You gotta love a hip hop album that begins with an Alice Coltrane sample – and The Specifics follow suit with plenty more other jazzy bits too – almost evoking an old Tribe Called Quest generation with they way they use key samples, but also doing so at a level that's very understated too – light years from some of the earliest "jazz meets hip hop" experiments that now sound a bit embarrassing! This is definitely a hip hop album first, but one that has a great ear for jazz – used at a level that both links the old school and more contemporary efforts that sometimes tend to bury the lead, a mistake these guys avoid in a great way. Titles include "Lampin", "Look Alive", "L City", "My Tunes", "Life's Work", "Let's Get", and "You". LP, Vinyl record album

Funky jazz for the hip hop generation – a set that features warm instrumental solos over some well-crafted beats – all with a vibe that effortlessly links the 70s with the 21st Century! Pat Van Dyke plays a host of instruments – including vibes and Fender Rhodes – in a lineup that also features tenor and flute from Zac Colwell, and some guest tenor from Dayna Stephens too – both players who help enforce the jazz side of the spectrum here, amidst the spacious funky beats from the leader. Titles include "Slow Shimmer", "Vibrate Higher", "Falls To Pieces", "Rising Tide", "Say It Again", and "A Faded Dream". LP, Vinyl record album

Flip Wilson caught live at Mr Kelly's in Chicago – really grabbing the attention of the crowd with a range of routines – some straight jokes, mixed with some of the characters that would increasingly dominate Wilson's performance – all with the sort of crossover appeal that maybe makes his work an important precursor to the generation of Dave Chappelle! But there's also a hip-talking approach that links him back to the world of comics like Lenny Bruce or Mort Sahl – that style from a time when comics were only for adult audiences – something that's referenced not just in the subject material (which is never too blue here, given the Atlantic Records performance), but also in the matter of fact style of speaking. Titles include "The Millionaire", "The Joey Bishop Show", "The Gardener", "Days Of The Knights", "Herman's Berry", and "Paid To Die". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing movie in sound – supposedly music (and more) that was going to be used in a film project, issued to the public while Zappa was trying to raise money for production! The album's one of the most tripped-out studio efforts to date from the group – loads of overdubbing, and wonderfully complicated instrumentation – with some especially great keyboards from Don Preston and Ian Underwood, whose keys alone almost preface the future of fusion – while, at the same time, display some key links to 20th century avant music as well! Vocals are dropped in at just the right time, but the instrumental interplay is what really makes the record special – over many short tracks that include "Mr Green Genes", "We Can Shoot You", "Dog Breath Variations", "Sleeping In A Jar", "The Legend Of The Golden Arches", "Uncle Meat", "Cruising For Burgers", and "King Kong" in many variations. LP, Vinyl record album

A much-needed look at a key force in Italian disco – the legendary Baia Degli Angeli, a club that was as important to Europe as the Paradise Garage was to New York! The CD features a great selection of numbers that played strongly on Angeli's dancefloor in the late 70s, most of which have a spacey electronic quality that links them strongly to some of the best underground club of New York at the time. The CD's mixed together in a way that recreates the feel of the legendary floor – and titles include "Midnight Madness" by Don Ray, "Zone" by Rhythm Makers, "Don't You Know Who Did It" by John Forde, "Pazuzu" by Tony Silvester & The New Ingredient, "Surprise" by Andre Gagnon, "Sweet Lady" by Chain Reaction, "Timing Forget The Timing" by Black Devil, "Magnifico Mambo" by Five Letters, "Come On & Rock" by Needa, "Point Zero" by Voyage, "Un Habit En La Bemol" by Flashback Roger Gravel, and "Monkey Star" by Arpadys. CD

Gary, Indiana is maybe best known as the hometown of the Jackson 5 – but the city also had plenty of other soul singers back in the day – as you'll discover on this really well-done collection of tracks! The set's titled after the Chicago Skyway, a huge industrial structure that links the south side of the Windy City with Gary – and that link is a key one, as many of the artists here have a resonance with Chicago soul too – working with qualities that are often a bit more sophisticated than usual, and not as directly aimed at the charts or the dancefloor – a really special breed of soul music that makes for a wonderfully rich collection! As usual with Numero, the package is as great as the track list – and titles include "Trouble" by General Lee & Lost Weekend, "Sweet Jo-Ann" by El Anthony, "Main Squeeze" by Nate Evans, "So I Can Make This Change" by The Krash Band, "Bridge Of Love" by Lost Weekend, "Give Your Love To Me" by Wilton Crump, "Don't Be Afraid" by Sky's The Limit, "Let's Ride" by Junei, "You Just Be You" by Into New Dimensions, "I Need Your Love" by Billy Foster, "Pleasure" by General Lee, "Night Music" by Billy Foster, "The Look On Your Face" by Nate Evans & Mean Green, and "We've Been In Love Too Long" by El Anthony. LP, Vinyl record album

