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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

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Seminal lost work by Monk! This great 4LP set brings together 11 rare French solo recordings from 1954, and a whopping batch of trio material from 1971, recordings that were some of the last great ones that Monk did in his all-too-short life. Record one of the set features material that was originally issued on Vogue records in Paris, and titles include "Jackie-ing", "Well, You Needn't", "Round Midnight", "Off Minor", "Eronel", "Manganese", and the previously unissued "Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland". The other three albums feature late Black Lion recordings from 1971 – seminal stuff, as Monk was hardly being taken seriously by other labels at the time, and had walked away from his relationship with Columbia after they were pushing him to do more pop material. The sessions feature Monk solo on about half the tracks, then in a trio with Art Blakey on drums and Al McKibbon on bass (basically the core group of the legendary Giants Of Jazz recording on Atlantic, also done in London around the same time.) Way too many cuts to mention, but we can say that those sessions also include a number of unissued tracks. LP, Vinyl record album

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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

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A really jazzy prog rock effort from early 70s German combo Brainstorm – a complex, hardgrooving mix of charged instrumental interplay! The group really brings more of a jazzy depth to the material, but it's all a lot of fun – heavy drums that are totally killer, with organ, flute and sax the leading instruements in the mix – and they all have a wavering, kind of buzzing dissonance that's something else! Titles include "Das Schwein Trugt", "Zwick Zwick", the multipart suites "Bosco Biati Weib Salles" and "Smile A While", Snakeskin Tango", "You Are What's Gonna Make It Last" and "Don't Forget" – plus 3 bonus tracks recorded for SWF radio in 1971. CD

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

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

Fantastic work from the team of Ted Curson and Bill Barron – a rare French session from 1964, one that captures all the brilliance of their American work from the early 60s! The set features the pair playing in an extremely fragmented mode – no doubt inspired by the recent loss of Eric Dolphy, alluded to in the title of the album, but also possibly because the freedom of the session gave them room to explore a bit more than on previous albums. Includes a great version of Curson's "Quicksand", plus the tracks "Kassim", "East 6th Street", "Tears For Dolphy", "7/4 Funny Time", and "Desolation". 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

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German psychedelic folk from the early 70s – a pretty far reaching mix of sweet, often wordless vocals, long and free flowing instrumental washes of sound, and even some offbeat, humorous lyricism! When there are words, they're sometimes in English and at others in German, with male and female voices – but Saat is really all about the textural mood. It's not easty stuff to pin down, sometimes with a lilting folky feel, others with echoey electronics that move it a little bit more towards Tangerine Dream-like astral planes. Titles include "Walking In The Park", "Traume", "Touch The Sun", "Love Time Rain", "Saat" and Die Reise". CD

With a look like this, and a sound so great, The Flies should have been huge – and hearing this collection, it's a complete mystery as to why the group's work has always been relegated to obscurity status of the psychedelic era! It's possible the reason likes in the ultimate lack of work by The Flies – a handful of singles at best, something that's corrected by this 17 track set, which is filled with loads of excellent unreleased numbers. But it's also possible that these guys were truly years ahead of their time – as you might guess from the modernly menacing look of the combo on the cover. Bits of mainstream psyche mix here with fuzzier guitars, rougher production, and a brewing, bubbling sort of sound that filters through all the tunes and gives them a sense of greatness that's hard to describe – which which is definitely part of the appeal of the record. At moments, we find ourselves thinking that these guys could have easily knocked down any number of bigger acts that come to mind – but at others, we find ourselves loving this work even more for its lack of common late 60s cliche. Titles include "Talk To Me", "House Of Love", "Alexander Bell Believes", "Where", "Turning Back The Page", "Just Won't Do", "Gently As You Feel", "The Magic Train", and "Winter Afternoon". LP, Vinyl record album

Dreamy psychedelic folk pop from The Folklords – an obscure Canadian group with delicate male & female harmonies, but a catchy and less arch and wispy vibe than many of the more famous acts of the time! The secret might the harder hitting drums underneath the tunes that make the album all the sweeter, and certainly more insistent. Well worth a late discovery! Titles include "Jennifer Lee", "Don't Hide Your Love From Me", "Child", "Windows", "Pardon Me Judas", "Thank You For Your Kindness", "We'll Love Like Before", "Suzanne Marie", "Don't Look Back", and "The Slave" – plus bonus tracks "Unspoken Love" and "Forty Second River". Great reissue – with detailed notes on the band, too! CD

