... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Roaring Lion is a singer who definitely earns his name – a strong early voice in the formation of calypso – and an artist whose early work on 78rpm discs still tops most of the later giants of the genre! The work here is an early hybrid of Island rhythms and jazz – often performed at a pulsating pace that seems perfect for the fast-spinning speed of the 78rpm single – especially given the Lion's roaring vocals, which must have sounded great coming out of the cone of a pre-electric record player! The horns add a lot to the vibrancy of the music, too – and titles include "Ugly Woman", "I Am Going To Buy A Bungalow", "J'Ouvert Barrio", "Bamsee Lambay", "Malicious Neighbours", "Fall Of Man", and "Ba Boo La La". LP, Vinyl record album

With Larry on guitars, Mike Mandel on keyboards, and Joe Beck on bass and acoustic guitar! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Lee Perry at his best – really finding the best mix of Jamaican rhythms and wilder production that made him a legend! "Jungle Lion" has echoes of Al Green's "Love & Happiness" throughout – blended with lots of echo, weird effects, and a trippy rhythm that's mighty nice! There's also a great break near the start – which follows on the flipside, which is essentially a more freaked-out version of the tune! 7-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

The very first solo album from Lenny Williams – and a great step forward from his work with Tower Of Power! The set's still got some of the funkier elements of Lenny's work with that combo, and the overall sound is a bit more gritty than some of his bigger albums in later years – short cuts that hit a hip soul vibe, one that's often a bit more bad-walking than the later, more poised Williams. Mike Melvoin plays some great electric piano on the record – which slides under Lenny's vocals beautifully on the mellow numbers, and kicks things up with funky drums on the more upbeat tracks – and with Eugene McDaniels at the production helm, you can bet that the whole album sounds mighty hip overall! Titles include "Open Book", "River", "Problem Solver", "We're Gonna See It Through", "Keep On Keeping On", "Money", "Sometimes Love", and "Compared To What". CD

A lesser-known album from The Stylistics – at least in comparison to their mega-hits of the early 70s – but a set that's still got the vocal group in beautifully harmonic formation! The group are still produced by the team of Hugo & Luigi, and arrangements are by Horace Ott – who turns in a 70s version of the full, emotive backings he could bring to a soul record back in the 60s – almost an old school level of presentation that's a really nice surprise – even as the group step out in a few clubbier numbers, which they really know how to handle well. Titles include "School For Lovers", "Fly", "Music Is Another Word For Love", "We'll Live The Good Life Together", "Make Believe", "Where You Are", and "Sunday In The Chapel". CD

We're not sure what "lion style" is, but we can definitely say that the album's heavy on dub – a darkly bubbling masterpiece with Prince Jammy at the controls – crafting his magic to grooves by a top-shelf set of Kingston musicians! Winston Wright plays lots of keyboards – organ, clavinet, and even some harpsichord – and the real energy of the rhythms come from the young Sly & Robbie – very much in their prime here, without some of those later modes when they were trying to recopy themselves for the mainstream. Chinna Smith throws in lots of riffing guitar to the echoey brilliance – and titles include "No Bride", "Jammy's In The Arena", "Black Trap", "The Big Apple", "Rough Voyage", "Uhru Express", "King Forever", "Tiger Dub" and "Mystic Feelings". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Massively heavy sounds from A Bolha – a Brazilian group who were previously known as The Bubbles, and backed up Gal Costa during the Tropicalia years – but who work here in a fuzzy, bassy groove that's totally great – definitely an heir to the headier sounds of the UK scene at the start of the 70s! The guitars are definitely in full force here, but the basslines drive things along strongly too – echoing some of the Peruvian sounds of the time, but with a bit more Brazilian sophistication – and definitely a musical echo of lessons learned during Tropicalia, even though the set's a fully instrumental one. Organ also figures in the mix too – and titles include "Bye My Friend", "Razao De Existir", "Um Passo A Frente", "A Esfera", and "Neste Rock Forever". Bonus tracks include "Sem Nada" and "18:30 Parte 1". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Seize the day with Carpe Diem – a very cool prog group from the French scene of the 70s – one who've certainly got a heck of a lot of chops, even if they never got great fame! The group supposedly started out around 1970, as a combo covering work of Brit groups like King Crimson and East Of Eden – but by the time of this mid-70s set, they clearly found a sound that was all their own – spun out on long tracks with fantastic instrumentation, and a very confident approach! There's a bit of vocals on the record, but the focus is mostly on the group's ability to solo strongly – on keyboards, guitar, and a mix of soprano sax and flute from Claude Marlus David – a player who helps give these guys a spirit that's a bit different than some of their contemporaries. Titles include "Voyage Du Non-Retour", "Reincarnation", "Jeux De Siecle", and "Publiphobie". LP, Vinyl record album

