26 songs from The Gaytunes, The Crescents, The Crests, Twinkles (Storey Sisters), The Love Notes, and The Starlites. CD

A long-overdue collection – and a rich document of one of our favorite sides of the Chicago soul scene! The package is devoted to the tiny Nickel and Penny labels, but it's also equally a set dedicated to legendary radio DJ Richard Pegue – whose work in both mainstream soul and later dusties formats really helped to shape our understanding of soul music! Pegue produced and wrote nearly every track on the set – which makes the collection one of the most unified the Numero Group has ever produced – a true tribute to Richard's great ear for a groovy soul record, and to all the smaller-name groups he helped support on the Windy City scene. The booklet does a great job of telling Pegue's story – really getting at the unique vision he brought to Chicago soul, and the wit and warmth that made him a favorite of many folks over the space of decades. The music alone is enough – stuff we've been waiting to get reissued for years – but together with the Numero research and booklet, the end result is sublime! Titles include "Just Say The Word" by Jerry Townes, "Fall In Love Again" by The Voices, "Never More" by Little Ben & The Cheers, "Why Do You Want To Make Me Sad" by The Norvells, "Instrumental 1" by Richard Terry & Company, "Shadows" by South Shore Commission, "This Is The Woman" by Sidney Pinchback, "The Ember Song" by Sidney Barnes, "Sign Of The Zodiac" by South Suburban Electric Strings, "This Love Of Mine" by Extensions, "Forever Is A Long Long Time" by The Voices, "Do The Pearl Girl (part 2)" by The Matta Baby, "I've Got To Find A Way" by Hallelujah Chorus, "First Thing I Do In The Morning" by Joyce Williams, and "I'm Gonna Get Even With You" by Little Ben & The Cheers. CD

Featuring Simone, Sandra Sa, Moraes Moreira, Elza Maria, Joyce, & more. LP, Vinyl record album

Includes 31 tracks by Jimmy Murphy, Jan & Dean, Joyce Green, the Del-Satins, Roamers, Astronauts, Rip Chords, Beach Boys, Wally Hughes, the Surfaris, Randy & the Rainbows, and more. CD

Includes tracks by Ann Byers, Persianettes, Cymbals, Johnny Parker, Joyce Bennett, the Rockmasters, Cindy Scott, Patty and the Emblems, Roy Calhoun, the Inspirations, B & L Orchestra, Honey and the Bees, and Intruders – 28 tracks total. CD

Includes tracks by Jackie Moore, Harold Melvin, The New Silhouettes, Kenny Gamble, The Volcanos, and Joyce Bennett. CD

An excellent collection of rare female soul from the 60s – a set that not only features overlooked 45rpm singles from Warner Brothers at the time – but also some great gems from their famous Loma Records imprint too! If you think you know this territory, think again – as there's a huge amount of tracks here that are completely fresh to our ears – the kind of material that a label as big as Warner was able to cut with their ample staff and studio time, then never did a think to promote the singles at all – leaving a space of decades before all these 7" gems were finally able to get exposure on a set like this! The package moves between catchy group soul and deeper-burning solo material – and the whole thing's done with the usual high quality we love from Ace, from the sound quality right down to the notes in the book. Titles include "There He Goes" by The Royalettes, "We Can Find That Love" by Vickie Baines, "He's Good" by Barbara Jackson, "Contact" by Three Degrees, "Wounded" by The Cookies, "My Soul Concerto" by The Apollas, "I Taught Him (part 1)" by Gloria Scott & The Tonettes, "All Because I Love Somebody" by Barbara English, "Don't Come A Knockin" by Mary Lee Whitney, "Here I Come" by Joyce Alexander, "Jive Jimmy" by The Socialites, "The Reason Why" by The Dolls, "Bright Lights" by Delilah Kennebreuw, and "Oh Eddy My Baby" by Brenda Hall. CD

The cover image should give you a great idea of what you're in for here – rare soul from the funky 45 underground of the late 60s/early 70s generation – presented in a wonderful selection of hand-picked cuts! Most of these numbers were recently reissued as limited run 7" singles by Acid Jazz and partner label Miles Away – but those singles, already expensive at the time, are mostly out of print and fetching money as if they were vintage releases – which makes this full-length set as much of a economic treasure as it is a musical one – a chance to enjoy these gems without breaking the bank! Titles include "Family Tree" by Family Tree with Sharon Brown, "We Got Good Lovin" by The Fantastics, "Time Is Long" by Rick Hickman, "Dancing Close" by Rita Joyce, "When You Lose Your Groove" by The Tom Emmanuel & Ron Experience, "Thank You Lord" by Lamont Butler, "Two Can Make It Together" by Tony & Tandy with Fleur De Lys, "This is The Beginning" by Leon's Creation, "Gonna Find A True Love" by Patterson Twins, and "One More Chance Lord" by Delores Fuller. CD

The great Wanda Jackson is often hailed as a unique early figure in both rock and country music – yet back in the day, Wanda's work didn't occur in a vacuum – as you'll hear in this wonderful collection of cuts! As the title indicates, the set brings together both work that inspired Jackson, and which took off from her own inspiration too – nicely situating Wanda in a larger world of early rock, late hillbilly, and nascent country – all supported with the usual great Bear Family stylish package and detailed notes! CD features 30 tracks in all – and titles include "Let's Have A Party" by Bix Bryant & The Raiders, "So Soon" by Bobby Bare, "I Gotta Know" by Rosie Flores, "Stupid Cupid" by Jenny Lunna, "Fujiyama Mama" by Eileen Barton, "Just A Queen For A Day" by Lydia & Her Melody Strings, "Party" by The Collins Kids, "Mean Mean Man" by Terry White, "I Wanna Waltz" by Thelma Blackburn, "Riot In Cell Block No 9" by Vicky Young, "Right Or Wrong" by Skeeter Davis, "Funnel Of Love" by Velvtone, "Honey Bop" by Ray Campi, "I Gotta Know" by Joyce Hahn, and two versions of "Hot Dog That Made Him Mad" – by Betty Hutton and Sunny Gale! CD

