The last Tribe Called Quest LP – one of those "end of an era" type experiences for sure – and record that was fairly slept on it the time given the dizzying heights of their earlier record – and holds up today as an essential! The tracks are all produced by The Ummah featuring J Dilla, and just a solid bed of production that's a reminder of how this excellent style of hip hop production excels so sweetly at both looking forward and making 70s soul jazz beats sound forever fresh – with tracks including "Pen & Pad", "Find A Way", "Like It Like That", "Steppin' It Up" (featuring Busta Rhymes & Redman), "Rock Rock Y'all" (featuring Mos Def, Jane Doe, Punchline & Wordsworth.) As an added bonus, the CD includes six rare classic Tribe Called Quest alternate tracks and remixes that this point only ever appeared on 12-inches – including the classic "Scenario" remix, "Oh My God" remix, "Hot Sex", "One, Two Sh*t", and "Jazz (We Got)" re-recorded version. CD

The second album from the immortal Tribe Called Quest – one of the absolute essential hip hop LPs, and a record that should be an anyone's shortlist of the best albums in several subsections of hip hop – just a straight up masterpiece anyway you cut it. The album is so high up on the ladder, we're a loss to add any fresh insight o the critical consensus, so just get it. Classics one after another, steeped in bass note snapping, head nodding funk jazz beatcraft of the first order! "Buggin Out", "Excursions", "Rap Promoter", "Verses From The Abstract", "Check The Rhyme", "Everything Is Fair", "Jazz (We've Got)", "What?", "Scenario" and more. CD

The second album from the immortal Tribe Called Quest – one of the absolute essential hip hop LPs, and a record that should be an anyone's shortlist of the best albums in several subsections of hip hop – just a straight up masterpiece anyway you cut it. The album is so high up on the ladder, we're a loss to add any fresh insight o the critical consensus, so just get it. Classics one after another, steeped in bass note snapping, head nodding funk jazz beatcraft of the first order! "Buggin Out", "Excursions", "Rap Promoter", "Verses From The Abstract", "Check The Rhyme", "Everything Is Fair", "Jazz (We've Got)", "What?", "Scenario" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

One of THE landmark hip hop albums – and the full length debut of great Tribe Called Quest! We hardly need to tell you about this classic – but it will always bear repeating. De La Soul might have kicked the door open on leftfield, anything goes artistry about a year or so earlier, but their friends and fellow Native Tongues Tribe's debut was a crucial reminder that the east coast was spinning out of one of the greatest creative growth spurts in hip hop history at the time. Pure excellence. Tracks include "Luck Of Lucien", "Footprints", "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo", "Bonita Applebaum", "Can I Kick It?", "Rhythm (Devoted To The Art Of Moving Butts)", "Mr Muhammad", "Description Of A Fool" andmore seminal, jazzy middle school tracks! CD

A hell of a comeback for Tribe Called Quest – maybe one of the best musical comebacks ever, and a fantastic reminder of why we loved the group so much in the first place! 18 years have passed since we last heard from the trio (now, sadly, a duo) – and that time only seems to have sharpened their sound, and given them a more powerful presence than ever! Everything we loved about them is still very firmly in place – that sense of collaboration, almost improvisation in a jazz-like way, and those moments of surprise and wonder at all the deft turns they can take in a short space. Yet there's also a new edge – one that might be even more powerful in this highly politicized moment in American history – a bite that the group never had before, and a larger social agenda that makes all of their incredible skills even more amazing, when focused on a target. We've certainly missed them – but the album's also well worth the wait! Titles include "Black Spasmodic", "The Donald", "The Space Program", "We The People", "Solid Wall Of Sound", "Dis Generation", "Kids", "Melatonin", "Enough", "Movin Backwards", and "The Killing Season". LP, Vinyl record album

The mid 90s classic from Underground Kingz – they're commercial breakthrough, with all the uncompromising grit of their first few records on the lyrical tip, albeit with a stripped down soulful resonance to the beats. The gritty rhymes is the unifying element here, with tracks that split the difference between lean, crisply bouncing, hard-hitting production and surprisingly soul and funk steeped tracks. It works great on both sides of that style divide, and it's little wonder that made such a big impact at the time. Stands the test of time, too. Titles include "One Day", "Murder", "Pinky Ring", , "Touched", "F*** My Car", "Diamonds & Wood", "Good Stuff" and "Ridin' Dirty". LP, Vinyl record album

