... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A really obscure little session from tenorist Johnny Griffin – and one of his few dates from the time cut with an organist – in this case the up-and-coming LA player Paul Bryant! Bryant's probably best known for his cookers with Curtis Amy, and he hits a similar mode here – by bringing a strong R&B inflection to the album, and offering Griffin a setting that's a bit less hardbop than some of his other Riverside albums of the time! The rest of the group features Joe Pass on guitar, Jimmy Bond on bass, and Doug Sides on drums – and titles include "Cherry Float", "These Foolish Things", "63rd Street Theme", "Grab This", and "Offering Time". CD

A really obscure little session from tenorist Johnny Griffin – and one of his few dates from the time cut with an organist – in this case the up-and-coming LA player Paul Bryant! Bryant's probably best known for his cookers with Curtis Amy, and he hits a similar mode here – by bringing a strong R&B inflection to the album, and offering Griffin a setting that's a bit less hardbop than some of his other Riverside albums of the time! The rest of the group features Joe Pass on guitar, Jimmy Bond on bass, and Doug Sides on drums – and titles include "Cherry Float", "These Foolish Things", "63rd Street Theme", "Grab This", and "Offering Time". CD

A mighty nice dive into the late 50s years of Mercury Records – a UK only set that brings together 16 tracks from a time when the label was cutting some totally great early rockers! Includes work by Eddie Bond, Roy Moss, Billy Wallace, Curtis Gordon, JP Richardson, Johnny T Talley, and Thomas Wayne! LP, Vinyl record album

Plenty going down in the Soul Cellar – a heavy helping of classic soul from the 60s and 70s, brought together in an overstuffed 2CD set! There's a nice mix here of well-known soul names and some lesser-knowns too – and the set list includes plenty of fresh numbers that go past the obvious, although there's also some classics too – and the overall groove is upbeat and lively, starting in the Northern Soul generation and moving to some sweet groovers from later years too. The package features 30 cuts that include "You've Got To Earn It" by Staple Singers, "Do Right Woman" by The Sweet Inspirations, "Function At The Junction" by Little Richard", "Come Go With Me" by Pockets, "How Long" by Thelma Jones, "Type Thang" by Isaac Hayes, "Trouble" by Frederick Knight, "Going In Circles" by Friends Of Distinction, "New York New York" by Starship Orchestra, "Fo Fi Fo" by Pieces Of A Dream, "Let Me Back In" by Little Milton, "Music Trance" by Ben E King, "Let's Stay Together" by Margie Joseph, "Star In The Ghetto" by Prince Phillip Mitchell, "Git Up" by Brian Auger & Julie Tippetts, "I'm Just A Kiss Away" by Buddy Miles, "Wha'Cha Gonna Do About It" by Doris Troy, "Why Must Our Eyes Always Be Turned Back" by Lou Bond, and "Testify" by Johnny Taylor. CD

Rare work from the Town Hall Party radio program – the west coast answer to the Grand Ol Opry! Features recordings by the Wilburn Brothers, Bob Luman, Skeets McDonald, Joe Maphis, Johnny Bond, Tex Carman, James Burton, Joe & Rose Lee Maphis, and Leon McAuliffe! LP, Vinyl record album

A really cool collection – one that's filled with rare tracks from the postwar years, and which probably features a bit more hillbilly than western swing! That's hardly a problem, though – as both genres were really blurring boundaries at the time – so there's a nice shift in styles throughout, as these younger pioneers of the music were experimenting with great new sounds, and plenty of electrified instrumentation – all to cut the kind of singles that still sound pretty darn fresh after all these years! The 24 track set is brimming over with fresh gems – titles that include "Rock Love" by Nita & Ruby, "Indian Giver" by Redd Stewart, "Perdido" by Wade Ray, "I Got Loaded" by Zeb Turner, "Put Me To Bed" by Johnny Bond, "Honey I'm Lonesome" by Sheb Wooley, "Flyin Saucers Boogie" by Eddie Cletro, "Son Of Old Casey" by Johnny Bond, "Hoot Owl Boogie" by Red Foley, and "Tom Cattin Around" by Jimmy Selph. CD