An acid-drenched classic – beautifully reissued! The album's the one and only effort from South Carolina's Christopher – but it's a record that easily matches more famous psyche efforts from either coast at the end of the 60s, even though the music was really just recorded as a demo! The album's got plenty of heavy fuzz guitar, but also some surprisingly personal vocals – sung in a mode that's heartfelt, yet not really that sweet – more slightly sad and dreamy, creating a sense of loss that really marks the mood of the album. When the heavier guitars kick in, the blend with the vocals is especially great – almost Black Sabbathy at points, but not nearly as overblown. Other tracks get slightly bluesy, but in a way that's not cliched – and titles include "Holiday", "The Great Clock", "What'cha Gonna Do", "Death Song", "Modern Day Oracles", and "Day Of Sunshine". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest long-form albums from the Clarke Boland Big Band – a sophisticated suite that not only shows off the writing ability of Francy Boland, but also demonstrates the group's ability to swing like a mofo, even when things are serious! The album's a jazz suite written by Boland, and dedicated to the great prisons of England – where Johnny Griffin was once kept "At Her Majesty's Pleasure", due to non-payment of some income tax. The experience of Griffin led Boland to explore the idea of the British penal system with a number of powerful emotional themes, and the result of this writing is one of the CBBB's best albums of the late 60s – filled with rich colors and tones that go far beyond the earlier modes of the group, but without some of the too-complicated elements that sometimes show up in later suites. A good part of the album's success comes from the strength of the soloists – players who include Johnny Griffin and Ronnie Scott on tenor, Tony Coe on clarinet, Sahib Shihab on flute and soprano, Kenny Wheeler and Benny Bailey on trumpets, and Ake Persson and Nat Peck on trombones. Titles include "Pentonville", "Wormwood Scrubs", "Doing Time", "Broadmoor", and "Going Straight". LP, Vinyl record album

A great overseas date from trumpeter Bill Coleman, one that also features Ben Webster on tenor on most tracks, plus Jim Douglas on guitar and Fred Hunt on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Psychedelia from early 70s Tijuana – the excellent Los Dug Dug's set from Dug Dug's – with English lyrics this time (the group had earlier made a go of it in NYC and didn't bust out as they'd hoped) and a great mix of spacious, echoey psychedelia and songs as great as post psych superstars of the time! The guitars bring both fuzzed out heat and sparer, more spindly sounds as the mood calls for from track-to-track. A must have set. Includes "Lost In My World", "Without Thinking", "Eclipse", "Sometimes", "Let's Make It Now", "World Of Love", "I Got The People", "It's Over", "Going Home" and "Who Would Look At Me". CD

A sharp early 60s session from the Duke Ellington group – one that seems to draw strongly on the best late 50s work for Columbia Records, but which also seems to add in an extra crackle too! The tunes are relatively short, but the group pack plenty of punch in the small space – especially on the more rhythmic numbers, which almost seem to borrow a bit from Basie's bag – yet with more of the sophistication you'd expect on the Ellington horns. The work of Aaron Bell on bass and Sam Woodyard on drums is especially strong on this session – but there's loads of great interplay from reedmen who include Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Hamilton, Russel Procope, Harry Carney, and Paul Gonsalves – plus trumpet from Bill Berry, Cat Anderson, Roy Burrowes, and Harold Baker. Titles include "Taffy Twist", "Flirtbird", "Smada", "What Am I Here For", "Boo Dah", "Black & Tan Fantasy", and "I'm Gonna Go Fishin". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