One of those rare moments where a mainstream hit goes onto preface years of creative talent to come – even though the whole thing might have seemed like a bit of a one-off at the time! The young Will Smith is fantastic as the Fresh Prince – full of charm, at a level that really upped the game for so many other MCs at the time – especially because both his lyrics and his subject matter weren't maybe the most cutting-edge, but could really come over strong, thanks to the inherent stardom in his presentation! We could well argue that Will on the album introduced the whole idea of a crossover hip hop star – one able to do just about anything – but the whole record would be nothing without the creative skills of Jazzy Jeff – who went the complete opposite way after his pairing with Will – more expressive, more experimental – and even more firmly committed to the underground. Yet it was also that easy bridge between underground and fame that made early hip hop albums like this so great – as Jeff brings forward so many great musical moments on titles that include "Live At Union Square", "DJ On The Wheels", "My Buddy", "Rhythm Trax House Party Style", "He's The DJ I'm The Rapper", "Hip Hop Dancers Theme", "Jazzy's In The House", and "Human Video Game". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

The classic early 90s debut of Fu-Schnickens – who along with Das EFX brought a dizzying display of tongue twisting, pop culture referencing, seriously skillful fast rap style into the scene. Includes the classic single "True Fuschnick", strongly reminiscient of Tribe Called Quest's "Scenario" in a GOOD way, given the Fu crew's distinctive rap style, plus ATCQ gets a production credit for that one – along with "Heavenly Father" and "La Schmoove" featuring Phife Dog. Other tracks include "Ring The Alarm", "Props", "Check It Out", "Back Off", "Generals", "Check It Out" and "Bebo". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

The first KRS solo LP – breaking out of the formula of later Boogie Down Production a bit by collaborating with rising talent underground favorite producers like DJ Premier, Showbiz and Kid Capri in addition to his own solid production work – and ends up standing as strong as he ever would as a solo artist! The production stands the test of time incredibly well, as does KRS's peak level precision on the mic. Includes the hits "Outta Here", "I Can't Wake Up", "Black Cop", "Sound Of The Police", but this one is solid throughout. Other tracks including "Stop Frontin'", "Uh Oh", "Hip Hop Vs Rap", "Brown Skin Woman", "Return Of The Boom Bap" and more. CD

A big one for Billy Ocean – and a set that has the singer sounding even more confident and powerful than ever before! Ocean's not afraid of a hook by this point in his career, and the album's filled with the kind of catch crossover tune that Billy could do better than just about anyone else – music that got him a big audience way beyond soul, especially on the other side of the Atlantic. Titles include "The Colour Of Love", "Calypso Crazy", "Here's To You", "Because Of You", "Get Outta My Dreams Get Into My Car", "Stand & Deliver", and "Gun For Hire". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that may have the year 1993 permanently locked into its title – but a set that's got more than enough strength to survive strongly over the decades – the first great statement from Cali giants Souls Of Mischief, and a record that would set the tone for the Hiero Imperium scene for years to come! The set's filled with jazz inspired, headnodding boom bap production at its finest – topped with some of the finest ensemble rapping of the time, all at a level that breaks new lyrical boundaries with cuts that include "That's When Ya Lost", "Let Em Know", "Live & Let Live", "Make Your Mind Up", "A Name I Call Myself", "Disseshowedo", "What A Way To Go Out", "Never No More", "93 Til Infinity", "Limitations", "Anything Can Happen", "Make Your Mind Up", "Batting Practice", and "Tell Me Who Profits". CD