Early 70s space rock from Golem – epically paced, trippy, expertly done wigged out instrumental rock that was purportedly laid down by heavies from the soon-to-be legendary krautrock scene working pseudonymously after hours in the studio! The album's a bit of an enigma – a set that's become famous over the years for its quality, but shrouded in enough mystery that some have doubted its story – although overall, the music here feels like the best early 70s space rock on labels like Brain or Egg – with lots of layers of keyboards and guitars over building drums and basslines. Interestingly, the producer as credited as Genius P Orridge for Pyramid Records, strangely similar to another name, wouldn't ya say? Titles include "Orion Awakes", "Stellar Launch", "Godhead Dance", "Jupiter & Beyond", and "The Returning". CD

Trippy psychedelic folk tunes from Peter Howell & John Ferdinando – music for the Ditchling Players' production of Lewis Carroll's Alice Through The Looking Glass from 1969 – plus additionally material that didn't end up in the play! Overall, an evocative mix of traditional folky touches with psychedelia era strangeness – played with organ, glockenspiel, acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, autoharp, and strange elements of percussion! Includes "The March Of The Chessmen", "Dance Of The Talking Flowers", "Alice's Train Journey", "Dium And Dee", "Alice Meets The Knights", "Her Majesty Queen Alice", "Whose Dream?" and more. CD includes 13 bonus tracks including a number of brief sections and effects including "March of The Chessmen, Part 1", "Jabberwocky Part" and "Jabberwocky Acoustic Section", "Whose Dream? Try-Out", "Dance Of The Talking Flowers Instrumental" and more. CD

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

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 beautiful bit of folk-psyche from the late 60s UK scene – recorded for Polydor in 1969, but never issued at the time – now finally getting its first exposure to the world at large! The group have a really easygoing approach – blending fuzzy electric and softer acoustic guitars, slow-stepping rhythms, and some slightly more tripped-out instrumentation – all with vocals that take on a nicely lyrical approach – never too hippy-dippy, but with an evocative quality that has echoes of the ancient. Group members have ties to Band Of Joy and Velvett Fogg – and the set features uncredited work from Peter Frampton, and members of The Herd and East of Eden. Like other Lion reissues, the quality here is top-shelf – full notes, photos, and lots of information on the lost album – presented here with 12 tracks that include "Execution Of The Child", "Rain Day Julep", "Hello Goodbye Victoria Cane", "Hanna Wife Of Thomas Kite", "Harpsichord", "Roses & Ribbons", "Masochists Of Strangulation", and "The Story Of Acorn Rose". CD

The one-and-only early 70s album by Thunder Bay, Ontario psych heavies Jarvis Street Revue – rumbling rhythms and searing guitars – plus horns, wild vocals and trippy effects! The group have songs that seek rugged, natural living and environmental justice – but the music is tripped out and adventurous. The 12-minute title track is amazing, warning us about bad men and oil slicks in lyrics, yet it's nicely psychedelic in the musician ship. The vocals that remind us a bit of what Roger Daltery would sound like a few years later in the gnarlier, rougher realms of their sound, but there's some nice melody and groovier elements, too. Includes "Mr. Business Man", the epic title-track, "20 Years", "Sally's Hymn", "400 South" and "Heidi Ho". This great Lion CD edition has 9 bonus tracks – vital additions, too! Really fleshes things out and gives us more to love! Bonus tracks include "Sweet Susan", "Angela", "Mr Rock", "Uncle Benny", "I Believe In Freedom", "Sweet Eyed Satin Lady", "Better Things To Do" and "Tabourine". CD

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

The lost legacy of Alberto "Mandhy" Vanasco – an Argentine singer and guitarist who was known for one famous duo album at the end of the 60s – but resurfaces here with a collection of solo tracks recorded over the space of a decade! The strength of the guitar work is what really grabs us here – not over the top fuzz lines or frenzy, but completely confident work that really knows how to pace itself – so that Alberto's building up alongside his vocals with this style that makes him a master of songcraft. Lyrics are all in Spanish, and tunes also have some nice compressed organ lines at times – and much of the backing is by the group Nexus – on titles that include "Curvas", "No Se Por Que", "Quiero Gritar", "Desnudate", "Negra Cuidad", "No Dudes", and "La Alegria". LP, Vinyl record album