The last album in a legendary run of music from keyboardist Doug Carn – his final album for the Black Jazz label, and a set that pushes even farther than his previous efforts! Jean Carn isn't in the group this time around, but the set does feature a totally great twin-vocal approach – with singing by Joyce Green and John Conner, blending their voices together in a style that's right up there with the most righteous 70s jazz experiments by Horace Silver or Billy Gault! This vocal balance really brings a new sort of power to Carn's music – furthering the righteous spirit of earlier years with a hell of a lot of energy – also aided by great instrumental work from Ronnie Laws on tenor and soprano sax, Thurman Green on trombone, Calvin Keys and Nathan Page on guitars, and Big Black on percussion. Titles include the classic "Higher Ground" – plus "Adam's Apple", "Western Sunrise", "Chant", "Sanctuary", "The Messenger", and "Mighty Mighty". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing early album by Nara Leao – one that features mostly spare vocals and acoustic guitar, plus some additional percussion – coming off in a style that's halfway between the best 60s work of Geraldo Vandre and early albums by Joyce! Nara's vocals are incredible – really haunting and dark, with a sad quality that sets her apart from most of her contemporaries, and a righteous presentation of the material that makes her come off as way more than just a pop singer. Titles include "Amo Tanto", "Recado", "Palmares", "Ole Ola", "Pede Passagem", and "Pedro Pedreiro". Also features 2 bonus tracks – French versions of "Opiniao" and "Acender As Velas". CD

Beautiful scatting bossa from Sabrina Malheiros – an artist we're only getting to know with this album, but who we already totally love! Sabrina's got a warm and breezy style that takes us back to the glory days of the 60s bossa scene – but she's also working here with an approach to rhythm and instrumentation that brings in some well-placed modern touches. The album's not just a simple "bossa vocals with electronics" album – like too many others on the market – as Sabrina's mostly working with acoustic instrumentation, touched off by a bit of keyboards and the occasional crackling drum part. And instead, there's a depth here that reminds us a lot of Joyce – a warmth that catches fire immediately, and which stays glowing throughout a range of expressive styles. The tunes are really great too – original, soulful, and without any too-easy bossa cliches. A real gem from Far Out – and one of the label's best albums in years! Titles include "Passa", "Love Sorte", "Saudade Rio", "Maracatueira", "Vibrasom", "Estrada De Chao", "Cade Voce", and "Capoeira Vai". CD

One of the greatest records ever by this amazing Brazilian singer! This hard-to-find session from 1970 is a perfect bridge between Elis' early bossa work and her later albums as a sophisticated pop singer – and it's got a wonderfully lively feel all the way through, with loads of uptempo numbers that have a great great groove! Erlon Chaves handled the arrangements – and his style takes off from the marvelous work that Roberto Menescal did on Gal's albums from 1969, with lots of breezy orchestrations, and nice jazzy patches of instrumentation. Titles include "Ate Ai Morreu Neves", "Vou Deitar E Rolar", "Bicho Do Mato", "Nao Tenha Medo", "These Are The Songs", "Frevo", "Fechado Pra Balanco", and a version of Joyce's "Copacabana Velha De Guerra". LP, Vinyl record album

Tall, Dark, & Handsome may not be one of the best-remembered crews from the 80s – but they've got a fresh, playful approach that really keeps things interesting! These guys really remind us of the energy that the right group of MCs could bring to a party back in the day – yet they've also got a nice sense of complexity in their approach too – sometimes all falling in on a word or rhyme, ala early Beastie Boys – sometimes trading back and forth in a great way, ala Nice & Smooth! There's definitely a sense of humor here – as you might guess from their name – but there's also a raw Bronx-based approach that's hardly a joke. Titles include "Call It What You Wanna", "When Money OnThe Mix", "Fake Fly Girl", "Joyce", "We Don't Need Crack", "The Bronx Is Back", "Tall Dark & Handsome", "Last Of The Great Ones", and "My Love Tune". CD

Bossa via Paris – and a wonderfully dreamy set from the team of Tom & Joy! Joy is actually Joyce Hoze Liwer, a beautiful vocalist whose approach to the lyrics not only recalls some of the bossa greats of earlier years, but who also manages to stretch them out with a more sophisticated sort of singer-songwriter approach. And Tom is Thomas Naim, guitarist on the record, and an arranger with a wonderful feel for a variety of different larger backdrops – one that takes Joy's vocals through classic bossa, soulful fusion, and even a bit of Afro Funk on the set! The pair have really expanded their sound from the days when they used to record under the name of Tom & Joyce – and the record's got a playful depth that's even more important, given that it's their first US release. Titles include "Antigua", "Souls Tes Ailes", "Be Mine", "Esquisse", "Broadway", "Lluvia", "Kadia", "Out Of My Mind", and "Imagina". CD

A definite obsession for fans of Northern Soul in the 60s – the mighty Okeh label, an imprint of Columbia Records that was reactivated for a few key years, to become a hotbed of Chicago soul! Okeh's efforts were often headed by legendary producer Carl Davis – who had an amazing ear not just for important new artists, but also for finding ways to change up the groove in the hippest way possible – often with some of the more sophisticated touches that represent just how special Chicago soul was at the time, in ways that are very different even from nearby Detroit! Some Okeh artists scored big, but the label also recorded many more who never hit the charts – but who turned out some incredible singles that are still the gold standard for collectors. Lots of that work is featured here – in a great package that's overflowing with rare tracks, presented with detailed notes as well. Titles on this second volume include "End Up Crying" by The Vibrations, "Let Me Show It To You" by The Fundamentals, "You Can't Take It Away" by Azie Mortimer, "Yesterday Is Gone" by The Variations, "Hello Heartaches, Goodbye Love" by Joyce Davis, "Can't Live Without Her" by Billy Butler, "You're Gonna Be Sorry" by The Opals, "Cool Breeze" by Gerald Sims, "Memories" by The Triumphs, and "After You There Can Be Nothing" by Walter Jackson. CD