A record that may have the year 1993 permanently locked into its title – but a set that's got more than enough strength to survive strongly over the decades – the first great statement from Cali giants Souls Of Mischief, and a record that would set the tone for the Hiero Imperium scene for years to come! The set's filled with jazz inspired, headnodding boom bap production at its finest – topped with some of the finest ensemble rapping of the time, all at a level that breaks new lyrical boundaries with cuts that include "That's When Ya Lost", "Let Em Know", "Live & Let Live", "Make Your Mind Up", "A Name I Call Myself", "Disseshowedo", "What A Way To Go Out", "Never No More", "93 Til Infinity", "Limitations", "Anything Can Happen", "Make Your Mind Up", "Batting Practice", and "Tell Me Who Profits". CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Beats, Rhymes & Life – crucial aspects of Tribe Called Quest and hip hop in general – and the fourth album by the inimitable Tribe! After a couple or three years of down time following Midnight Marauders, the Tribe returned with this extra stripped down sound, collaborating with Jay Dee and the Ummah. Titles include "Jam", the r&b crossover ready "Stressed Out" feat Faith Evans, "Motivators", the great "Phony Rappers", and "Keep It Moving", "Word Play", "The Pressure", "Word Play" and much more. LP, Vinyl record album

A masterpiece from prime era Tribe Called Quest! Midnight Maurauders was Tribe's third LP, and even though there were no tracks yet credited to the Ummah, this is pretty much the beginning of Tribe's transition to that sound – with the same mellow, laid back vibe as their best early material, but less of an overtly jazzy reference in their sound. Phife and Tip are still on point lyrically, and honestly, this is pretty much the last LP that Tribe dropped that's got nearly all hits and no misses on it. With the cuts "Award Tour", "Midnight", "Electric Relaxation", "Clap Your Hands", "Oh My God", "The Chase, Part II", and "Keep It Rollin". CD

One of THE landmark hip hop albums – and the full length debut of great Tribe Called Quest! We hardly need to tell you about this classic – but it will always bear repeating. De La Soul might have kicked the door open on leftfield, anything goes artistry about a year or so earlier, but their friends and fellow Native Tongues Tribe's debut was a crucial reminder that the east coast was spinning out of one of the greatest creative growth spurts in hip hop history at the time. Pure excellence. Tracks include "Luck Of Lucien", "Footprints", "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo", "Bonita Applebaum", "Can I Kick It?", "Rhythm (Devoted To The Art Of Moving Butts)", "Mr Muhammad", "Description Of A Fool" and more seminal, jazzy middle school tracks finally on double LP! LP, Vinyl record album

One of THE landmark hip hop albums – and the full length debut of great Tribe Called Quest! We hardly need to tell you about this classic – but it will always bear repeating. De La Soul might have kicked the door open on leftfield, anything goes artistry about a year or so earlier, but their friends and fellow Native Tongues Tribe's debut was a crucial reminder that the east coast was spinning out of one of the greatest creative growth spurts in hip hop history at the time. Pure excellence. Tracks include "Luck Of Lucien", "Footprints", "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo", "Bonita Applebaum", "Can I Kick It?", "Rhythm (Devoted To The Art Of Moving Butts)", "Mr Muhammad", "Description Of A Fool" andmore seminal, jazzy middle school tracks! 25th anniversary edition – remastered, with bonus tracks "Footprints (rmx with Ceelo Green)", "Bonita Applebum (Pharrell Williams rmx)", and "Can I Kick It (J Cole rmx)". New 2015 remaster – beautiful sound! CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of those timeless singles from the glory days of New York hip hop, two nice electro tinged rap numbers back to back on one single! 12-inch, Vinyl record

The second album from the immortal Tribe Called Quest – one of the absolute essential hip hop LPs, and a record that should be an anyone's shortlist of the best albums in several subsections of hip hop – just a straight up masterpiece anyway you cut it. The album is so high up on the ladder, we're a loss to add any fresh insight o the critical consensus, so just get it. Classics one after another, steeped in bass note snapping, head nodding funk jazz beatcraft of the first order! "Buggin Out", "Excursions", "Rap Promoter", "Verses From The Abstract", "Check The Rhyme", "Everything Is Fair", "Jazz (We've Got)", "What?", "Scenario" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A masterpiece from prime era Tribe Called Quest! Midnight Maurauders was Tribe's third LP, and even though there were no tracks yet credited to the Ummah, this is pretty much the beginning of Tribe's transition to that sound – with the same mellow, laid back vibe as their best early material, but less of an overtly jazzy reference in their sound. Phife and Tip are still on point lyrically, and honestly, this is pretty much the last LP that Tribe dropped that's got nearly all hits and no misses on it. With the cuts "Award Tour", "Midnight", "Electric Relaxation", "Clap Your Hands", "Oh My God", "The Chase, Part II", and "Keep It Rollin". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes tracks by Schooly D, Tribe Called Quest, Kool Moe Dee, She Rockers, Too Short, Party Posse, Wee Papa Girls, and Boogie Down Productions. CD