An insane package – one that features the material from the 6CD Complete Concert Wattstax set, plus 5 more CDs from Summit Club Recordings in 1972, plus one more CD of additional material too! First up are 6 CDs that feature a stunning presentation of the legendary Wattstax concert – that huge moment of pride and power when the folks at Stax Records filled up the Los Angeles Coliseum with one of the most memorable shows of the 70s! The meeting of talents here is the stuff of legend – and this great package brings together the complete show in running order – really building up excitement as the concert progresses – with different acts each bringing their own sort of fire to the stage, culminating in a fantastic long finale by Isaac Hayes! The presentation is different than the two double albums that Stax issued back in the 70s – and this expanded package features a number of unreleased tracks in place of material the label later added – such as work from Richard Pryor and The Emotions. There's a whole instrumental section at the start, and more spoken links between some parts – and new material includes unissued work from Kim Weston, Freddie Robinson, Ernie Hines, Eric Mercury, Tommy Tate, Billy Eckstine, and Isaac Hayes – in addition to famous performances by The Soul Children, Jesse Jackson, Rufus Thomas, Albert King, Carla Thomas, William Bell, The Bar Kays, David Porter, The Temprees, Eddie Floyd, and David Porter – plus plenty more from Isaac Hayes too! Great package – with a full color book with new notes and essays, and plenty more too. The Summit Club material follows on five more CDs – material that was partly issued on some other reissues by individual artists, but augmented here with a wealth of unreleased material too! There's a a full show of work from Johnnie Taylor and Rufus Thomas – the latter of whom even does some comedy bits – plus some extra funky performances from The Sons Of Slum, heavy blues from Little Milton, great soul from The Emotions, and a huge amount of never-issued work from the great duo Mel & Tim – arguably better here than on their Stax studio sessions. CD12 features additional recordings that were layered into some of the LP releases issued under the Wattstax name – 15 more tracks that include titles by The Emotions, Isaac Hayes, The Dramatics, Staple Singers, and Eddie Floyd – plus some comedy routines by Richard Pryor. CD

A stunning presentation of the legendary Wattstax concert – that huge moment of pride and power when the folks at Stax Records filled up the Los Angeles Coliseum with one of the most memorable shows of the 70s! The meeting of talents here is the stuff of legend – and this great package brings together the complete show in running order – really building up excitement as the concert progresses – with different acts each bringing their own sort of fire to the stage, culminating in a fantastic long finale by Isaac Hayes! The presentation is different than the two double albums that Stax issued back in the 70s – and this expanded package features a number of unreleased tracks in place of material the label later added – such as work from Richard Pryor and The Emotions. There's a whole instrumental section at the start, and more spoken links between some parts – and new material includes unissued work from Kim Weston, Freddie Robinson, Ernie Hines, Eric Mercury, Tommy Tate, Billy Eckstine, and Isaac Hayes – in addition to famous performances by The Soul Children, Jesse Jackson, Rufus Thomas, Albert King, Carla Thomas, William Bell, The Bar Kays, David Porter, The Temprees, Eddie Floyd, and David Porter – plus plenty more from Isaac Hayes too! Great package – with a full color book with new notes and essays, and plenty more too. CD

Later issue of the first album from Michael Franks – and a bit different than his later hits at Warner! The trademark Frank sound is definitely in place here – well-penned tunes, sung with cool compressed vocals and a slight jazzy tinge – but there's also a bit more of a folksy feel at times, a slightly earthier feel at points that's quite nice, and which almost links him a bit to the early work of Kenny Rankin. Arrangements are by Richard Markowitz, and backings are relatively spare and sometimes jazzy – with bits of flute and sax from Tom Scott, and some especially nice bass work from Max Bennett and Carol Kaye, whose round tones really help shape Michael's vocals. Titles include "Just Like Key Largo", "The King Of Oklahoma", "Born With The Moon In Virgo", "Little Sparrow", and "When Blackbirds Fly". LP, Vinyl record album

A great album from the early 70s – one that has Sergio and crew doing Brazilian tracks with a bit of an LA studio feel – one that takes their older bossa groove into even more soulful territory! Dave Grusin and Tom Scott did the arrangements, both in the best styles of their key early work – which means that things are tight, but never to slick or overpolished. The album's a real standout gem that links together 2 different period's of Sergio's career – and titles include wonderful versions of "Asa Branca" and "Zanzibar", plus a version of "Pais Tropical", done here in one of the best versions we've ever heard! Other tracks include "So Many People", "Gone Forever", "I Know You", "After Midnight", "Morro Velho" and "Tonga". LP, Vinyl record album