The cover image should give you a great idea of what you're in for here – rare soul from the funky 45 underground of the late 60s/early 70s generation – presented in a wonderful selection of hand-picked cuts! Most of these numbers were recently reissued as limited run 7" singles by Acid Jazz and partner label Miles Away – but those singles, already expensive at the time, are mostly out of print and fetching money as if they were vintage releases – which makes this full-length set as much of a economic treasure as it is a musical one – a chance to enjoy these gems without breaking the bank! Titles include "Family Tree" by Family Tree with Sharon Brown, "We Got Good Lovin" by The Fantastics, "Time Is Long" by Rick Hickman, "Dancing Close" by Rita Joyce, "When You Lose Your Groove" by The Tom Emmanuel & Ron Experience, "Thank You Lord" by Lamont Butler, "Two Can Make It Together" by Tony & Tandy with Fleur De Lys, "This is The Beginning" by Leon's Creation, "Gonna Find A True Love" by Patterson Twins, and "One More Chance Lord" by Delores Fuller. LP, Vinyl record album

Most folks know the United Artists label for their famous soundtrack hits of the 60s – but back at the start, the company was very open to cutting work in all sorts of different formats – including the surprisingly great range of rockers and rockabilly numbers you'll find in this set! UA was a real powerhouse in the world of the 7" single at the end of the 50s – and as you'll hear here, they had a great ear for the kind of cuts that could burst out of a jukebox and present the listener with two minutes of upbeat, hard-stepping pleasure – maybe not the kind of cuts that gave the label that many hits, but which make a set like this a non-stop treasure trove of under-discovered goodies! As with other titles in this seminal series, the presentation is great – detailed notes that give full details on every single track – a whopping 33 tracks that include "Desire" by Sal Mure, "Sometime" by Gene Thomas, "I Feel It For You" by Hunt Stevens, "Lets Go Baby" by Billy Eldridge with The Fireballs, "The Stinger" by Al Casey, "Green Mosquito" by Tune Rockers, "Rockin By Myself" by Sammy Gowans, "My Sweet Verlene" by Ronnie Brent, "Tear It Up" by Chuck Wiley, "Double Dating" by Brein Fisher, "Freeze" by Wes Bryan, and "Superman" by Joyce Davis. CD

Cannonball Adderley recorded this nice little groover in 1962, when American musicans were just getting on the bossa tip, and still keeping things pretty authentic. The record was cut in New York with Sergio Mendes' early Bossa Rio group – the legendary Brazilian jazz ensemble that featured Paulo Moura, Dom Um Romao, and Durval Ferreira. The mixture of tight bossa rhythms and Cannon's soulful sax is totally great – and it's only because the Riverside label was folding at the time that the record never got bigger fame. Includes the cuts "Joyce's Samba", "Clouds", "Minha Saudade", "Corcovado", "Batida Diferentes", and "Sambops". LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty darn great record from Brazilian singer and guitarist Nelson Angelo – an artist we haven't heard from since his early 70s album with Joyce! Angelo clearly hasn't missed a beat in the time that's gone by – and he's working here in a compelling mode that blends small combo instrumentation with adventurous songwriting – but which also has lots of jazzy touches in the phrasing of the vocals and instruments. There's a lightly breezy feel to some of the best tracks – reminding us almost of early Ivan Lins at his best – but the album also has a more personal approach that comes through in most of Angelo's original compositions. Titles include "Lingerinho", "Caterete", "Delirios Do Mar", "Radio Universe Pedal", "Vera's Frevo", and "Trombone". CD

A warm and wonderful set from Badi Assad – a record that somes across with the same jazzy flourish on voice and guitar we might expect from Joyce in the old days! Like Joyce, Badi works here with a nicely rhythmic sensibility – one that's got its roots in bossa, but inflects the sound boldly into new territory – with support from a small combo that features Zeca Assumpcao on bass, Carlos Malta on sax and flute, and Jacques Morelenbaum on cello. Titles are a mix of Brazilian numbers by Lenine, Jobim, and others – plus a few covers from contemporary pop that fit surprisingly well into this format. Titles include "From United States Of Piaui", "A Banca Do Distinto", "Black Dove", "Sweet Dreams", "Acredite Ou Nao", "Vacilao", and "Zoar". CD

Gal Costa is no stranger to the duet format in pop music – and in fact, it might be safe to say that it's been a huge part of her career – as evidenced by the fact that her first album was a set of duets with Caetano Veloso! This collection explores that tradition nicely – by bringing together 20 years of duets that Gal recorded during her years at BMG. The variety of artists is astounding, and Gal really manages to work with each of them on their own terms. Titles include "Ilusao A Toa" with Johnny Alf, "O Cu Do Mundo" with Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, "Saudade De Bahia" with Quarteto Em Cy, "Ponta De Areia" with Boca Livre, "Alguem Que Olhe Por Mim" with Cauby Peixoto, "Misterios" with Joyce, and "Biscate" with Chico Buarque. CD