Slammin live work from the legendary Brother Jack McDuff – a player who was almost better on the bandstand than he was in the studio! First up is the album Live – a killer, and one of three live sides McDuff cut for Prestige during the 60s – a monster session of stretched-out jazzy grooves, with many fine little dancers, and a raw soulful feel throughout! The group's one of Jack's best – as Red Holloway's tenor blows and hollers over the fingerpoppin' grooves delivered by a young George Benson on his first major guitar gig – and the soulful drums of Joe Dukes scatter across the place, taking the whole band into some incredible rhythms! Titles include cookin' live versions of "Rock Candy", "Sanctified Samba", "Undecided", and "A Real Goodun'". Live At The Jazz Workshop features a group that's one of Jack's best ever – a lineup that includes the twin tenors of Red Holloway and Harold Vick, plus incredibly sharp guitar from a young George Benson, and some of the most unique soul jazz drum work you'll ever hear – courtesy of the amazing Joe Dukes. Despite their individual strengths, which might make this whole thing an ego-fest – all players fit perfectly into place on the album's hard wailing batch of groovers, and groove together with a sympathetic energy that's simply amazing! Titles include a great remake of "Jive Samba", plus "Dink's Blues", "Grease Monkey", "Passing Through", and "Vas Dis". This is the kind of thing live recording equipment was made for! CD

Includes the songs "King Porter Stomp", "Moonlight Serenade", "Sunrise Serenade", "Little Brown Jug", "Runnin' Wild", "Sliphorn Jive", "Pagan Love Song", "In The Mood", "Farewell Blues", "Johnson Rag", "Rug Cutler's Swing", "Tuxedo Junction","Slow Freight", "Pennsylvania 6-5000", "Bugle Call Rag", "Sun Valley Jump", "A String Of Pearls", "American Patrol", "Caribbean Clipper", and "Rhapsody In Blue". CD

One of the last great records by Charles Mingus – a set of extremely compelling original compositions, played by a fresh group of younger players, plus a few older masters! The record's got a fire and sense of emotion that's missing from a number of other 70s Mingus sessions – and it's one of the few later albums we'd easily rank right up there with his late 50s and early 60s classics! Orchestrations were partially arranged and conducted with help from Sy Johnson – and soloists include James Moody and Bobby Jones on tenor, Charles McPherson on alto, Snookie Young and Lonnie Hillyer on trumpet, and Roland Hanna on piano. Titles include "The Shoes Of The Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers", "Adagio Ma Non Troppo", "The Chill of Death", and "The I Of Hurricane Sue". CD features the bonus track "Taurus In The Arena Of Life". CD

Quite possibly THE mother of all funky soundtracks – the legendary score to Rudy Ray Moore's classic first Dolemite film! The record's been referenced for years, and all the hype is totally right – because the whole thing's overflowing with funky tracks both vocal and instrumental – cut with a sound that's as gritty and badass as the movie itself! The Soul Rebellion Orchestra provided the wicked instrumental grooves for the set – and vocalists include Mary Love and Ben Taylor – and the pacing of the whole record almost makes it come across like a mini-movie in sound! You'll find enough samples on here to cut a lifetime's worth of hip hop LPs, and the funky tracks will have you coming back to the record again and again! Tracks include "The Queen", "The Rumble", "Mayor Get Away", "The Jive Jungle", "Creeper", and "Ghetto Expressions". This expanded 2CD edition features a bonus disc with a full 28 tracks of extra material – unreleased takes, mixes, acapellas, and instumental versions of album tracks plus a slew of untitled interludes! CD