Never-issued work from the Sun Ra Arkestra – and two tracks that really show just how much the initial wave of their sound tied together with other strands of postwar music! Both cuts here feature vocals from singer Ricky Murray – and as you can tell from the titles, there's a slightly exotic feel to the tunes – almost a space take on Eden Ahbez territory, handled by Murray in a rich baritone, while the Arkestra provides backing with some nicely rhythmic touches! The sound is straighter than some of the group's more avant material, but in a way that also really links them towards the more out-there side of mainstream music – that blend of exotic modes and wistful longing that Ra first explored in Chicago as the house band at the Club DeLisa! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A beautiful album of spacey jazz funk! Eddie Russ was a 70s keyboard genius – right up there with Lonnie Liston Smith and Herbie Hancock in our book, although he never reached the fame of either of those players. This album's one of Eddie's best – and it's got a smoothly produced soul jazz sound that's almost a takeoff on the style of Smith's excellent records for Flying Dutchman – but a bit cooler overall, and with a great feel that links back to Russ' years in the Detroit scene. Tracks are uptempo and jazzy, with a strongly soulful vibe that features lots of electric keyboard work over the top of fast dancing rhythms. A few cuts have sweet female soul backup vocals, and additional instrumentation includes trumpet, sax, and guitar. Tracks include "Zaius", "Salem Avenue", "Poko Nose", and "See The Light". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic Blue Note work by Horace Silver – the stuff that soul jazz legends are made of, and an album that showed he was destined to be a huge force away from the Jazz Messengers! Blue Mitchell and Junior Cook hold down the frontline with Horace – playing in a mellifluous style that links the tenor and trumpet magically, dancing in sweetly lyrical lines over the impeccable rhythm team of Gene Taylor on bass and Louis Hayes on drums. Tracks are short, tight, and grooving with a sound that's virtually the blueprint for early soul jazz – and the album includes classic Silver tunes like "Come On Home", "Mellow D", "Finger Poppin", and "Swingin The Samba". CD

A concept album from the Louisiana scene of the 70s, but one that's much more down to earth than big label projects of the time – and which comes across here in a really unique blend of southern rock guitar and some nicely complicated ideas! The approach is almost impossible to describe – there's part of the record that feels like a post-psych exploration of the sort you'd hear a decade later on Creation Records, but other moments with fuller guitar have elements that feel like they could find a home on the Capricorn label in the early 70s – a really great blend that's completely unique, and which has an instant appeal that even goes way past the concept of the set. Titles include "Kings", "Puppet City", "Third Estate", "Years Before The Wine", and "Look At Me". The set also includes the related, but never-issued Agonistes album – a record that maybe has more of a vibe that links it to British folk material – but again, with a special sort of quality that's all its own. Titles include "Agonistes' Funeral", "Resurrection", "Sun & The Season", "Sorrow's Death", and "Sing His Song". Also includes 5 more bonus tracks – a single by the Agonistes, and Third Estate recordings too! CD

A time-spanning compilation that mixes old and new disco tunes alike! The set begins with the more cosmic sound of 70s club – longer tracks with a strong keyboard groove and really expanded rhythms – and it links those cuts up with more modern ones that still hold onto the soul of the classics, while also stretching forth towards newer sounds. All this makes for a really great set – a timeless blend of tunes that really fit well together, presented in unmixed format for a super-long package of tracks! Titles include "Over & Over" by Sylvester, "Everybody Get Dancin" by The Bombers, "Reckless Girl" by The Beginerz, "Bad Habit (demo)" by ATFC presents Onephatdeeva, "I Feel Love (1977 original)" by Donna Summer, "Do What You Wanna Do" by T Connection, "I Will Follow You (full intention club)" by Una Mas, "There But For The Grace Of God Go I" by Machine, "Keep On Jumpin" by Musique, "You Can't Hide From Your Bud" by DJ Sneak, "Music Makes Me Happy (ATFC vocal)" by Tomy or Zox, "Dangerous Vibes (Spen & Kamizra deepah dub)" by Ferry Ultra with Roy Ayers, "Let's Get Horny" by Hi Voltage, "Too Much Love (Axwell voc)" by Michelle Wilson, and "Love Is Freedom" by Joey Negro vs Secret Sounds. 26 tracks in all. CD