A wealth of great tracks that all feature altoist Earl Bostic, organist Richard Groove Holmes and guitarist Joe Pass! The first 7 cuts are from Bostic's excellent LP Jazz As I Feel It – one of his only few true jazz sessions! Bostic's tone has always been a favorite for us – and in this rare small combo jazz session you get to hear the the above mentioned titans with rhythm backing by Jimmy Bond, Shelly Manne and Charles Blackwell! The tracks are longer than usual for Bostic – and his edgey alto playing really sounds marvelous! Titles include "Don't Do It Please", "Hunt & Peck", "Fast Track", "Ten Out", and "Telstar Drive". The rest of the tracks are from Bostic's A New Sound LP from later in '63 – in which Bostic leads the crew on lesser known jazz numbers from the pens of Johnny Pate, Herbie Mann, Joe Puma and others, plus some Bostic originals. This one features some really dynamic solo work from Holmes and Pass! Al McKibbon is on bass and Earl Palmer hits the drums. Titles include "Karen", "Woodchuck", "Blues For The Ivy Leagues", "Nita", "Empathy", "Wednesday's Child" and "Inquiry". 73 minutes of music! CD

A fond farewell to the Siegel Schwall Band, as you might guess from the title – one last studio effort from the group, before Corky Siegel took off on his solo career, and Jim Schwall concentrated on farming! The set's a bit different than the rest of their initial albums for Wooden Nickel – in that it has the group paying a final tribute to their influences – running through songs by an array of interesting talents, from John Prine, to Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Lieber & Stoller, and Johnny Bond – all done in the relaxed, yet well-crafted style that made these guys such stalwarts on the Chicago scene. Titles include "Pretty Good", "Take Out Some Insurance", "Wild About My Lovin", "I'm A Hog For You Baby", "Tell Me Mama", "It's Too Short", and "Long Distance Call". LP, Vinyl record album

True masterpieces from Duke Ellington – some of his greatest compositions, presented here in an early Columbia LP that offers up "uncut concert arrangements" – clearly grooming a new side of Duke for the long-playing audience! The recordings were made in 1950, with players who include Johnny Hodges and Paul Gonzalves on saxes, Ray Nance and Cat Anderson on trumpets, and Tyree Glenn and Quentin Jackson on trombones. The tracks include "Mood Indigo", "Sophisticated Lady", "The Tattooed Bride" and "Solitude". Includes 3 bonus tracks – shorter numbers, but great ones – "Vagabonds", "Smada", and "Rock Skippin At The Blue Note". CD

Music from The Aladdins, The Supremes, The Daychords, Johnny Greco & The Masters, Luther Bonds & The Emeralds and more. 26 tracks total! CD

One of the more unusual albums on ZTT from the 80s, but one of the most compelling too – the only full length set we've ever seen from singer Anne Pigalle, a vocalist who moves easily between French and English lyrics, in a lush summation of the best continental pop of the time! The sound is a lot less electronic than usual for ZTT – orchestrations arranged by Richard Niles, topped with great work on piano and organ from Nick Plytas – all to set up Anne's breathy vocals with an early 80s new romantic take on French chanson. There's a nicely world-weary feel to the whole thing, one that makes for a bit more depth of feeling than usual for ZTT – and titles include "The 1000 Colours Waltz", "He Stranger", "Looking For Love", "Why Does It Have To Be This Way", "A Crack In The Ocean", and "Via Vagabond". 2CD version features 15 more bonus tracks – including "He Stranger (redirected by Trevor Horn)", "Johnny", "Intermission (mix songuer)", "Souvenir D'Un Paris (mix aguicheur)", "Like We Do", "Looking For Love (spring 84)", "Crack In The Ocean (spring 84)", "1000 Colours Waltz (spring 84)", "He Stranger (plight return)", and "Stranger (than fiction)". CD