One of the first great European statements from tenorist Dexter Gordon – a 1967 live recording that really lets Dexter stretch out, and show an even deeper side of his talents than on his 60s albums for Blue Note! The rhythm section here is rock solid – Kenny Drew on piano, Neils Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Albert Tootie Heath on drums – a unit that still retains the sharpness of the Blue Note dates, but also has the energy to "go long" as Gordon pushes a few of the numbers on the set well past the ten minute mark. Gordon's solos are wonderfully imaginative and expressive – and titles include "Devilette", "For All We Know", "Doxy", and "Sonnymoon For Two". Material previously issued on LP under the title Montmartre Collection Vol 1. LP, Vinyl record album

Rare LA bop sides from Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray – two of the heaviest tenors to ever grace the west coast, recorded here in the prime of their late 40s careers. Tracks were recorded during the years 1946, 1947, and 1952 – and 6 tracks (including "The Rubiayat", "My Kinda Love", "Citizen's Bop", and "Man With A Horn") feature Gordon and Gray together in a group with Gerry Wiggins on piano and organ. The remaining 6 tracks feature Gray heading up bop quartets with either Dodo Marmaroso or Errol Garner on piano – and titles include "Dell's Bells", "One For Prez", "Blue Lou", and "Easy Swing". LP, Vinyl record album

Great lost work from the UK scene of the early 80s – self-produced, self-released work from I Benjahman – an artist who was strongly inspired by the more righteous side of the Kingston scene of the decade before! Most of these tracks have a groove that's mighty lean, and beautifully fluid – dubby rhythms with all these other elements floating around in the mix, almost like water – piano, guitar, and other sounds that bubble and ebb along with Benjahman's conscious lyrics – music with the sort of message you might expect from the image on the cover. Titles on the original album include "Give Love A Try", "Sweet Reggae Music", "Family Affair", "Jah World Will Keep On Turning", "Jah Nation", "Natural Forces", and "She Got To Know". 2CD set also features 16 bonus tracks – including single cuts "Family Affair (12" version)", "Give Love A Try (12" version)", "Hold Me Tight", and "Family Affair (dub plate voc)" – and 12 more dubs of the album tracks – which, given how dubby the album already is, makes for some pretty dubby music! CD

A great little package that brings together the first two rare albums by Index – a group that started as a cover band in the suburbs of Detroit in the late 60s, but quickly found their way to some tremendous music of their own! The trio's got a style that's jamming and trippy at the same time – romping drums, surprisingly deft guitar work, and some muted lyrics that echo some of the darkness in the instrumentation – even though the group seem to often be comfortable without any vocals at all! The songs here are all their own, and come from their Red Album and Black Album – newly remastered from the original tales, with titles that include "Turquoise Feline", "Feedback", "Rainy Starless Nights", "Break Out", "Paradise Beach", "Shock Waves", "Israeli Blues", and "Fire Eyes". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare tracks from this obscure Detroit combo of the 60s – stripped down here to a trio lineup, which gives the music a really lean, clean focus that sounds years ahead of its time! The group definitely have their ears turned towards the psych side of the spectrum – but often mix fuzzy guitars and moody production with tighter drums and sharp songwriting – all on tunes that are never too indulgent, and which often have this vibe that could be coming more from the American underground of the early 80s, instead of the Motor City at a time when many other groups were gaining fame. The tracks here were all found on tapes many years after recording – and provide a great counterpart to the group's Red and Black albums – with titles that include "It's All In Your Mind", "Street Crime", "I Walk Alone", "Tired Of Being Told", "Be My Friend", "Yesterday & Today", "Don't You Know", "Kick It Out", "431 Lakeshore", and "Livin In Detroit". LP, Vinyl record album

A great counterpart to the legendary self-titled album from July – material recorded in a private setting, to predate that psych masterpiece – but every bit as stunning overall! The quality of this work goes way beyond its origins as demo material – as the sound is wonderful, the musical ideas very rich, and overall psychedelic conception is amazing! There's no overindulgence, but also no easy pop psych modes either – and it's really incredible how much these guys can pack into a short song – from unusual guitar lines, to freewheeling rhythms, and trippy ideas in the lyrics. Many numbers have a sweet groove underneath, and are slightly freakbeatish – but there's also a much more unique feel to the record as well. Tracks include "Dandelion Seeds", "You Missed It All", "My Clown", "Friendly Man", "I See", "The Girl In The Cafe", and "Move On Sweet Flower". CD