Gary, Indiana is maybe best known as the hometown of the Jackson 5 – but the city also had plenty of other soul singers back in the day – as you'll discover on this really well-done collection of tracks! The set's titled after the Chicago Skyway, a huge industrial structure that links the south side of the Windy City with Gary – and that link is a key one, as many of the artists here have a resonance with Chicago soul too – working with qualities that are often a bit more sophisticated than usual, and not as directly aimed at the charts or the dancefloor – a really special breed of soul music that makes for a wonderfully rich collection! As usual with Numero, the package is as great as the track list – and titles include "Trouble" by General Lee & Lost Weekend, "Sweet Jo-Ann" by El Anthony, "Main Squeeze" by Nate Evans, "So I Can Make This Change" by The Krash Band, "Bridge Of Love" by Lost Weekend, "Give Your Love To Me" by Wilton Crump, "Don't Be Afraid" by Sky's The Limit, "Let's Ride" by Junei, "You Just Be You" by Into New Dimensions, "I Need Your Love" by Billy Foster, "Pleasure" by General Lee, "Night Music" by Billy Foster, "The Look On Your Face" by Nate Evans & Mean Green, and "We've Been In Love Too Long" by El Anthony. LP, Vinyl record album

Another masterpiece from the Soul Jazz collective – a collection of tunes that bridges the secular and spiritual worlds, and brings together a mixture of gospel and soul tracks from the 60s and 70s! It's no secret that soul music has drawn quite a bit of inspiration from gospel (as well as more than its share of stars!) – but rarely has that inspiration been so clearly traced than in this wonderful set! The tunes include gospel numbers that have a classic soul sound, and classic soul tunes that really lean towards the gospel side of the spectrum – and most of the artists on the set are familiar ones, but heard here in a style that links them all nicely together. Titles include "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child" by Clarence Smith, "Let's Get Together" by Bobby Bland, "Grandma's Hands" by Marion Gaines Singers, "Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday" by The Sweet Inspirations, "Pastures Of Plenty" by Odetta, "Love Lifted Me" by Jesse Dixon, "I Don't Know Where We're Headed" by Sons Of Truth, "Eleanor Rigby" by Kim Weston, "In Between Tears" by Irma Thomas, "Lort Is It" by Gospel Artistics, "Tripping On Your Love" by Staple Singers, and "Mama" by Esther Marrow. CD

Includes music from Ohio Express, The Cuff Links, Crazy Elephant, 1910 Fruitgum Co, Bobby Sherman, and Tommy Roe. CD

A great early CTI session by George Benson, and one of the most stripped-down, straight-ahead funky records he did for the label! There's a sharpness here that's different than the larger feel of some of Benson 's later records – a sound that almost links back to his soul jazz roots in the 60s – played by a tight combo that features Benson on guitar, Clarence Palmer on organ, Ron Carter on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums – plus percussion from Michael Cameron and Albert Nicholson. There's a version of "So What" on here that's got to be one of the best funky takes of that standard ever – with great hard grooves on the intro – and on other cuts, the real genius is in the way the simple tracks are arranged to shift between darkly chromatic passages and slight bits of funk. Titles include "All Clear", "Ode To A Kudu", and "Somewhere In The East". LP, Vinyl record album

Very groovy work from the Four King Cousins – a sweet quartet of lovely voices peeled off of the larger King Family ensemble, singing here in a spare and syncopated groove with lots of late 60s Capitol touches! Maestro Lex De Azevedo produced, arranged, and conducted – and the album's got a really unified sound that links together harmonies from Sunshine Pop and a bit of the loping styles that were showing up in mainstream easy at the time – a sublime blend of vocals and lightly snapping rhythms that's totally outta site! All tracks are covers, but done in really wonderful versions – and tunes include the great Roger Nichols track "I Fell", plus "Love So Fine", "God Only Knows", "California Nights", "This Girl's In Love With You", and "I Wanna Be Free". CD

Amazing work from Harmonica Frank – an artist who recorded these firey sides for Sun Records in the early 50s! Frank's got this offbeat style that's definitely blues at the core, but which also has links to some of the novelty modes of the Appalachian scene – as he's not afraid to go for a gimmick at some moments, especially in the way he plays his harmonica along with the guitar! Yet overall, Frank's music is plenty bluesy – so much so that he's often been lumped with older blues musicians by collectors, who couldn't tell the vintage or race of the artists from his original singles. Titles include two versions of the classic "Howlin Tom Cat" – plus "Monkey Love", "Great Medical Menagerist", "She Done Moved", "Rockin Chair", "Swamp Rat", and "Goin Away Walkin". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the best blue-eyed soul of the 70s – material by a really wonderful group with raspy soul leads and full, soaring harmonies! The Mob had a groove that was partly influenced by crossover soul of the late 60s, but which also had a touch of the jazz/rock modes of their generation – tight horns that swing along with the rhythms wonderfully – all in a way that almost links the group to some of the southern party circuit combos, like The Swinging Medallions or Tempests. Lead vocalist Al Herrero has a totally great way of putting over a tune – a style that never tries too hard, and which always keeps things right on the edge without going over the top. This approach is heard especially well on the classic "I Dig Everything About You", but the whole album's great too – overflowing with fresh original tracks that include "Maybe I'll Find A Way", "Lost", "Give It To Me", "Love's Got A Hold On Me", and "For A Little While". LP, Vinyl record album

