit of jukebox mambo or popcorn soul. CD features 6 titles by Ocie Smith – including "Lighthouse", "Bad Man Of Missouri", "Forbidden Fruit", "If You Don't Love Me", "Too Many", and "Slow Walk". CD

A set with an 80s cover, but one that features vintage soul jazz throughout – the kind of late 50s/early 60s material that really played big on UK club floors in the early years of Acid Jazz, thanks to work by DJs like Gilles Peterson and Patrick Forge! These are all classic cuts from the US – from labels like Prestige and Chess – served up with plenty of Hammond, riffing guitar, and strong tenor lines – plus occasional vocals too. Forget the look of the package, and imagine some fantastic jazz photographs instead – alongside cuts that include "Camp Meetin" by Sam Lazar, "Moanin" by Art Blakey, "Screamin" by Jack McDuff, "Cerveza" by Boots Brown, "Somethin Strange" by Baby Face Willette, "Meetin Here" by Curtis Amy & Paul Bryant, "Blue Vibes" by Johnny Lytle, "Wade In The Water" by Johnny Griffin, "Vera" by Richard Evans, "Sack O Woe" by Ray Bryant, and "Night In Tunisia" by Buck Clarke. CD

A hip celebration of all things spooky – pulled from that wonderful late 50s/early 60s stretch when the novelty market was overflowing with rock and soul songs based on Halloween topics! This collection is nicely huge – and while there's a few tracks here you might know from big fame, there's lots more from the the farther reaches of the trash rock underground of the period – very cool cuts that were only issued as singles, maybe just for the Halloween market, then quickly dropped out of sight! The music is a mix of R&B and early rock, with a few other styles thrown in for good measure – and titles include "The Cat" by Chris Kevin, "Frankenstein Rock" by Eddie Thomas, "I Was A Teenage Monster" by The Keytones, "Werewolf" by The Frantics, "Nightmare" by Scottie Stuart, "Voodoo Voodoo" by Lavern Baker, "Rockin In The Graveyard" by Jackie Morningstar, "The Spook Walks" by The Spooks, "The Monsters Hop" by Bert Convy, "She's My Witch" by Kip Tyler, "Frankie & Igor At A Rock N Roll Party" by Bob McFadden, "Little Demon" by Screamin Jay Hawkins, and "Nighmare Hop" by Earl Patterson with The Darts. CD

A really cool collection – one that brings together 32 answer songs and follow-ups from the 50s – all R&B numbers that stand more than strongly enough on their own, but which are even cooler when you know that most of them are kind of a "part 2" to bigger hits of the time! Unlike other packages of this nature, which often also include the hits – this one just features the more obscure follow-ups – which makes the whole thing a lot more fresh, even as some of the tunes echo familiar melodies or themes. There's plenty to love here if you dig older R&B on labels like King, Chess, Atlantic, and Modern – and titles include "Play It Again" by Pat Lundy, "My Real Gone Rocket" by Jackie Brenston, "Mr Hound Dog's In Town" by Roy Brown, "Pappa" by Benny Brown, "Florence Don't Leave Me" by The Paragons, "Charlie Brown Got Expelled" by Joe Tex, "I Found Out" by The Du Droppers, "Yes I Will Love You Tomorrow" by Jon E Holiday, "Be My Girl" by Dee Dee Sharp, "Babalu's Wedding Day" by The Eternals, "I Quit My Knockin" by Carol Fran, and "All In Your Mind" by The Harptones. CD

With Louis Prima's regular backing band, Sam Butera and the Witnesses. CD

A pair of overlooked gems from singer Ed Townsend – a talent we'd rank right up there with Jesse Belvin or Arthur Prysock in his early years! First up is New In Town – an obscure early session from Ed Townsend – an artist who's perhaps better known as a songwriter of hits for others, and slightly less as a 70s soul singer on Curtom and Casablanca! Yet here, Ed's starting out his career as a mainstream crooner – cast by Capitol as a sepia Sinatra, and even working with arrangements from Frank's Capitol mainstay, Nelson Riddle! There's a bit more drama here than you might hear on a Sinatra album – a slightly deeper range that slides towards more conventional pop vocals of the period – but the whole album's pretty darn compelling, especially the overall package. Titles include "Symphony", "I Am", "New In Town", "Goin My Way", "Till The End Of Time", "Mam'selle", "Do Nothin Till You Hear From Me", and "Lover Come Back To Me". Glad To Be Here is another great album – every bit as wonderful as the first! Orchestrations are by Nelson Riddle, and the album's got a gentle swing that we really enjoy – Ed singing over some lesser known tracks, and bringing a raspy soulfulness to the more familiar ones. Titles include "What's Wrong With Me", "Golden Earrings", "I'm In Love", "Don't Ever Leave Me", and "On The Street Where You Live". CD

A group who are best known for one huge hit in 1957 – but one who also recorded a fair bit of other wonderful material too – not just their early singles for Atlantic Records, but also a lot of material for other companies too – as you'll hear in this collection that brings together singles for King, Jubilee, Triple X, End, and other labels too! Although a girl group, The Bobbettes have lots of nice rough edges that are more R&B and deep soul overall – hardly the sweet pop of groups that would follow them in the 60s, and instead maybe a group expression of some of the modes that Ruth Brown and Lavern Baker were cutting for Atlantic – with maybe some of the energy of the doo wop groups thrown in for good measure. CD features 31 tracks – titles include "Speedy", "Zoomy", "Untrue Love", "I Shot Mr Lee", "Mr Lee", "I Don't Like It Like That (parts 1 & 2)", "Mr Johnny Q", "Looking For A Lover", "Mama Papa", "Over There", "Loneliness", "I Cried", "Um Bow Bow", and "The Dream". CD