A really unusual set from the mid 70s underground – recorded by an obscure group in a tiny studio, but with a care and class that easily matches bigger records from the time! The guitar work is excellent – as tight as any heard on 70s AOR albums of the period, but much more relaxed, and not nearly as slick – so that the chromatic tunes really have a way of cascading out and illuminating the surprisingly sensitive lyrics of the tunes! The overall style is a bit hard to peg – might be roots or country-tinged, but not really – and with the intimacy of folk at times, but definitely an electric album all the way through. Whatever the case, it's a great lost treasure that has really held up over the years – if not grown even better! Titles include "Know That I'm Not Alone", "This Road", "Roll On Life", "On He Goes", "The Wind", and "At My Home". LP, Vinyl record album

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

A dozen classic tracks from Burning Spear, with Winston Rodney delivering a righteous roots message over some of the most thunderous riddims cut during reggae's golden age! One of the Reggae Greats series of compilations Island put together and released in the early 80s, when many of these tracks are getting harder and harder to find on vinyl, unless you count dodgy Jamaican pressings. With "Door Peep", "Slavery Days", "Lion", "Black Disciples", "Man In The Hills", "Tradition", "Throw Down Your Arms","Social Living", "Marcus Garvey", "Dry & Heavy", "Black Wa-Da-Da (Invasion)" and "The Sun". LP, Vinyl record album

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 nice small group set of Ellington sidemen – with Paul Gonsalves on tenor, Ray Nance on trumpet and violin, Norris Turney on alto, and Hank Jones on piano! LP, Vinyl record album

The classic first album from Hiroshima – a group who took the 70s experiments in Japanese fusion right into the American mainstream – with a wonderful blend of jazz and soul, and a production style that was never too polished or commercial! The group's led by reedman Dan Kuramota – who plays both sax and flutes, including a bit of Japanese wooden flute – which gives the record a few slight "Eastern" touches a times, although the overall vibe is strongly in the best soulful fusion of the period! In keeping with that approach, there's a bit of vocals on the record – sung in English with a soulful vibe – on titles that include "Lion Dance", "Da Da", "Taiko Song", "Holidays", "Never Ever", and "Kokoro". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the better recordings created for the Arista/Freedom series, rather than licensed from tapes Alan Bates had already produced for Black Lion – and a nice set of loft jazz played by Lowe with help from Lester and Joseph Bowie, Abdul Wadud, Steve Reid, and Charles Bobo Shaw. The group play 2 Monk tracks, "Epistrophy" and "Mysterioso", plus 2 Lowe originals, "Play Some Blues" and "Fresh", with a sound befitting the title track, approaching the new thing with a respect for the swing and blues roots of jazz. The final track "Chu's Blues", is a little different from the rest of the LP, a great grooving number that was performed by Lowe in Memphis, with help from the Memphis Four. LP, Vinyl record album

5 killer albums from the great Jackie McLean – all packaged together in cool LP-styled jackets! First up is Capuchin Swing – a tremendous set from Jackie McLean – perfectly poised between his hardbop and modern years, with a set of compositions that are as great as the performances! The lineup on this one's a bit unusual – with Walter Bishop on piano, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – but that mix of players makes for a really unusual sound – as the rhythm section's often straight ahead, Blue Mitchell's notes are bold and sparkling, and Jackie's own solos are reaching for the darker corners of the spectrum! There's a great sense of tension here that heralds the genius of later McLean sides of the 60s – and original titles include "Francisco", "Condition Blue", "On The Lion", and "Capuchin Swing". Bluesnik is a crackling date from Jackie McLean – a set that's much more hardbop than some of his other Blue Note work – filled with fire, far from the 50s – and really pointing the way towards his new directions to come! There's a hint of modernism in the mix, mostly on the tone from McLean's alto sax – but most numbers are forward-thinking, and played with a sense of perfection that's pure Blue Note all the way through. Group members include Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Kenny Drew on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Pete LaRoca on drums – and titles include "Cool Green", "Torchin", "Bluesnik", "Drew's Blues", and "Blues Function". Let Freedom Ring features a young Jackie McLean at the height of his powers – really stretching out here, but never going too far out – a perfect balance between his modern bop of previous records, and his groundbreaking "new thing" jazz to come! The group is a relatively straight ahead one – with Walter Davis on piano, Herbie Lewis on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – but the tracks are all quite long, and have this really arch sensibility on Jackie's horn – this edge, this cry he didn't have a few years before – easily one of the freshest voices in alto sax at the time, yearning here to break free with new ideas and new modes of expression. The vibe is perfectly balanced – like McLean's classic A Fickle Sonance – and titles include the classic "Melody For Melonae", plus "Rene", "I'll Keep Loving You", and "Omega". Demon's Dance is a pivotal session from the late 60s – one that has Jackie pulling things back a bit from his "new thing" period, and turning towards the spiritual soulful groove that would characterize his early 70s work! The album bristles with excitement – still very much informed by a knowledge of the space explored during Jackie's avant years, but never quite willing to go to that space – especially if it means sacrificing the soulful swing of the set! The group's filled with young soulful modernists – including Woody Shaw, Lamont Johnson, Scott Holt, and Jack DeJohnette – and Jackie himself seems to be working out a whole new phase of his career with each new track – showing that even when he was at his "new thing" best, he was still ready to move on! Tremendous stuff, and one of our favorite Blue Notes from the time – and one of the most soulful too! Titles include "Floogeh", "Message From Trane", "Toyland", and "Boo Ann's Grind". Jacknife is a heck of an album from Jackie McLean – extremely soulful work from the mid 60s, recorded right at the height of his "new thing" period! That quality may be one reason why the session was never issued at the time (it only made a brief appearance on vinyl in the late 70s, and is finally coming out on CD) – but to our ears, it's one of Jackie's strongest from the decade, a really wonderful record that looks forward at the soulful explorations of the 70s Strata East scene. Players include Lee Morgan, Charles Tolliver, Larry Willis, Larry Ridley, and Jack DeJohnette – and titles include "Soft Blue", "Climax", "On The Nile", and "Blue Fable". CD