Very tasty stuff indeed – one of the few rare sessions cut for Prestige by Chicago pianist John Wright – a very soulful player who emerged from the Windy City at the end of the 60s! Wright's got a really fluid style here – one that nicely links some of the uptown class of Ahmad Jamal and Ramsey Lewis with some of the grittier, bluesier modes that had been coming from the south side for many years before! There's a sense of grace and poise here that goes way beyond simple soul jazz cliches – a sense of depth that's really great, even on the more blues-based numbers. The rest of the trio features Wendell Marshall on bass and JC Heard on drums – and titles include the Wright originals "Pie Face", "Yes I Know", "You Do It", and "The Wright Way" – plus versions of "Things Are Getting Better" and "Witchcraft". CD

An amazing movie in sound – supposedly music (and more) that was going to be used in a film project, issued to the public while Zappa was trying to raise money for production! The album's one of the most tripped-out studio efforts to date from the group – loads of overdubbing, and wonderfully complicated instrumentation – with some especially great keyboards from Don Preston and Ian Underwood, whose keys alone almost preface the future of fusion – while, at the same time, display some key links to 20th century avant music as well! Vocals are dropped in at just the right time, but the instrumental interplay is what really makes the record special – over many short tracks that include "Mr Green Genes", "We Can Shoot You", "Dog Breath Variations", "Sleeping In A Jar", "The Legend Of The Golden Arches", "Uncle Meat", "Cruising For Burgers", and "King Kong" in many variations. CD

Features tracks by Spiral Staircase, Smith, The Flying Machine, Billy Joe Royal, Steam, Shocking Blue, Vanity Fare, Mark Lindsay, The Jaggerz, Sandpipers, Cuff Links and Mountain. CD

Numero Records parodies both the Las Vegas Grind series of compilations, and the 50s sci-fi artwork of EC Comics – and turns out a surprisingly great set of tracks in the process! The material here is from the more garagey side of the Numero spectrum – tracks that are heavy on twang and guitars – sometimes instrumental, sometimes with raw early rock vocals – all laid out in a rock-solid collection that maybe beats some of the more long-running compilation series of this nature. In keeping with those, Numero has been completely restrained on including any real information on the tracks – just a groovy little comic insert that follows in the style of the cover – alongside titles that include "Classie's Whip" by Classie Ballou, "The Grasshopper Twist" by The Blazers, "Jump Back" by Eugene Blacknell, "Rock & Roll Guitar" by Johnny Knight, "The Boogie Twist (part 1)" by Cal Valentine, "Slap Stick" by Dino & The Deltones, "Bui Bui" by L Hollis & The Mackadoos, "Hot Links" by Soul Heirs, and "Aw Shucks" by JJ Jones. CD

The first new studio recording by tenorist Fred Anderson since 1980 – and a set that shows just how much he'd grown in the intervening years! Here, Fred's newly alive with a younger Chicago group – a great quartet with Jim Baker on piano, Harrison Baker on bass, and Hamid Drake on drums – all players openly fluid to move with Anderson from swinging passages to freer ones – a beautiful balance of soul and experimentation, captured in a way that maybe links Fred more closely to Von Freeman than any other record in his career – yet which still captures all the AACM vitality in his music too. Titles include "Birdhouse", "Bernice", "Like Sonny", and "Waiting For Me". CD

A beautiful return to acoustic soul jazz work for Wendell Harrison – after a string of more electrified albums in the 80s. Wendell's working here on tenor sax and clarinet – the latter of which he plays in these spiraling long lines that use the instrument in a searching, soprano sax-like manner – getting a sound that's really fantastic, and a depth of soul that really links the record back to the tradition of Wendell's work of the 70s. The group is great too – with players that include Kirk Lightsey and Pamela Wise on piano, Cecil McBee & Jaribu Shahid on bass, Doug Hammond on drums, and Robert Pipho on vibes – all working with Harrison on some creatively inventive tunes that sparkle with soulful energy! Titles include "Changing The Scene", "Merciful", "Fly By Night", "In Your Own Sweet Way", "Spank", and "Tons & Tons Of BS". CD