A great tribute to the music of Djavan – one of Brazil's biggest artists of the past few decades! Although he's more often thought of as one of Brazil's greatest performers of the past 25 years, Djavan's also been one of the country's foremost composers – as you'll see in this sharp 3 volume set that features other performers interpreting some of his greatest compositions! As with the other Lumiar Songbook series, the performances here are all-new, done especially for the collection – in a really wonderful collaboration of artists who come together in celebration of the songwriting talents of Djavan! Instrumentation is relatively lean, and more classic than contemporary – which really suits the songs well. Titles on this third volume include "A Rota Do Individuo" by Caetano Veloso, "Capim" by Joao Donato, "Samba Dobrado" by Johnny Alf, "Pedro Brasil" by Joyce, "Oceano" by Leny Andrade, "Alibi" by Fatima Guedes & Victor Biglione, and "Morena De Endoidecer" by Maria Bethania! CD

One of our favorite albums ever from Eddie Jefferson – one of the last sessions he ever recorded as a leader, and a stone cooker through and through! The arrangements here are by Slide Hampton, who hits a really soulful groove for the set – one that moves away from some of the more experimental modes of other Jefferson dates of the 70s, and hits a snapping, swinging style that moves Eddie back to his hippest modes of the 60s. Hampton plays trombone in the group, and other players include Charles Sullivan on trumpet, Richie Cole on alto, Junior Cook on tenor, Hamiet Bluiett on baritone, and Harold Mabern on piano and electric piano. Leon Thomas produced the record, and Joyce Lawson guests as the female voice on a remake of "Moody's Mood For Love". Other titles include a killer version of Duke Pearson's "Jeannine" that is probably worth the price of the album alone – and there's also "Benny's From Heaven" and "Freedom Jazz Dance", both of which are great, too – plus "Summertime", "Exactly Like You", and "Night Train". LP, Vinyl record album

We listed Jobim as the artist on this one so that you wouldn't miss it – but we should point out that the set is one of a 5 volume series of discs that pay tribute to the great Brazilian songwriter, and which feature other Brazilian artists performing some of his greatest compositions – plus a few "lost" ones that are very nice! This volume features "Desafinado" by Hermeto Pascoal, "Olha Maria" by Ed Motta, "Aguas De Marco" by Joyce, "A Violeira" by Elba Ramalho, "Angela" by Joao Bosco, "Garota De Ipanema" by Leila Pinheiro and Roberto Menescal, and "Estrada Do Sol" by Beth Carvalho. 15 tracks in all, and all exclusive to the set! CD

A beautiful batch of mellow bossa tunes – all from the pen of Carlos Lyra, and performed by a host of Brazil's best musicians that includes Lyra himself. The recording quality is excellent, and the tracks are spare stripped-down takes of some of Lyra's best material – most of which you'll recognize instantly. As with the other Lumiar sets, the material here is not on other LPs, which makes the set an even bigger treat! There's 20 tracks in all, featuring great performances by Tom Jobim, Caetano Veloso, Joao Bosco, Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil, Nana Caymmi, Helio Delmiro, Joyce, Simone, Leny Andrade, Roberto Menescal, Emilio Santiago, Nico Assumpcao, and others! CD

One of the hardest, heaviest soul groups of the 70s – so much so that their music often has a fair bit of rockish touches too – especially in the guitars, which are nice and fuzzy! Lead singer Joyce Kennedy is a killer throughout – almost rivaling Nona Hendryx for unbridled energy and raw power – and the rest of the group provide lots of vocal support too – as well as some plenty heavy drums, bass, and guitar! Things really cook on titles that include "Rain", "Fire", "Fly With Me", "Dontcha Wanna Love Me", and ironically-titled "Niggizz Can't Sang Rock & Roll". LP, Vinyl record album

A mid 70s masterpiece from Milton Nascimento – a record that still has the soaringly ambitious touches of his other work from the time, but which also comes across with a slightly personal feel too! Nascimento's voice is near-perfect – even more spacious and heavenly than before – and the backings have a positive, triumphant quality that's extremely upbeat and bright, yet without sounding commercial at all. There's still plenty of jazzy undercurrents in the music – which was co-written with Fernando Brant, Toninho Horta, and Ronaldo Bastos – and players on the record include Wagner Tiso on keyboards, Toninho Horta on guitar, and Nivaldo Ornelas on flute. There's an additional chorus on some tracks – with vocals by Joyce, Horta, and others – and although the overall sound is impossible to describe adequately, it's a heavenly mix of complicated arrangements, unusual instrumentation, and Milton's fantastic voice. Titles include "Minas", "Idolatrada", "Paula e Bebeto", "Leila", "Ponta De Areia", "Gran Circo", and "Simples". CD also includes two bonus cuts – a cool cover of "Norwegian Wood" and "Caso Voce Queira Saber". CD

A groundbreaking collection of work from the Brazilian scene – a package put together for Blue Note by Joe Davis, of Far Out Records fame – but mostly put together from rare Brazilian material on the EMI/Odeon label! Includes work by Milton Banana Trio, Joyce, Som Tres, Quarteto Novo, Luiz Arruda Paez, Mandrake Som, Perry Ribiero, Marcos Valle, and more! 2 LPs, with 3 bonus cuts on this vinyl version – including the sublime "Me Deixa" and "Cala Boca Menino" by Joao Donato, and a great jazzy take on "Night And Day" by Victor Assis Brasil. Excellent stuff, and a perfect introduction to the funky Brazilian scene, with loads of cuts that even longtime collectors die for! 2 LPs, with 3 bonus cuts on this vinyl version – including the sublime "Me Deixa" and "Cala Boca Menino" by Joao Donato, and a great jazzy take on "Night And Day" by Victor Assis Brasil. LP, Vinyl record album

A dream of a set from the folks at Numero Group – a special package that digs through all their many collections and archive projects, and comes up with some of the funkiest cuts in the bunch! Unlike some of their other compilations, this one focuses on the groove first – and the groove is nice and funky, hard and gritty, and feels like you're sitting next to the turntable, playing a stack of rare funk 45s, one after the other! Titles include "Function Underground" by We The People, "Jungle" by Young Senators, "Let Me Come Within" by Renaldo Domino, "Iron Leg" by Mickey & The Soul Generation, "Get It Right" by Soul President, "First Thing I Do In The Morning" by Joyce Williams, "Party Time" by Black Soul Express, "Money Won't Save You" by Boscoe, "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" by Robert Moore, "You Made Me Suffer" by Andrew Brown, and "Watch The Dog That Bring The Bone" by Sandy Gaye. CD