A folk funk masterpiece from Korea – sung with breathy brilliance by female singer Kim Jung Mi, and featuring some great fuzzy backgrounds from guitarist Shin Jung Hyun! Although not in English, the record has a very similar feel to some of the hippest British female work of the same period – a style that takes older folk styles and gives them a trippier, more psychedelic twist – largely through the use of echoey production that makes the voice sound all flanged-out next to the guitar, but also through some spacious arrangements that give most of the record a nicely floating sort of feel! Titles are finally listed in English and include "Haenim", "Wind", "Spring", "Unknowingly", "Blow Spring Breeze", "Your Dream", "Beautiful Rivers and Mountains", "Lonely Heart", "It's Raining" and "Ganadaramabasa". All lyrics in Korean but the record's got an undeniably universal appeal. The deluxe LP sleeve CD version has a 20-page booklet with rare photos, and great stories about Shin Joong Hyun and Kim Jung Mi's continuing place of prominence in the Korean music scene. CD

Pretty fuzzy stuff – and a great bit of rare psyche from this hard-working group of the New York scene at the end of the 60s! Odyssey have a sound that still carries elements of a few years before – swirling organ lines, garagey guitars, and up-front vocals that sometimes have a slightly soulful quality – but they also open up a fair bit more in their music, kicking things hard with some really fierce drums at the bottom, and jamming in a nicely skanky sort of mode on some of the best numbers! There's a great gritty sound going on here – one that befits the album's original release as a tiny 100 copy run in plain cardboard covers – but the music's also surprisingly mature, too, and the record really rivals better-known psyche gems on Capitol or Epic from the time. Titles include "Tied By A Rope", "Angel Dust", "Sally", "Church Yard", "You're Not There", and "Got To Feel It". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful early work from Please – aka Peter Dunton, who went onto more famous underground activity in the seminal jazz psych group T2! The music here shares a lot of the melodic qualities of that great group – music that's certainly rock, but which borrows freely from some of the hipper jazz styles of the time – especially modal jazz, which seems to influence the rhythms amidst the acoustic guitar and vocals! Most of the tracks are relatively spare, but have a full sort of energy because of this influence – and a few of the demo tracks are maybe straighter folk/rock, but still have a really wonderful sound. Titles include "One More Chance", "Said & Done", "Eternity", "Gently As You Feel", "To Dream", "Don't Mind Me", "Circus Man", "Silent Falling", "Lord Of Misrule", and "Nothing's What It Seems". LP, Vinyl record album

Haunting work from the duo of Sandhy & Mandhy – a pair from the Buenos Aires scene at the end of the 60s, working in a weird mix of beat group styles and hipper rock rhythms! There's a slightly ethereal quality to the work – partly because of the way the pair trade back vocals, partly because of the light organ lines used to support the groove – which brings a haunting Zombies-like quality to the record at times – although produced with a bit simpler sound than Odyssey & Oracle! Most tunes are original, and showcase a surprising depth in songwriting – and some numbers feature some really cool percussion that complicates the sound nicely – pushing the duo past simple pop lines, into some of the headier territory of the late 60s South American scene. Titles include "Yo Te Buscare", "Hasta El Manana", "Lluvia", "La Chica Sola Y Triste", "Quisiera Olvidarte", "Esta Noche No Debes Llorar", and "Recuardo Hoy". Amazing vinyl reissue – very heavy cover and vinyl, and beautifully done overall! LP, Vinyl record album

Nice 2LP set that brought the US some of the great recordings cut by the Art Ensemble while they were in Paris (some of which have also come out under the Black Lion imprint). All of the material was recorded in the Polydor Studios in Paris in 1969, and the tracks include "The Spiritual", "Tutankhamun", "Toro", "Tthintthedalen", and "Lori Song". The feel of the tracks is very laidback, spare, and similar to the material on People in Sorrow, which was recorded during the same period. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the three great collaborations between David Bowie and Brian Eno – and possibly the ultimate statement from his years in Berlin! The album's got some tunes that still show some of the guitar power of the early 70s Bowie – but it's also got some of the beautiful spacier moments brought forward on Low – and which are every bit the Brian Eno of Aother Green World. The balance is beautiful – stark and dark on one half, then airy and spacious on the next – handled without any sense of gimmickry, and a bold mainstream experiment that still resonates strongly today. Titles include "Beauty & The Beast", "Joe The Lion", "Heroes", "Sons Of The Silent Age", "Blackout", "V-2 Schneider", "Sense Of Doubt", "Moss Garden", "Neukoln", and "The Secret Life Of Arabia". CD