Early work from the great Bob Marley – material cut with the initial lineup of The Wailers, at a time before the group would go onto much greater global fame on Island Records! The equally legendary Lee Scratch Perry is at the helm on production – and although the music here has more rough edges than some of the polished commercial work of Marley's classic years, that also makes for a heck of a lot of appeal – and a quality that also links the group's work more tightly to some of the other Jamaican trios of the rocksteady years. A few cuts here were remade later, and titles include "Keep On Moving", "Don't Rock My Boat", "Fussing & Fighting", "Put It On", "Duppy Conqueror (Version 4)", "Kaya", "Memphis", "African Herbsman" "Brain Washing", and "Sun Is Shining". In the original Upsetter mono mix, too! LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible work from Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – a set that's not only one of the first great records on Motown, but a set that also really links the label to the vocal scene in the rest of the country too! Although the record features a few hits, the overall presentation is nicely free of the Motown mode that would later become quite standard – and many tracks have this very relaxed, unadorned approach that's a lot more like the group soul coming from small labels in New York, Philly, and Chicago! The group harmonize with even more soul and feeling than any of their Motown contemporaries – and the presence of Claudette Rogers gives the group a high tenor voice that really creates some amazing vocal interplay. The whole thing's stunning – a record that will really revise any simple thoughts you might have about Smokey and the group – and titles include "Shop Around", "Cause I Love You", "Don't Leave Me", "Your Love", "Depend On Me", and "Heart Like Mine". LP, Vinyl record album

Really cool material from the sessions for one of our favorite Joni Mitchell albums ever – a set that marked a new embrace of jazz in her music, and created some very groovy tunes! The music here is different than the final cuts that appeared on Court & Spark – more stripped-down and personal, in a way that links this new material back to the sparer sound of Joni at the end of the 60s. The format's a great one, and makes us love the songs even more – and the package features a very cool "Piano Suite", with snippets of other songs – plus demo takes on "People's Parties", "Help Me", "Trouble Child", "Raised On Robbery", and "Just Like This Train". LP, Vinyl record album

We're not sure what "congliptious" means – but to us, it's always been the title of this excellent early session from reedman Roscoe Mitchell! The sessions here were recorded in 1968, at the Ter-Mar (Chess) Studios in Chicago – and they document a key coming-together of Chicago avant jazz talents – one that captures Mitchell with Lester Bowie and Malachi Favors in the years before better-known dates by the Art Ensemble of Chicago! The style here is somewhat similar to some of the best Delmark AACM sessions of the time – in that there's a hell of a lot of room for each player to open up individually – almost a recording style that takes off even more strongly from the individualist mode of the New York "new thing" generation – showing that Chicago could go one better by allowing each player completely unbridled space to express themselves. Malachi Favors solos on "Tutankhamen", Mitchell does an alto solo on "Thke", and Bowie plays alone on "Jazz Death" – while the trio of players comes together with percussionist Robert Crowder on the long number "Congliptious/Old" – a cool cut that almost links a Sun Ra aesthetic to the AACM. CD also features 4 bonus tracks – 3 takes of "Carefree", plus "Tatas-Matoes" – all cuts that originally appeared on the Art Ensemble 1967/1968 box set. CD

Great great work by The Paupers – essentially a 60s folk rock combo, but one with a really groovy sound! The group come up with loads of great guitar interplay on the session – jangling acoustic and electric together in a style that comes up with some nice hippie and eastern edges – and which means that even on the vocal tracks, the album's got an instrumental charm that kind of links it to some of the hipper rock/jazz crossover projects on labels like Verve and Impulse at the time. Most tracks do have vocals, in a style that ranges from Sunshine Pop to folksy – and the whole album's pretty darn great, filled with tracks that include "Let Me Be", "Magic People", "It's Your Mind", "Black Thank You Package", "Simple Deed", and "Tudor Impressions". This edition includes 2 bonus tracks: "Like You, Like Me" and "Sooner Than Soon". CD

A perfect example of the jamming style of Quicksilver Messenger Service at their best – as side one features a 25 minute extrapolation of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love", stretched out by the group into these wicked long guitar lines and pulsating rhythms that shift nicely over time! Bo's a surprising inspiration for a group that's better known for their psych output – but their use of that track, and his "Mona", on the live recordings here really helps carve a link out of two different generations of guitar innovation – and suddenly helps us understand links between them both. The set continues with some great original numbers – the very long "Calvary", plus "Maiden Of The Cancer Moon" – as well as a cover of "Happy Trails". CD

A brilliant testament to the songwriting genius of Scott Walker – and an incredibly haunting batch of original tunes, filled with images of lonely madness and unactualized emotion, all sung by one of the greatest voices of the century! The album's not a record to be taken lightly – as the Scott Walker approach to music is really over the top here – almost mini-movies in sound, pasted from scenes both epic and private – all held together by an impeccable set of arrangements! The style beautifully links Walker's older pop persona with the growing sophistication in European pop – especially from the French – and with a record like this, Scott easily matches the genius of Brel, Brassens, and Gainsbourg. All titles are originals – and titles include "Rhymes Of Goodbye", "The Old Man's Back Again", "Hero Of The War", "Boy Child", "Seventh Seal", and "On Your Own Again". LP, Vinyl record album