10 tracks total, with "Poetry" by Boogie Down Productions, "4 Ever My Beat" by Stetsasonic, "Traveling At The Speed Of Thought" by Ultramagnetic MCs, "My Melody (Remix)" by Eric B & Rakim, "Take It Off" by Spoonie Gee, "Peter Piper" by Run DMC, "It's My Beat" by Sweet Tee and Jazzy Joyce, "Do The James" by Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud, "The B Fats" by B Fats, and "Tramp" by Salt N Pepa. LP, Vinyl record album

Includes tracks by Joyce Green, Shirley Caddell, Jackie Johnson, Jean Shepard, Stormy Gayle, Barbara Redd, Patsy Cline, Wanda Jackson, Sandy Lee, and Freeda Boxx. A total of 35 cuts in all! CD

Hip British soul from the end of the 60s – surprisingly great tracks recorded at a time when the London scene was getting a lot deeper and more soulful, able to forge a whole new voice of its own! The sound here is quite different from American soul of the time – with more rock and reggae influences running through the grooves, and a much more consciously pan-racial approach that makes for some really striking moments. Packaged with a great set of notes, and featuring 27 tracks that include "Goodwill To All Mankind" and "African Velvet" by Black Velvet, "So Far Away" and "Lean On Me" by root & Jenny Jackson, "Yes I Do" by Ram John Holder, "A Little Love" by Eldridge Devlin, "Let's Copp A Groove" by Bobby Wells, "Do You Need My Love" by The Showstoppers, "Turn On A Heatwave" by Sugar Simone, "You Won't See My Leaving" by Cinnamon, "Black Skinned Blue Eyed Boys" by Tony Morgan & The Mussel Power Band, "Come See About Me" by Jeannie Dee, and "First In Line" by Joyce Bond. CD

A marvelous soundtrack from 70s Brazil – recorded for a children's program, but very much in the best baroque tradition of the Novela years – and featuring a range of exclusive work by some incredibly groovy artists! The record was directed by Dory Caymmi, in a mode that's partly folksy, partly grooving, and filled with complicated instrumental interplay amidst the warmly-recorded vocals. Tunes skate along beautifully – often hitting a Marcos Valle-like sense of groove, but also with some of the fluidity of Joyce's work from the same time. Titles include "Passaredo" by MPB4, "Tia Nastacia" by Dorival Caymmi, "Visconde De Sabugosa" by Joao Bosco, "Dona Benta" by Jose Luis, "Sitio Do Picapau Amarelo" by Gilberto Gil, "Peixe" by Doces Barbaros, "Tio Barnabe" by Marlui Miranda and Jards Macale, and "Emilia" by Sergio Ricardo. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Simply Smooth, Jacksoul, Strictly For U, Tony Di Bart, Jeanie Tracy & Bobby Womack, Regina Belle, Harmony Innocents, Joyce Sims, Mtume, Portrait, and more. CD

A stunning package of rare and classic soul – very much in the spirit of the other titles on the Cairo imprint, and put together with a huge booklet of notes and images, and a great cover to boot! The approach here is nicely focused, despite the large date range – and most of the music is from the big 60s soul heyday in the US – served up with an approach that's especially heavy on deep soul and southern soul, but which also throws in a few other surprises along the way! Titles include "I'll Be There" by Betty & Roy, "You Don't Love Me" by Gene Burks, "I'm A Lonely Stranger" by Arthur Connelly, "You Don't Have To Worry" by Doris & Kelly, "Don't Let Me Down" by Charlotte Dada, "I've Cried" by The Jhamels, "Goodbye" by Curley Moore, "Get It Over" by Ben & Spence, "Gonna Have To Put You Down" by Oscar Bishop & The Bishops, "It Do Me Good" b The Pitter Pats, "What Are You Gonna Do" by Debra Lewis, "I'm Gonna Hold On To You" by Alice Rozier & Little Joe, "Go Back Home" by Allen toussaint, "All I Want Is You" by Zilla Mayes, "Darling I Still Love You" by Joyce Kennedy, and "Hit The Road Jack" by Margie Hendrix & Percy Mayfield. LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing work from singer Dee Alexander – a wonderfully soulful album of jazz vocals, and one that we'd rank right up there with our favorite records by Carmen Lundy or Dee Dee Bridgewater! Dee's a singer who's worked in Chicago for years, but we've honestly only begun to appreciate her talents of late – possibly because she's really hipped up her sound a lot over the years, picking up a range of spiritual, soulful influences that push her music to a whole new level – as you might have heard on her recent collaboration with IG Culture. The music on the set is wonderful too – work by Chicago players we know, but have never heard this strongly before – grooving in modal and soulful modes behind Dee's great vocals, with a lineup that includes Miguel De La Cerna and Michael Logan on piano, Harrison Bankhead on bass, and Leon Joyce on drums and percussion. Titles include versions of two tunes by AACM member Henry Huff – "Live" and "You & I" – plus the Alexander originals "Long Road Ahead", "Rossingnol", "Butterfly", and "C U On The Other Side". CD

Sublime vocals from Clarice Assad – a singer who's got some ties to older Brazilian traditions, but who also really makes things all her own – with a dynamic sense of phrasing that's perfectly backed up by some equally great instrumentation! Clarice handled all the arrangments – which blend flute, strings, vocals, and lots of deft percussion – but always in this lean way that moves along effortlessly with her beautiful vocals. The approach has all the fresh appeal of Joyce at her best – although Clarice is quite different overall, and often open to a much wider range of influences. Titles include "De Perna Pro Ar", "Passaros", "Fantasia", "Tempestade", "Why", "Lachrimae", "Dedezinha De Maio", and "Revolta Das Flores". CD