Sure, it was silly stuff when we were kids – but once De La Soul sampled "Three Is The Magic Number", this record became one of the most prized in our possession! And thanks to that hip hop reintroduction, we've really fallen in love with the music again over the years – partly because the tunes are all so groovy, and partly because we've really come to know the jazz-based work of composer Bob Dorough! At the time of this set, Dorough was coming off some great work in the 60s – his own rare recordings, music for Spanky & Our Gang, and others – all of which seems to inform these math-based tunes written for Saturday morning TV. The tunes are all pretty darn catchy, and often quite jazzy – and instrumentation often features some great electric piano nestled in alongside the vocals. Dorough sings the lion's share of the work for this album – although Grady Tate sings on two numbers, and Blossom Dearie on one more. Titles include the amazing "Three Is A Magic Number" – plus "Lucky Seven Sampson", "Little Twelve Toes", "Ready Or Not Here I Come", "I Got Six", "Naughty Number Nine", "Figure Eight", and "The Four Legged Zoo". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest albums ever by pianist Kenny Drew – a record that's as noteworthy for the contributions of the sidemen as it is for the efforts of the leader! Drew's a player who often worked mostly in trio formats – but here, he's hitting hard with a righteous Blue Note power – thanks to the presence of Hank Mobley on tenor and Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, both of whom really give the record an edge! Drew's lyrical sensibilities are shifted to darker, more modern moments at times – and the rest of the group features Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums. An essential addition to the Blue Note legacy of Mobley and Hubbard – and the set's filled with original tunes by Kenny, including "The Pot's On", "Undercurrent", "Funk-Cosity", and "Lion's Den". CD

A beautiful early 70s psych folk set from the angelic vocal and songwriting duo of Pat Gefell and Jo D Andrews – their Refuge album for Ovation in 1973 – highlighted by their gorgeous vocals, but committed with lovely, lightly soaring arrangements! Save for a solid cover of the Elton John/Bernie Taupin penned "Sixty Years On", Gefell and Andrews wrote the songs here, and it's remarkably strong stuff! The duo vocals and harmonies are especially sweet. The Chicago-based production wisely leaves ample space in the arrangements for them to sort of loosely, emotively embellish with their voices – with string arrangements by co-producer George Andrews and an impressive roster of session players including bassist Phil Upchurch, drummer Don Simmons and percussionist Bobby Christian. Includes "Jenny", "Voice In The Wind", "To A Flame", "Tomorrow Is A Long Time", "Refuge", "Song For Craig", "A Light Is Shining", "Feel The Spirit" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A great set of under-reissued material by Herman – featuring sides recorded for MGM in 1951 and 1952, plus a few more for the Mars label – when he was working with his "Third Herd" group that included Urbie Green, Don Fagerquist, Bill Perkins, and Carl Fontana. Most titles were originally only issued on 78s, and titles include "Moten Stomp", "Perdido", "Celestial Blues", "Teressita", "This Is New", "Dandy Lion", "New Golden Wedding", and "Blue Flame". CD

Blue-eyed funky soul from Miles Mosley – an artist who's working here with the West Coast Get Down group that features Cameron Graves on piano and Kamasai Washington on tenor sax! The vocals are definitely in the lead, though – as Miles draws on classic soul and jazz that really push his vocal range – on material that's nicely open and expressive, maybe more so than other singers of this nature. There's some larger arrangements at times – but most of the energy seems to come from the core combo, of which Miles is definitely in the lead – on tracks that include "LA Won't Bring You Down", "Heartbreaking Efforts Of Others", "Your Only Cover", "More Than This", "Reap A Soul", and "Young Lion". CD

One of those great "never was" Blue Note sessions – recorded in the 60s, but never issued until years later – even though the label had assigned it a cover, title, and catalog number! The album was the last session by baritone sax player Leo Parker – a bop and R&B legend who sadly passed along at the young age of 36, but left a really rich legacy of music. Parker has a way with the baritone that's almost as lean as a tenorist – blowing the horn with sharp, well-placed notes that really make this session cook – somewhere in the R&B-influenced territory of Don Wilkerson's work on Blue Note. Other players include the great Dave Burns on trumpet – always a welcome presence on any date – plus Bill Swindell on tenor sax, Johnny Acea on piano, Al Lucas or Stan Conover on bass, and Wilbert Hogan or Purnell Rice on drums. Tracks include "The Lion's Roar", "Rollin With Leo", "Jumpin Leo", "Talkin The Blues", "Mad Lad Returns", and Illinois Jacquet's "Music Hall Beat". CD