A stone classic from one of the hippest groups on the South African scene of the 70s – and one of the few who could compete well with American soul groups of the same time! The cover makes the album look like some overlooked New York club treasure from the period – and the feel of the music is similar too – with long tracks, a nicely percolating groove, and soulful currents that would be right at home in the underground! Yet there's also some slight South African elements too – maybe a bit of township jive, or riffing guitar, which sets the whole album apart in a really great way. The vibe is like some of the really underground Cali-soul of the early 80s, with the fresh and unusual touches that we love in the work of the P&P label too – and although vocals figure on most tracks, the real highlight is the unusual work on keyboards and guitar. Titles include "Funky Fly", "Shanana", "Beat", "Kansas City", "Work Is Done", and "Take It". LP, Vinyl record album

An insane amount of work from drummer Sandy Nelson – the cat who was to the drums what The Ventures were to the guitar – carving out a whole host of hit instrumental records in a non-stop flurry of action at the start of the 60s! The work here is definitely from a very productive time in Sandy's career – as the set features all work done in 1962, a stunning amount of music for one short year – given that the 2CD set features 59 tracks in all, pulled from the albums Compelling Percussion, Teen Age House Party, Drums Are My Beat, Country Style, and Drumming Up A Storm – plus other hit singles too! The drums are only part of the charm here too – because although Sandy's got a tight sound, and gets in plenty of solos, the overall Liberty Records production and arrangements really help the tunes shine too. Titles include "Sandy", "Castle Rock", "Dumplins", "Junior Jive", "North Wind", "Drums Are My Beat", "Birth Of The Beat", "Drum Roll", "Day Drumming", "Drum Stomp", "Hum Drum", "Be Bop Baby", "Night Train", "Let The Good Times Roll", "Drums For Drummers Only", and "Drums For Strippers Only". CD

A masterpiece of hard and heavy funk – from one of the best bands of the early 70s! The Nite Liters were a legendary funky combo that provided the backing for some of New Birth's best albums – but on their own, they were even funkier, and had a sound that was part JBs, part Meters, and all funky! This album may well be the group's best – their last for RCA, and a set that really has them honing their edge incredibly. The drums are amazing, the keyboards great, and the horns have this quality that's both complex, yet right on the money – making for a richness in sound that really sets the group apart from their contemporaries. A few singers from The New Birth provide chorus vocals on a few tracks – but most of the set is instrumental, and the record's one we'd gladly stack next to our Meters albums on Josie or JBs classics on People. Every track's a gem – and titles include "Drumology", "Excuse Me While I Do My Thing", "Serenade for a Jive Turkey", "Happy Hooker", "Craaashing", "Damn", "Pee-Foul", and a sweet cover of "Valdez in the Country" that's been sampled at least once over the years! CD

Includes the songs "Scenario", "Blue Train", "Strol", "Shawty", "Zen In Tummy", "Cross", "Hillyrock 2: Fricchettone", "Jive Mandolin", "A Merlefriend Solid", "Poseidon", and "Hills For Seamus". CD

A pretty great overview of work that Shuggie Otis recorded while working in the studios at the Blues Spectrum label during the 70s – mostly backing up other singers in a series of sessions recorded by his dad Johnny Otis. The Blues Spectrum label was notable in that it featured work by a number of lost greats who'd been important in R&B in the 40s and 50s on the west coast, but who'd not made it into the recording studios in a number of years. Otis Sr got them back, recording for his Blues Spectrum label – and often gave their music a hipper, more 70s-styled sound – an effort that was clearly helped by the presence of Shuggie! The package for this one is great – with a good set of notes on the label and sessions, and images of the covers of the old albums too. Titles include "Driftin Blues" and "Big Legged Woman" by Charles Brown, "Shake Rattle & Roll" and "TV Mama" by Big Joe Turner, "Willie & The Hand Jive" and "Country Girl" by Johnny Otis, "Trackin Machine" and "Doin It" by Richard Berry, "Choo Choo Boogie" and "I Got The Walkin Blues" by Louis Jordan, "Chicken Shack Boogie" by Amos Milburn, "I'm The Midnight Creeper" and "Sugar" by Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, and "I Got A Big Fat Mama" and "Information Blues" by Roy Milton. CD