The last album in a legendary run of music from keyboardist Doug Carn – his final album for the Black Jazz label, and a set that pushes even farther than his previous efforts! Jean Carn isn't in the group this time around, but the set does feature a totally great twin-vocal approach – with singing by Joyce Green and John Conner, blending their voices together in a style that's right up there with the most righteous 70s jazz experiments by Horace Silver or Billy Gault! This vocal balance really brings a new sort of power to Carn's music – furthering the righteous spirit of earlier years with a hell of a lot of energy – also aided by great instrumental work from Ronnie Laws on tenor and soprano sax, Thurman Green on trombone, Calvin Keys and Nathan Page on guitars, and Big Black on percussion. Titles include the classic "Higher Ground" – plus "Adam's Apple", "Western Sunrise", "Chant", "Sanctuary", "The Messenger", and "Mighty Mighty". CD

The last album in a legendary run of music from keyboardist Doug Carn – his final album for the Black Jazz label, and a set that pushes even farther than his previous efforts! Jean Carn isn't in the group this time around, but the set does feature a totally great twin-vocal approach – with singing by Joyce Green and John Conner, blending their voices together in a style that's right up there with the most righteous 70s jazz experiments by Horace Silver or Billy Gault! This vocal balance really brings a new sort of power to Carn's music – furthering the righteous spirit of earlier years with a hell of a lot of energy – also aided by great instrumental work from Ronnie Laws on tenor and soprano sax, Thurman Green on trombone, Calvin Keys and Nathan Page on guitars, and Big Black on percussion. Titles include the classic "Higher Ground" – plus "Adam's Apple", "Western Sunrise", "Chant", "Sanctuary", "The Messenger", and "Mighty Mighty". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare bossa set from Argentina – but one that sparkles like some of the best MPB of the time! The lovely Maria De Fatima sings and plays guitar in a style that's not unlike Joyce – quite warm, and often a bit airy – gliding out beautifully over lightly dancing rhythms that draw on samba, bossa, and a bit of jazz! But there's also some more sophisticated phrasings here too – elements that clearly come from a love of 70s work by Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and their generation – served up subtly and simply by Maria in her music, with a really unique feel overall. Instrumentation is relatively light – again, a quality that reminds us of Joyce at her best – and backings include work from the Fattoruso brothers, who'd crafted some earlier bossa sets on their own! Titles include "Voce Sorrindo E Entregando", "Toda Menina Bahiana", "Coisas Estranhas", "Bahia Com H", "Tres Pontas", "Sao Joao Xango Menino", and "Cancombe Brasileiro Montevideano". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest albums ever from Francoise Hardy – a set that has her working with Brazilian arranger Tuca, who brings a very different vibe to her music – a mode that wraps together acoustic guitar, post-bossa arrangements, and some dark-tinged vocals from Francoise – all in a mode that feels like the best work from Nara Leao or Joyce at the time! The great Guy Pederson plays bass on the record, too – in this way that's subtle, but extremely powerful in the setting – bringing some deep currents to the music alongside Hardy's acoustic guitar – all wrapped up in an echoey style of production that's completely sublime. The whole thing feels much more like a lost late 60s side on Elenco Records than Hardy's usual music – and titles include "Doigts", "Viens", "La Question", "Mer", "Le Martien", "Chanson D'O", and "Bati Mon Nid". CD

A beautiful American release from Toninho Horta – and one that features some great guest work by Joyce too! The sound here is a nice extension of Horta's early EMI albums in Brazil – a bit more jazz-based and somewhat polished – but still light years away from the sound of contemporary fusion in the US at the time. Toninho often uses that cool wordless style of singing that makes his music so magical – and in addition to some guest vocals from Joyce on two tracks – other artists include Nivaldo Ornellas and Wayne Shorter on saxes, Robertinho Silva on drums, and Marcio Montarroyos on flugelhorn. Titles include "Sunflower", "Mountain Flight", "Luisa", "Ballad For Zawinul", "Raul", and "Pilar". LP, Vinyl record album

Jiva gets plenty of love, and spreads the loving back, too – in this sweet little collection that not only features remixes of their own work, but also has some Jiva-remixed tracks as well! The core vibe is very much in the best Jiva Atlanta soul mode – warmly righteous, and filled with positive energy – taken, perhaps, to a bit more dancefloor territory with some of the remixed here, yet not in a way that loses the sweet soul of the tunes! Jiva tunes include "Stars (Louie Vega's EOL mix)", "Better2gether (Darryl Reeves mix)", "Stars (Tom & Joyce voc mix)", "Love Chooses Lovers (acoustic)", and "Stars (Tauriva mix)" – and tunes by others include "50/50 Love (Jiva rmx)" by Anthony David with Julie Dexter, "Bloodshed (Jiva's boogiebossa mix)" by Eugene IV, "The Dove (Jiva rmx)" by Julie & Khari, and "Window (Jiva rmx)" by Alex Lattimore. CD