One of those great "never was" Blue Note sessions – recorded in the 60s, but never issued until years later – even though the label had assigned it a cover, title, and catalog number! The album was the last session by baritone sax player Leo Parker – a bop and R&B legend who sadly passed along at the young age of 36, but left a really rich legacy of music. Parker has a way with the baritone that's almost as lean as a tenorist – blowing the horn with sharp, well-placed notes that really make this session cook – somewhere in the R&B-influenced territory of Don Wilkerson's work on Blue Note. Other players include the great Dave Burns on trumpet – always a welcome presence on any date – plus Bill Swindell on tenor sax, Johnny Acea on piano, Al Lucas or Stan Conover on bass, and Wilbert Hogan or Purnell Rice on drums. Tracks include "The Lion's Roar", "Rollin With Leo", "Jumpin Leo", "Talkin The Blues", "Mad Lad Returns", and Illinois Jacquet's "Music Hall Beat". LP, Vinyl record album

The King Kong of dub albums, and we're not just saying that because of the freaky deaky cover image of a super ape with a belly full of roast fish, cornbread and makka stepping on a croaking lizard with a tree in one hand and a "tree" in the other! Classic Lee Perry and an essential dub album, rendering Scratch's dense, multi-layered Black Ark rhythms in all their raw glory, with toasts and vocal snippets darting in and out of the dubs courtesy Prince Jazzbo, the Heptones, Dillinger and Scratch himself. With 10 essential tracks from the original release: "Zion's Blood", "Croaking Lizard", "Dread Lion", "Patience", "Dub Along", "Black Vest", "Underground", "Curly Dub" "Three In One" and "Super Ape". CD

The King Kong of dub albums, and we're not just saying that because of the freaky deaky cover image of a super ape with a belly full of roast fish, cornbread and makka stepping on a croaking lizard with a tree in one hand and a "tree" in the other! Classic Lee Perry and an essential dub album, rendering Scratch's dense, multi-layered Black Ark rhythms in all their raw glory, with toasts and vocal snippets darting in and out of the dubs courtesy Prince Jazzbo, the Heptones, Dillinger and Scratch himself. With 10 essential tracks from the original release: "Zion's Blood", "Croaking Lizard", "Dread Lion", "Patience", "Dub Along", "Black Vest", "Underground", "Curly Dub" "Three In One" and "Super Ape". CD

Iggy Pop may have left The Stooges behind, but he's lost none of his edge – and really finds a new level of solo greatness on this sublime classic from the 70s! The set was produced by David Bowie, who also plays piano on the set – and has Carlos Alamar adding in some guitar – and the overall sound has that raw Berlin mode you might find on some of he headiest tracks on Heroes – kind of "Joe The Lion" meets the gritty truth of Iggy's Detroit! The title cut is maybe the best-known Iggy Pop tune ever – used in countless films and commercials – but the whole thing's great, and a brilliant new focus for Mr Pop's genius. Titles include "Lust For Life", "The Passenger", "Some Weird Sin", "Neighborhood Threat", "Success", "Fall In Love With Me", and "Turn Blue". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the greatest sounds we've heard from Elizabeth Shepherd in years – a record that really returns the singer to her funky roots and soulful styles! There's a stripped-down vibe to the record we really love – mostly just Fender Rhodes from Shepherd, alongside her vocals – mixed with relatively loose, spontaneous work from a small group of rhythm players – who, like Elizabeth, are all stepped strongly in jazz, but find a way of making the music come across at a more funk-based level! The lyrics are wonderful, as always – a bit less singer-songwriter than some recent years, in a good way – and titles include "Baby Steps", "I Gave", "Willow", "What's Happening", "The Signal", and "Lion's Den". CD