A nice range of work from Larry Hall – a singer who's best known as a one-hit wonder, with a small hit at that – but who steps out here with a groovy batch of material that only ever saw release as a string of indie label 45s at the end of the 50s and start of the 60s! Larry's got a great way of dipping and warbling his voice – never too much, but this unique inflection that can make simple lyrics catchier than they might otherwise sound – captured here with backings that mix rock and roll with gentler pop production, a mode that's maybe like some of the Cadence or Dot Records material of the period. Titles include Larry's hit "Sandy" – plus "Kool Luv", "The Stranger", "Rebel Heart", "Lips Of Wine", "Ladder Of Love", "I Didn't Ask To Be Born", "I'll Stay Single", "For Every Boy", "A Girl Like You", "Lovin Tree", and "I Sit Alone". CD

A really wonderful overview of the early career of Bobby Lewis – a pre-soul singer who recorded for a variety of different labels, and always managed to pack a hell of a punch! Bobby can have a very dynamic vocal approach when he wants – a sometimes-explosive approach that paves the way from jump blues through R&B into soul – and the tracks here follow a similar trajectory, and start with early work for Chess, Mercury, Spotlight, and Roulette – before moving into the early 60s material for Beltone Records that's perhaps some of Lewis' best-known material. Throughout the 27 track set, there's a real love for an upbeat, playful tune – the kind of work that would be more strongly associated with the New Orleans scene in the 60s, even though Bobby's roots are in the midwest. Titles include two versions of his early hit "Mumbles Blues" – plus "Tossin & Turnin", "Oh Mr Somebody", "Solid As A Rock", "Turn Over A New Leaf", "Cry No More", "One Track Mind", "Yay Yay I Feel So Gay", "A Man's Gotta Be A Man", "Yes Oh Yes It Did", "Boom A Chick Chick", and "I'm Tossin & Turnin Again". CD

26 tracks from Five Go Down To The Sea, the Pastels, the Moodists,Biff Bang Pow!, the Jasmine Minks, Primal Scream, Felt, the Weather Prophets & the Bodines. CD

An excellent batch of rare material by vocalist Johnny Hartman, and a very strong set of tracks that shows a side of his work that's often ignored! Usually, Hartman gets cited for his slow, moody, syrupy sound – such as that which he used in his classic recordings with Coltrane. However, we really dig the side that's exposed on this album – the shorter, livelier, more uptempo jazz numbers, done with a swing that you don't normally get with Johnny, and proof that he really was a tremendously versatile singer! Arrangements are by Gerald Wilson, and titles include "Fools Rush In", "Down In The Depths", "Bidin' My Time", "The More I See You", "Once In A While", and "Almost Like Being In Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A really wonderful album from the height of the exotica years – but a set that's got a fair bit more jazz in the mix than most from that generation too! Gene Rains plays vibes – and moves between moodier moments, ala Martin Denny/Arthur Lyman, and more straightforward jazz styles – which often have some great modal elements in the mix! The Rains group played hotels in Hawaii during the late 50s and early 60s – but are maybe more like a Pacific take on territory of the Quartette Tres Bien, thanks to strong work from Allen Watanabe on drums, Archie Grant on bass, and Byron Peterson on piano. Titles include "Mapuana", "Bancock Cock Fight", "Tiki", "Off Shore", "Shadow Of Love", "Jasmine & Jade", and "Lonely Winter". CD

A really great full length set from Cool Million – a group who don't give us nearly as many records as we'd like – because by this time, they should have a recorded legacy to match that of Incognito or Brand New Heavies! Like both of those groups, these guys have a great way of going back while still moving forward – borrowing the best classic elements to add to their music, while also keeping things lean and contemporary too! The group have always had a great way with singers – and this time around, the set features guest vocals from James D-Train Williams on two tracks – plus more guest work from Sophia Ripley, Yolonda Lavender, Matthew Winchester, Seest, Jasmine Franklin, and Boogie Back. Titles include "Stronger", "Keep On", "No Matter What", "Your Move", "Come Back Home", "Queen Sugar", "I Love The Way You Fly", and "Slow Burn Love". CD

A really great full length set from Cool Million – a group who don't give us nearly as many records as we'd like – because by this time, they should have a recorded legacy to match that of Incognito or Brand New Heavies! Like both of those groups, these guys have a great way of going back while still moving forward – borrowing the best classic elements to add to their music, while also keeping things lean and contemporary too! The group have always had a great way with singers – and this time around, the set features guest vocals from James D-Train Williams on two tracks – plus more guest work from Sophia Ripley, Yolonda Lavender, Matthew Winchester, Seest, Jasmine Franklin, and Boogie Back. Titles include "Stronger", "Keep On", "No Matter What", "Your Move", "Come Back Home", "Queen Sugar", "I Love The Way You Fly", and "Slow Burn Love". LP, Vinyl record album