When this album was first issued in the mid 90s by EMI, it quietly glided onto the market, with very little effect. Over the years, though, the record has slowly been championed by a large number of American critics and musicians, and has come to be one of the most critically acclaimed releases by a Brazilian musician in recent years. The album's a mix of jazz-tinged vocal tracks by Marisa, with a style that certainly owes something to earlier Brazilian singers like Gal Costa or Joyce, but which also has lots of its own nice touches. Arto Linday produced the set, and Marisa Runs through a batch of songs that includes versions of Arnaldo Antunes "Alta Noite", Jorge Ben's "Balanca Pema", and her own "Enquanto Isso", sung with Laurie Anderson. There's also loads of guests on the album – like Gilberto Gil, Carlinhos Brown, and others! LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet set of electric funk from James Moody – and a great little record to match the grooves he was laying down at the Perception label in the early 70s – with a very unique sound! Moody's working here alongside some sweet work on electric piano by either Jodie Christian or Tennyson Stephens – and with some sly and soulful arrangements by Chicago soul maestro Richard Evans, who also plays bass on the record and gives it a style that's almost an extension of the later Cadet kind of groove. The album features an excellent funky instrumental version of " First Thing I Do In the Morning", originally a funky vocal 45 by Chicago singer Joyce Williams – and other cuts include "Trilby", "Don't Let Me Be Lonely", "World Is A Ghetto", "Good Sense Humor Man", and "Country City Country". LP, Vinyl record album

A mid 70s masterpiece from Milton Nascimento – a record that still has the soaringly ambitious touches of his other work from the time, but which also comes across with a slightly personal feel too! Nascimento's voice is near-perfect – even more spacious and heavenly than before – and the backings have a positive, triumphant quality that's extremely upbeat and bright, yet without sounding commercial at all. There's still plenty of jazzy undercurrents in the music – which was co-written with Fernando Brant, Toninho Horta, and Ronaldo Bastos – and players on the record include Wagner Tiso on keyboards, Toninho Horta on guitar, and Nivaldo Ornelas on flute. There's an additional chorus on some tracks – with vocals by Joyce, Horta, and others – and although the overall sound is impossible to describe adequately, it's a heavenly mix of complicated arrangements, unusual instrumentation, and Milton's fantastic voice. Titles include "Minas", "Idolatrada", "Paula e Bebeto", "Leila", "Ponta De Areia", "Gran Circo", and "Simples". This Japanese CD edition includes 2 bonus tracks: a nice cover of "Norwegian Wood" and "Caso Voce Quiera Saber". CD

This is a collection of some of Nascimento's work from the late 1960s through the late 1970s. There are a lot of original compositions as well as songs by Lo Borges, Toninho Horta, Joyce and Caetano Veloso. Tracks include "Nuvem Cigana", "Sentinela", "Travessia", "Viver De Amor", and "Misterios". LP, Vinyl record album

Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, Peter Washington on bass, Dave Eggar on cello, Lewis Nash on drums, David O'Rourke on guitar, Mulgrew Miller on piano, Ron Lawrence on viola, and Joyce Hammann and Meg Okura on violin. CD

A long-overdue collection of work by The Radiants – one of Chicago's greatest soul groups of the 60s, but an act who never seem to get their due because they only mostly cut singles during the time! The group's got a great approach that's got some of the roughness of the earlier vocal groups that flourished in Chicago during the 50s, but which also shares the tightness that graced some of the city's best 60s groups – like the Impressions. This 29 track set brings together a huge amount of work the group cut for Checker, along with some brief but well-done notes that recount the group's history and recordings. Titles include "Hold On", "Ida Mae Foster", "Choo Choo", "I'm Just A Man", "Baby You Got It", "Don't It Make You Feel Kind Of Bad", "I'm Glad I'm The Loser", "I'm In Love", "Shy Guy", "I Got A Girl", "Tomorrow', "Whole Lot Of Woman", "Tomorrow", and "Joyce". CD

2 of Woody Shaw's greatest albums – recorded 10 years apart, and forming a fantastic CD collection! Cassandranite features fantastic early work by Woody Shaw – an album originally recorded in 1965, when Shaw was part of a core soul jazz underground that was slowly forming an answer to the "new thing" movement of the mid 60s. The session was self-produced – and not only features some killer playing by Shaw, but contains a number of other wonderful touches. Larry Young plays piano (not organ) on two tracks; Herbie Hancock is on another 3; George Cables plays electric on the last track, which also includes Harold Vick; Joe Henderson plays tenor throughout; and the great Joe Chambers is on drums. The set is filled with fantastic modal originals, all along the lines of Shaw's "Moontrane" composition – and titles include "Baloo Baloo", "Three Muses", "Tetragon", and "Cassandranite". Love Dance is equally great – spiritual, soulful, and filled with some nice modal grooving! The group's one of the best he ever worked with on Muse – with Billy Harper on tenor, plus Rene McLean, Steve Turre, Joe Bonner, and Cecil McBee – and the approach reminds us of some of the work on Strata East from the same time. The highlight of the record is the cut "Sunbath", which was done in a more famous jazz dance version by singer Joyce Hurley – but Shaw's version has a very similar groove. Harper makes many of the other tracks shine brilliantly, and titles include "Love Dance", "Obsequious", and Harper's own beautiful composition "Soulfully I Love You". CD

Shindig features a rare contemporary group on the cover – Sweden's psych monsters Dungen – served up here in an issue that also has some great features on Joyce and Charles Stepney – both heroes around here at Dusty Groove – plus plenty more on David Holmes, Gypsy, Hector, and Storyteller – and a look at the key early 70s transitional years of Fleetwood Mac, and the sometimes-mysterious Star Club record label! As always with Shindig, the layout and presentation is as great as the features – a really colorful presentation that keeps things lively throughout. Magazine

Wonderful work from Simone – one of her first albums ever, done in a style that's quite different than most of her later work! There's a personal, intimate quality to the record that's really amazing – one that has some of the power of Maria Bethania's work from this time, but which are sweetened by some warmer arrangements from the legendary Maestro Gaya. Gaya's relatively restrained on the record – and mostly uses gentle acoustic instrumentation, plus a few electric touches – all to couch Simone's vocals in a really dark sort of sound. There's a few Joyce-ish touches at times – and the album's a really tremendous little album, easily one of her greatest ever! Titles include a stunning version of "Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser", plus the tracks "Charada", "Encontro Marcado", "Caminho Do Sol", "Quero", "Morena", and "Bandeira Branca". LP, Vinyl record album