A pair of 70s dub classics – back to back on a single CD! First up is Negrea Love Dub – an early dub set from production genius Linval Thompson – a set that was initially released with a relatively obscure cover and package, and which may or may not include some of the Jamaican instrumental luminaries listed in the notes! What is clear, though, is that Linval Thompson is at the top of his game – partly offering up the tracks as a companion to his I Love Marijuana record, but also opening up into fresh rhythms and other material that helps forge a super-heavy sound that raises the dub reggae bar a few more notches for the 70s scene! Titles include "Rock Me In Dub", "Channel One In Dub", "Thompson In Dub", "Negrea Africa Dub", "Jah Jah Children Dub", "Lion Dub", "Natty Dread Dub", "Roots Dub", "Jamaica Calley Dub", and "Africa Love Dub". Outlaw Dub is a fantastic meeting of the production genius of Linval Thompson and the instrumental skills of The Revolutionaries – a set of Jamaican studio giants who play in a way that was laidback, yet still pack a hell of a punch! Sly and Robbie are at the core of the rhythms, which is a big element in the success of the set – and Thompson's production sets a sound that so many others would follow in years to come, but never really get as sharp or well-balanced as on this set. Formative sounds throughout – with titles that include "79 Rock", "Roots Man Dub", "Freedom Dub", "Thompson Sound Incorporated", and "African Free Up". CD

One of greatest of all British punk era records – released in '77 and one that transcends mid-to-late 70s punk cultural baggage better than just about any other – a real benchmark! Wire kept it short and sweet on Pink Flag – with 21 tracks in about 35 minutes – and it's as artful as it is succinct. They'd prove to be as creatively ambitious as any of their peers and the brevity Pink Flag would soon make way for experimental flourishes that are ultimately just as important and influential, but this still might be their best. Includes "Reuters", "Field Day For The Sundays", "Three Girl Rumba", "Ex Lion Tamer", "The Commercial", "Strange", "Different To Me", "12 X U", "Start To Move", "Lowdown", "Surgeon's Girl", "Pink Flag" and more. CD

A stone classic from Tapper Zukie – working here in a mixture of sung vocals and spoken parts that virtually defines the dee jay style of reggae in the 70s! Tapper's got this righteous power that's undeniable – this quality of confidence without arrogance, at a level that some contemporary artists might try to emulate – and the boldness of the record is still revolutionary after all these years! There's plenty of echo on the vocals – which serves to lay them right down on top of the rhythms – and titles include "Ire Lion", "I King Zukie", "Viego", "Archie The Rednose Reindeer", "Cally Dolly", "Black Cinderella", and "A Message To Pork Eaters". LP, Vinyl record album

A treasure trove of reggae, rocksteady, and blue beat work from the late 60s – all of it originally released under the guidance of producer Dandy – also a reggae artists of his own, with roots in Kingston, and working here with a big impact on the UK scene! The albums here were all originally issued on the Down Town imprint – a small sub label that Trojan Records gave to Dandy for his own projects – which resulted in the two killer compilations Red Red Wine volumes 1 and 2 – a great overview of some of the strongly soul-influenced sounds that were bubbling up in London at the time. Dandy himself is one of the key artists on the collection – and titles include "Move Your Mule", "I'm Your Puppet", "Reggae In Your Jeggae", "Got To Come Back", "Raining In My Heart", and "Can't Get Used To Losing You" by Dandy – plus "Red Red Wine" and "I'm Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got" by Tony Tribe, "Someday We'll Be Together" and "Love Me Tonight" by Audrey, "Lover's Question" and "Spreading Love" by Gene Rondo, "Lead Them" by Desmond Riley, "Games People Play" by The Israelites, and "Song Byrd" by Lyndon Johns. CD2 begins with the Trojan classic Blow Your Horn by Rico & The Rudies – a classic early album from Rico – the legendary Jamaican trombonist who's gotta be one of the few people who can pose with his instrument and still look pretty badass overall! That quality also comes through in Rico's music – a famous lead trombone sound on countless Jamaican recordings from the ska years onwards – really given some great time here in the spotlight on a set of tunes that soar out with lots of rough rocksteady rhythms! Rico blows strongly and soulfully – on titles that include "Rico's Message", "Niyah Man", "Caribbean Serenade", "Jumping The Gun", "Mighty Dan", "Session Begin", "Biafra", and "Quando Quando" – and the album also features some guest appearances on "The Lion" by Dandy, and on "Muma Muma" by The Israelites. Last up is Your Musical Doctor – a full album with Dandy as the lead singer on his own – with titles that include "Touch Of Poison", "Everybody Loves A Winner", "Gumption Feeling", "Meeting Over Yonder", "Here I Go Again", "Come On Home", and "Run Girl". 2CD set features 51 tracks in all – with a few more bonus tracks too! CD