One of their biggest LPs, this one hardly needs any introduction from us, with the massive hit "Another One Bites The Dust", that appeals to beat diggers and mullet-headed rockers alike! Also includes "Dragon Attack", "Play The Game", "Need Your Loving Tonight", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "Rock It (prime jive)", "Don't Try Suicide" and "Sail Away Sweet Sister". LP, Vinyl record album

We're not ashamed to admit we're big fans of Queen around here, and why shouldn't we be? One of their biggest LPs, this one hardly needs any introduction from us, with the massive hit "Another One Bites The Dust", that appeals to beat diggers and mullet-headed rockers alike! Also includes "Dragon Attack", "Play The Game", "Need Your Loving Tonight", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "Rock It (prime jive)", "Don't Try Suicide" and "Sail Away Sweet Sister". CD

Essential work from one of the hippest British groups of the 70s – the amazing Real Thing, one of the few UK acts who could go head to head with soul artists from the US! The Real Thing groove is often heavy on strings and rhythm – a sound that's kind of an English take on the 70s grooves from the Philly scene in the US – tuned towards a slightly different end, and topped with a mix of soulful leads and soaring harmonies by the group. And like the Philly groups, these guys also managed to really grow and evolve over the years – which you can especially hear over a short space of time in their recordings of the 70s. The collection strongly focuses on those years – and offers up expanded versions of the Pye albums The Real Thing, 4 From 8, Step Into Our World, and Saints Or Sinners – all with as many bonus tracks as were on the original albums, if not more. Then, the final three CDs feature later material – one CD of material for Jive Records, one for RCA with remixes, and one more for EMI, Calibre, and Catawa Records. There's a massive 109 tracks in the set, plus a 28 page booklet of notes – with a huge amount of material that's not been on CD for years! CD

Blue Note continue their trend of supporting some of the better young talent on the market, with this second release by saxophonist Mark Shim – who's playing here with some very well-matched young lions. Stefon Harris plays vibes and marimba, Edward Simon is on Fender Rhodes and piano, and Eric Harland has a nice soulful touch on the drums. Kind of similar to Shim's work on the great New Directions release a few months earlier – and with the tracks "Turbulent Flow", "Recorda Me", "Scorpio", "Jive Ones", and "Don't Wake The Violent Baby". CD

2 very rare slices of work from Martial Solal's postwar years – one 10" and one 7" EP session, both recorded in Paris in 1956, each with a different twist! The first half of the set features "Martial Solal & Les Kentonians" – a group that's not exactly all members of Stan Kenton's group, but plays in a very similar mode! Players include Solal on piano, Curtis Counce on bass, Mel Lewis on drums, Carl Fontana on trombone, and Don Rendell on tenor sax – plus a bit of trumpet from Vinnie Tano – and the tunes have a well-composed, chamber jazz sort of mode – a bit more like some of the small group mid 50s work on RCA by members of larger orchestras of the time, than any of Stan's original sides for Capitol. Oddly, the second half of the album's actually by a larger group – "Martial Solal & Son Grand Orchestre" – an ensemble with 5 trumpets, 4 trombones, and 5 saxes – all directed through short, tight original tracks that are heavy on the head arrangements, and played with a lot of dynamic modern energy. CD features 11 tracks in all – with titles that include "Blues Martial", "Steeplechase", "Jive At Five", "Why Not", "Au 4eme Top", "Midi 1/4", and "Derniere Minute". CD

The greatest album to date from Sugarman 3 – one of the funkiest combos of the past 50 years! The group's organ/sax sound has never sounded so great – and it's pumped up even further here from some added guest instrumentation, including drums from Bernard Purdie, plus vocals on a number of cuts from deep funk legends Lee Fields, Charles Bradley, and Naomi Davis. The whole thing's as funky as funky can be – the kind of a record that would be selling for $300 if it came out in the 70s, and which is even nicer to have at a low everyday price! Titles include "Shot Down", "Modern Jive", "Funky So & So", "Take It As It Come", "Pure Cane", "Promised Land", "Country Girl", "La Culebra", "Down To It", "Honey Wagon", and "Bosco's Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure later set from Texas legend Bubbha Thomas – a drummer you'll know from his work with the legendary Lightmen group in the 70s – working here in an 80s-styled extrapolation of some of the ideas from that previous combo! The music is much leaner than before – heavy on basslines, beats, and keyboards – and Bubbha does a great job of sliding into electro-styled funk and soul modes, while still holding on to some of his own sound too. The record's maybe more New York than you'd expect from something recorded in Houston – and titles include "Livin On Love", "Skipp Hopp", "Life & Times (Of Daddy Jive)", and "Let Me Play The Music". LP, Vinyl record album