A totally groovy Brazilian trio – three female singers, working together with some of the harmony modes of a group like Quarteto Em Cy – but also coming across with a range of playful and interesting styles as well! The set's got a heady sound that really lives up to the cover – almost Sunshine Pop or late 60s French pop, mixed with some of the cooler Brazilian styles of the time – a bit of EMI/Odeon elements in the production, which is directed by Nelson Motta – and a mix of songs written by Marcos Valle, Joyce, and Nelson Angelo! There's a gently rolling groove to most of the record – not entirely funk, but not far off either – and titles include "Abrace Paul McCartney Por Mim", "Oh", "Serolav Ou Oh Meu Brasil", "Primavernado", "Trem Noturno", "Loura Ou Morena", "Ondas Medias", "Please Garcon", and "Pigmaleo 70". CD

A great issue of the relaunched Wax Poetics – one that has the magazine back to all its early glory, with page after page of wonderful images and deep coverage of the music we love! This time around the split covers broadcast two of the issue's best articles – a long look at the keyboard genius of Patrice Rushen, hero of both jazz and soul – and a history of electronic sounds on the Detroit scene, including Wajeed, who is on the cover – moving back to the early experiments of Juan Atkins and others! There's plenty more, too – articles on Hammond hero Shirley Scott, Bill Evans' work at the Village Vanguard, and more on Joseph Bowie, Mo Wax Records, Joyce, Keiya, Masta Ace, The Chambers Brothers, and the Alpha Boys School – a key part of Jamaican music history! As usual, the art and photography is as great as the writing – making this squarebound publication feel more like a book than a magazine. Magazine

A lost late bossa gem from the Brazilian scene of the 70s – served up by a singer with an acoustic guitar, but in a way that's a lot more complex than bossa nova records of the 60s! Werther works here in territory that's a bit like Joyce or Edu Lobo at the time – music that uses the core elements of a generation before, but in ways that open up in a range of different moods – sometimes with larger arrangements providing some of the complexity, sometimes with qualities that come from the singer himself – especially when his lead vocals are given some sublime harmony backup. The sense of sound balance and tone is superb – like some of the territory that Marcos Valle or Arthur Verocai were exploring at the time – and titles include "Lenda", "Rei Do Chao", "Terca Feira", "Leilao", "Catavento", "Mudanca", "Ave Maria", and "Dimensao". CD

A lost late bossa gem from the Brazilian scene of the 70s – served up by a singer with an acoustic guitar, but in a way that's a lot more complex than bossa nova records of the 60s! Werther works here in territory that's a bit like Joyce or Edu Lobo at the time – music that uses the core elements of a generation before, but in ways that open up in a range of different moods – sometimes with larger arrangements providing some of the complexity, sometimes with qualities that come from the singer himself – especially when his lead vocals are given some sublime harmony backup. The sense of sound balance and tone is superb – like some of the territory that Marcos Valle or Arthur Verocai were exploring at the time – and titles include "Lenda", "Rei Do Chao", "Terca Feira", "Leilao", "Catavento", "Mudanca", "Ave Maria", and "Dimensao". LP, Vinyl record album

The groundbreaking music of Tyshawn Sorey gets a great feature here – and the issue also has a great feature on Joyce – the Brazilian singer who's one of our all-time favorites here at Dusty Groove! There's plenty more too – articles on Devin Townsend, Horse Lords, and a very cool Global Ear feature – plus Big Joanie on the Invisible Jukebox, page after page of music reviews – and even a special Wire Tapper bonus CD, with music from Balka Sound, Dave Clarkson, Lucrecia Dalt, Lady Aicha & Pisco Crane, and others! Magazine

A really cool collection of Christmas country songs – one that digs much deeper than some of the familiar Nashville classics, as all the work here is from a variety of small labels from around the country! Most of these tracks are original tunes, mixed in with just a few remakes – and the production is usually nicely stripped-down, with a feel that's often more like the spare sound of some of the postwar hillbilly records, but maybe tuned towards themes that have a bit more of a 60s vibe overall. As with most great Christmas records, there's a nice current of melancholy here too – served up on tunes that include "Santa Claus Won't Come This Year" by Charlie Stewart, "Make This A Good Christmas" by Joyce Street, "Rock & Roll Christmas" by The Caravans, "All I Want For Christmas Is A Go Go Girl" by Ben Hinds, "When Santa Comes" by Don McGinnis & The Cactus Cutups, "What Would Santa Claus Think" by Billy Egr with Bobby Van & The Swinging Kids, "Christmas Come Back To Me" by Glenn Brookshire, and "Santa Claus Ain't A Hippie" by Charlie Stewart. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic collection of rare funky nuggets – put together by the folks at the Numero Group, and an album that's billed as "the only funk album you'll ever need"! That might be a big claim, but the record is pretty darn great – a set that features a few older underground classics, plus a number of cuts we haven't heard before – all brought together from the farther reaches of the Numero universe, into one fantastically funky set! Instrumentals sit nicely next to vocal tracks – and the whole thing is filled with heavy drums, riffing guitars, and other great elements – all chosen by the sorts of folks who really know their thing. Titles include "Corruption Is The Thing" by Creations Unlimited, Slow Burner" by Swithold, "Human Race" by Human Race, "First Thing I Do In The Morning" by Joyce Williams, "Soul & Sunshine" by Harvey & The Phenomenals, "The Vibration" by Sonny Harris, "Jungle" by The Young Senators, "Ghet-To Funk" by Doralcha, "So Dam Funky" by Hot Chocolate, "Akiwana" by Village Callers, and "Iron Leg" by Mickey & The Soul Generation. LP, Vinyl record album