A fascinating look at musical modes in London during the big years of postwar immigration – a time when former residents of the crumbling British Empire were flooding to London for jobs and a better way of life – often bringing along a huge amount of cultural experience in the process! This set follows wonderfully in the spirit of previous volumes of the series – bringing together a range of different sonic styles that were originally recorded in London as 78rpm singles – where a new wave of Caribbean and West African immigrants were fusing older styles with a newly modern sensibility, and often a fair bit of jazz as well! The set list is wonderful – a great array of well-chosen material – and titles include "Wa Sise" by Willie Payne & The Starlite Tempos, "The Emperor Of Africa" by The Mighty Terror, "Royal Wedding" by The Lion, "Modern Telephone" by Dai Dai Simba, "Sons & Daughters Of Africa" by Lord Beginner, "Caroline" by Trinidad Steel Band, "Ema Foju Ana Woku" by West African Rhythm Brothers, "Kana Kana" by Billy Sholanke, "Boul Ve Se" by Calypso Rhythm Kings, and "My Handy Man" by Marie Bryant. LP, Vinyl record album

A great double header from Honest Jons – a 2CD set that brings together volumes 7 and 8 of their London Is The Place For Me series! Volume 7 is first – a fascinating look at musical modes in London during the big years of postwar immigration – a time when former residents of the crumbling British Empire were flooding to London for jobs and a better way of life – often bringing along a huge amount of cultural experience in the process! This set follows wonderfully in the spirit of previous volumes of the series – bringing together a range of different sonic styles that were originally recorded in London as 78rpm singles – where a new wave of Caribbean and West African immigrants were fusing older styles with a newly modern sensibility, and often a fair bit of jazz as well! The set list is wonderful – a great array of well-chosen material – and titles include "Wa Sise" by Willie Payne & The Starlite Tempos, "The Emperor Of Africa" by The Mighty Terror, "Royal Wedding" by The Lion, "Modern Telephone" by Dai Dai Simba, "Sons & Daughters Of Africa" by Lord Beginner, "Caroline" by Trinidad Steel Band, "Ema Foju Ana Woku" by West African Rhythm Brothers, "Kana Kana" by Billy Sholanke, "Boul Ve Se" by Calypso Rhythm Kings, and "My Handy Man" by Marie Bryant. Volume 8 features a huge collection of work from the great Lord Kitchener – maybe one of the most important singers to move the music of the Caribbean to British shores during the postwar years – a time when he was a strong voice to new waves of immigrants arriving in London, and when he was also making a lot of inroads for criss-crossing post-colonial culture too! The base style is calypso, but Kitchener always handles the music with a spirit that's all his own – modern, witty, and urbane – often with some nice currents of jazz in the instrumentation, and plenty of social commentary that made music like this a great precursor to later righteous moments in jazz, funk, soul, and reggae. Titles include "No More Taxi", "Food From The West Indies", "Come Back In The Morning", "Pirates Of Paria", "Drink A Rum", "If You Brown", "Life Begins At Forty", "Mistress Jacob", "Africa My Home", "Kitch In The Jungle", "Tie Tongue Mopsie", and "London Is The Place For Me". CD

The Numero Group turn their radio to yet another spot on the dial – this time around posing as a 70s AOR station, but working with their usual flair for rare and unreleased tunes! Given that the musical style is one that you're used to associating with big hits, it's great to hear music like this coming from deeper in the American underground – served up by artists who weren't trying to stand apart from the pack – just try to create their own top-shelf music in a relatively overlooked environment. Titles include "What A Way To Go" by Nanette, "Quick N Slick" by Orphans Of Love, "Wrap Myself Up In Your Arms" by Marshall Titus, "No Other Life Without You" by Greenflow, "Child Of December" by Larry Sanders, "You've Got A Woman" by Lion, "Take This To Heart" by Kettner & Shawe, "Waste Of Time" by Gary Hyde, and "You & Me Me & You" by Phillips. LP, Vinyl record album