Nobody deserves the title of King Of the Tenors more than Ben Webster – as his warm soulful style influenced countless players in his day, and stil sounds pretty darn great today! This early Verve LP features some excellent small combo work by Ben, playing as the main soloist in smaller groups that include players like Barney Kessel, Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson, and Harry Edison – on swing-based tunes like "Bounce Blues", "Cottontail", "That's All", and "Jive At Six". Includes a single version of "That's All", and the unissued tracks "Poutin" and "Bounce Blues (alt)". CD

A really cool set that looks at the rise of late 50s beatnik culture from a variety of different styles – not just the jazz and poetry that marked that scene's biggest contribution to music – but also the wealth of modes that inspired those years too! The 3CD package features a stunning 57 titles in all – and begins in the late 30s with hard-edged small combo work and jive-heavy vocal tracks – then runs past WWII to include some bebop, R&B, and very cool vocal numbers – before moving into Greenwich Village classic sounds in a mix of spoken word, jazz poetry, and even a bit of folk! The booklet is filled with notes and history in both English and French – and titles include "The Beat Generation" by Bob McFadden, "High School Drag" by Phillipa Fallon, "The Nazz" by Lord Buckley, "American Haikus" by Jack Kerouac & Al Cohn, "Route 66" by Bobby Troup, "Gator Tail (part 2)" by Cootie Williams, "Rock & Roll" by Wild Bill Moore, "Killin Jive" by Cats & The Fiddle, "You'se A Viper" by Stuff Smith, "Scrapple From The Apple" by Les Double Six, "Kookie's Mad Pad" by Ed Byrnes, "So What" by Eddie Jefferson, "Howl" by Allen Ginsberg, "I Sing Of Olaf" by Roger Steffans, "Say Man" by Bo Diddley, "Shulie A Bop" by Sarah Vaughan, and "The Rocket Ship Show" by Jocko Henderson. CD

An amazing world of music – rare funk, soul, reggae, and other grooves from Belize – all beautifully compiled in the rich Numero Music style! We're really stunned by the set – as we had no idea at all that Belize had anything going on at this level – and the collection is an amazing surprise to our ears, filled with new delights at each turn, and clearly marking Belize as a new funky capitol on our ever-expanding map of musical understanding. Numero really outdid themselves with this package – going far beyond their already-great collections of work from the Bandit and Capsoul labels – to dig up a range of tracks that have never really made it out to the world at large, but which bubble over with influences from American funk and soul at the time. The notes are great, and the booklet's got plenty of excellent images to back up the writings – but the music is the real star of the set, and is presented on 16 tracks that include "More Love Reggae" and "Boogaloo A La Chuck" by Lord Rhaburn, "Theme From The Godfather" and "Backstabbers" by The Professionals, "Can't Go Halfway" and "Shame Shame Shame" by The Harmonettes, "Things Are Going To Work Out Right" and "Rated G" by The Web, "Funky Jive (parts 1& 2)" by Soul Creations, and "Long Time Boy" by Nadia Cattouse. CD

A beautiful set of late 60s to early 70s Soweto township jive sounds – soulful, joyful and amazing numbers mostly only ever available on rare South African 45s – brought to the world at large by our friends at Strut Records! Most numbers are from the early 70s, with a couple from the last couple years of the 60s, material from local combos in the years before the Soweto uprising of 1976. It's wonderful music, and you'll want to jump up and dance to most of the numbers – most with exuberant vocals and wholly danceable guitar and percussion, a joyous mix jazz, soul, rumba and funk in the craft. Amazing! Includes "I Sivenoe" by Melotone Sisters With Amaqola Band, "Maphuti" by Mgababa Queens, "Kuya Hanjwa" by S Piliso & His Super Seven, "Wenzani Umoya" by The Big Four, "Inkonjane Jive" by Zed Nkabinde, "Take Off" by Tempo All Stars, "Enuva" by African Swingsters, "Sikhwele" by Aba-Lilizeli, "10 To 11" by Sammy Boy, "Iza Wena" by Happy Africa and more. 20 tracks on 2LPs. LP, Vinyl record album