We'll be the first to admit that David S. Ware has made some clunky records over the years – but we love this album from 1992, and think it's one of the best that he ever made! The record is tighter than most, and Ware is nicely restrained, and locked into a spiritual groove that links him in a tradition with players like Billy Harper and Pharoah Sanders. He's also playing with his excellent quartet that includes Matthew Shipp, William Parker, and Marc Edwards. Shipp and Parker lay down these amazing modal grooves, and Ware dips in, searches around, and blows out incredibly soulful solos – filled with a lot more emotion and meaning than some of his other work from the mid 90s. Titles include "Aquarian Sound", "Yesterdays", "Infi-Rhythms #1", and "Sad Eyes". CD

Features work by Capt Groovy, The Rock & Roll Dubble Bubble Trading Card Co, Barry Blue, Sweet, Ohio Express, Cuff Links, The Flying Machine, Banana Splits, Crazy Elephant, Tommy Roe, Fun & Games, and Crazy Elephant! CD

Music from Ohio Express, Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart, The Cuff Links, The Fifth Estate, Street People, Tommy Roe, Edison Lighthouse, Dawn, Keith, Jefferson, and more. CD

Music from the Monkees, Crazy Elephant, Tommy James & the Shondells, the Cuff Links, White Plains, Thee Prophets, Tommy Roe, Rare Breed, Bobby, Edison Lighthouse, Bobby Sherman, and more. CD

Lovely live work from Maria Bethania – proof again that a concert setting often brings out her best! The album's got a title that links it to her recent double album – but the overall nature of the performance is much more all-encompassing – older songs mixed with newer ones, delivered in a style that's surprisingly intimate, even at the few points when the backings get somewhat large. Jamie Alem handles the arrangements – in the best modes he's used on other records with Bethania, but with a fair bit of acoustic guitar upfront in the mix – and titles include "Tua", "Fonte", "Curare", "Saudade", "Reconvexo", "Encanteria", "Santa Barbara", "Linha De Caboclo", "E O Amor Outra Vez", "Olho De Lince", and "Guriatan". 36 tracks on 2CDs. CD

A really unusual soundtrack from the great Manuel De Sica – scored for an early 70s gangster film, and done in a mix of modes that links together some of the more familiar De Sica styles and some of the groovier elements of the time! At the core, the composer is able to reach back with that more sensitive Italian scoring style needed to evoke the sense of family and community needed for the deeper tensions in the story – but De Sica also brings in both some of the darker elements from the Morricone camp, and occasional bits that resonate more strongly with Italian cop/crime of the time. The main theme is a really lovely spare melody, played on acoustic guitar – one that reappears in a few spots, almost like chapter headings – amidst titles that include "Racket", "Rough", "Casa De Giocio", "Fuoco Contro Fuoco", "Mercato Di Resina", "Bossa Nova Boss", and "Tensione E Agguato". CD features lots of bonus tracks too – 10 more added to the original promo-only soundtrack record! CD

A pretty fierce and fantastic album from Golden Earring – one that's very different than you might think if you only know the group from their later hits on radio! The sound here is completely full-on – heavy drums, rumbling bass, and stunning guitar work from George Kooymans – touched with some jazzier elements at times on flute and organ, which links the record a bit to that moment when the UK scene had turned blues inspirations to prog explorations – yet served up by Golden Earring with a much more hard rock approach throughout! Titles include a side-long workout on "Eight Miles High", which takes up all of side two – plus "One Huge Road", "Everyday's Torture", "Landing", and "Song Of A Devil's Servant". LP, Vinyl record album

The amazing full length debut of Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – a cool combo from the Chicago scene who've been making some big waves around the world over the past few years! The brass-heavy group have a family legacy that links them to the Artistic Heritage Ensemble of Phil Cohran – and an approach to their music that mixes spiritual jazz, deep funk, and elements of New Orleans music too – a really unique style that has earned the group's rare singles some tremendous praise – and which is finally ready to step out fully in this wonderful album! The horns are even harder and heavier than before – honed through some touring around the globe, and brought into focus here beautifully – bristling with energy from the very first note. The set features guest appearances from Malcolm Catto, Tony Allen, Flea, and Damon Albarn – but the real strength of the record lies in the group's amazing horns and rhythms – on titles that include "War", "Gibbous", "Alyo", "Ballicki Bone", "Jupiter", "Marcus Garvey", "Party Started", "Sankofa", "Satin Sheets", "Hypnotic", and 2 versions of "Rabbit Hop". LP, Vinyl record album