Includes tracks by Bill Black's Combo, Gene Pitney, Del Shannon, the Drifters, Skeeter Davis, the Crystals, Duprees, Jive Five, Barbara George, and the Isley Brothers. CD

The Jazzman label hits a whole new level of brilliance – as they turn their funk-trained crate digging skills to the world of spiritual jazz! The collection's an amazing batch of ultra-rare tunes – tracks that take inspiration from the John Coltrane/Archie Shepp work on Impulse Records in the 60s, then run with those roots in bold new directions – soaring, spiritual aims in jazz that reach for new freedoms, but never lapse into the totally-outside modes of free jazz! Instead, there's a really great balance here between structure and struggle – as many tunes often have a good rhythmic pulse, usually modal and soulful, then let the horn solos stretch out more in their own sounds and directions. The mix is amazing, as is the selection of tunes – rare numbers pulled mostly from American independent jazz releases of the 60s and 70s – most of which are as obscure as the funky 45s we normally get from Jazzman. As with the label's US funk compilations, there's full notes on all the music – a heck of a lot of detail on these artists – and tracks on the set include "Paul's Ark" by Morris Wilson Beau Bailey Quintet, "Ayo Ayo Nene" by Mor Thiam, "Nomusa" by Ndikho Xaba & The Natives, "The Afrikan In Winter" by The Positive Force, "Neveen" by Salah Ragab, "Ja Mil" by Hastings Street Jazz Experience, "Be There" by Leon Gardner, "Psych City" by Ohio Penitentiary 511 Jazz Ensemble, "Introduction" by James Tatum Trio Plus, and "No Jive" by Frank Derrick Total Experience. US pressing has 2 bonus tracks – "All Prasies To Allah (parts 1 & 2 edit)" by Lightmen Plus One, and "Bada Que Bash" by PE Hewitt Jazz Ensemble. CD

5 Tom Moulton mixes of late 70s Westbound club tracks: a medley of the Fantastic Four's "Night People" and "Lies Divided By Jive", Dennis Coffey's "Wings Of Fire", CJ & Co "Devil's Gun", the Detroit Emerald's "Feel The Need" and the Mike Theodore Orchestra's "The Bull". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "74 Miles Away", "Country Preacher", "Work Song", "Jive Samba", "Mercy Mercy Mercy", "Walk Tall", and "Why Am I Treated So Bad" – lots of classics produced by David Axelrod! CD

A rare live set by Cannonball Adderley – unreleased in America at the time, and performed with the style of Cannon's best work for Riverside! The album's very similar to some of the group's best live sets for Riverside – like the San Francisco or other Tokyo recording – done with tracks that are long and a bit stretched out, performed with Nat Adderley on cornet, Joe Zawinul on piano, Vic Gaskin on bass, and Roy McCurdy on drums. Titles include "Work Song", "Mercy Mercy Mercy", "This Here", "Jive Samba", and "Money In The Pocket". CD

A great live classic from the Cannonball Adderley Sextet of the early 60s – that famous group that included Nat Adderley on cornet, Yusef Lateef on tenor and flute, Joe Zawinul on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums! Tracks are long, and these guys are really on fire in a live setting – and titles include a stellar 11 minute version of "The Jive Samba", one of Cannonball's greatest tracks – plus "Primitivo", "Lillie", and "Mellow Buno". LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual Japanese-only release – one that features 1963 Tokyo live work by Cannonball Adderley! The famous group features Nat Adderley on cornet, Yusef Lateef on flute and tenor, Joe Zawinul on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums – and titles include "Jive Samba", "Autumn Leaves, "Work Song", "Dizzy's Business", and "Primitivo". Material was recorded at the same time as the Nippon Soul album – but unreleased in the 60s! CD