We're not sure what "congliptious" means – but to us, it's always been the title of this excellent early session from reedman Roscoe Mitchell! The sessions here were recorded in 1968, at the Ter-Mar (Chess) Studios in Chicago – and they document a key coming-together of Chicago avant jazz talents – one that captures Mitchell with Lester Bowie and Malachi Favors in the years before better-known dates by the Art Ensemble of Chicago! The style here is somewhat similar to some of the best Delmark AACM sessions of the time – in that there's a hell of a lot of room for each player to open up individually – almost a recording style that takes off even more strongly from the individualist mode of the New York "new thing" generation – showing that Chicago could go one better by allowing each player completely unbridled space to express themselves. Malachi Favors solos on "Tutankhamen", Mitchell does an alto solo on "Thke", and Bowie plays alone on "Jazz Death" – while the trio of players comes together with percussionist Robert Crowder on the long number "Congliptious/Old" – a cool cut that almost links a Sun Ra aesthetic to the AACM. CD also features 4 bonus tracks – 3 takes of "Carefree", plus "Tatas-Matoes" – all cuts that originally appeared on the Art Ensemble 1967/1968 box set. CD

One of the crowning achievements of Alexander O'Neal – a set that uses cool little intro tracks to help structure the standout songs on the set – giving the whole thing a much more well-conceived approach than other mainstream soul albums of the time! Some of the cuts draw from O'Neal's own life and experience, and that feel is definitely augmented by the spontaneous, conversational feel of the intros and links – a really nice contrast to the wonderfully tight R&B production from the superteam of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis! Of course, lots of these tracks also struck big as singles for Alexander – proof that the cuts are more than strong enough to stand on their own – yet taken over the course of the whole album, with all the extra bits, the whole thing really sounds great. Titles include "Hearsay", "The Lovers", "Fake", "Criticize", "Never Knew Love Like This", "To Make You Love Me", "Crying Overtime", and "Sunshine". CD

One of the crowning achievements of Alexander O'Neal – a set that uses cool little intro tracks to help structure the standout songs on the set – giving the whole thing a much more well-conceived approach than other mainstream soul albums of the time! Some of the cuts draw from O'Neal's own life and experience, and that feel is definitely augmented by the spontaneous, conversational feel of the intros and links – a really nice contrast to the wonderfully tight R&B production from the superteam of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis! Of course, lots of these tracks also struck big as singles for Alexander – proof that the cuts are more than strong enough to stand on their own – yet taken over the course of the whole album, with all the extra bits, the whole thing really sounds great. Titles include "Hearsay", "The Lovers", "Fake", "Criticize", "Never Knew Love Like This", "To Make You Love Me", "Crying Overtime", and "Sunshine". Bonus tracks include "Fake 88", and mixes of "Criticize", "To Make You Love Me", and "Never Knew Love Like This". CD

The jazzy genius of Tatsuo Sunaga gets turned in a cool direction here – as the set's an imagined soundtrack for the voyage of Crouka – the dog who disappeared from the launch of the Soviet rocket Soyuz2! That story hardly needs to be part of the description, though – as the record is overflowing with music that more than stands on its own – that wonderfully jazzy take on Japanese club that Sunaga served up so well during his glory days – live instrumentation mixed with clubby rhythms – in a lineup that includes vocals from Vince Andrews, Aaron Blackmon, Kirsty Hawkshaw, and even the great jazz singer Sheila Landis – who does a fantastic job on one number! There's light strings at a few points, fleshing out the sound wonderfully – and the set also features a few cool spoken bits and links – on titles that include "It's You", "Kid", "Welcome", "C'Est Vous Sur Le Pont", "Theme From Sunaga T Experience", and "Istonichoff". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning presentation of the legendary Wattstax concert – that huge moment of pride and power when the folks at Stax Records filled up the Los Angeles Coliseum with one of the most memorable shows of the 70s! The meeting of talents here is the stuff of legend – and this great package brings together the complete show in running order – really building up excitement as the concert progresses – with different acts each bringing their own sort of fire to the stage, culminating in a fantastic long finale by Isaac Hayes! The presentation is different than the two double albums that Stax issued back in the 70s – and this expanded package features a number of unreleased tracks in place of material the label later added – such as work from Richard Pryor and The Emotions. There's a whole instrumental section at the start, and more spoken links between some parts – and new material includes unissued work from Kim Weston, Freddie Robinson, Ernie Hines, Eric Mercury, Tommy Tate, Billy Eckstine, and Isaac Hayes – in addition to famous performances by The Soul Children, Jesse Jackson, Rufus Thomas, Albert King, Carla Thomas, William Bell, The Bar Kays, David Porter, The Temprees, Eddie Floyd, and David Porter – plus plenty more from Isaac Hayes too! Great package – with a full color book with new notes and essays, and plenty more too. LP, Vinyl record album