A tremendous set from Jackie McLean – perfectly poised between his hardbop and modern years, with a set of compositions that are as great as the performances! The lineup on this one's a bit unusual – with Walter Bishop on piano, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – but that mix of players makes for a really unusual sound – as the rhythm section's often straight ahead, Blue Mitchell's notes are bold and sparkling, and Jackie's own solos are reaching for the darker corners of the spectrum! There's a great sense of tension here that heralds the genius of later McLean sides of the 60s – and original titles include "Francisco", "Condition Blue", "On The Lion", and "Capuchin Swing". LP, Vinyl record album

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 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. 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

Music from Roundhead, Mad Lion featuring Keeva, Spragga Benz, Shinehead, King Kong, Yankee B, Shabba Ranks, Beenie Man, Burru Banton, Anthony B & more. CD

A surprisingly strong collection of reggae recorded in Boston during the 80s – or maybe not that surprising at all, given that the city had a growing Caribbean population, and a very strong college audience for the music! Still, the package is a huge discovery – strong quality work from a city that most folks would associate with just about any other style of music – with a key emphasis on the sorts of message-oriented cuts that helped reggae find a huge global audience in the generation of Bob Marley – carried forth here by a host of local acts working in very faithful, well-produced modes. The set's got a great booklet of notes – more than enough detail and explanation for this unique musical moment – and titles include "Take Us Home" and "Our Father's Land" by Danny Tucker, "Country Girl" and "Two Minute Warning"by Lambsbread, "Errol's Love" and "Oh What A Saturday Night" by Errol Strength, "Without Your Love" and "Nations Unite" by Healing Of The Nations, "Burning Fire" and "Condemnation Lion" by Zion Initiation, and "Love Is A Pleasure" by I Tones. 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

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 Another 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". LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite all-time vocal groups – even if they did sell a bazillion records during the 70s! Of course, we have to give the lion's share of the credit to Teddy Pendergrass – whose darkly warm vocals pushed most of the group's tracks over the top, and forever set a new standard for male vocals in soul music. Teddy's singing strong and clear on this 15 track set of hits by the group – a nice batch that includes some of their best mellow material, and more than enough of their strident hits, the sort that still show up day and day again on oldies stations, with no complaints from us! Titles include "The Love I Lost", "If You Don't Know Me By Now", "Yesterday I Had The Blues", "Keep On Lovin You", "Tell The World How I Feel About Cha Baby", "Everybody's Talkin", and the sublime "I Miss You", done in the full 8 minute version. CD

Van Morrison at the height of his solo powers – working here in an extended live set that opens up with all the genius for vocal expression and inflection he developed during his initial solo years at Warner Brothers! The setting is perfect to show the growing confidence Morrison has in his talents – an unbridled sense of soul that comes on even more strongly on some of these versions than on earlier takes of the tunes in the studio – especially as they mix with a few great covers here that further illustrate the wide range of inspirations that Van brings into his music. Backing is by a tight, soulful combo – and tracks include "Domino", "Wild Children", "I Believe To My Soul", "I Just Want To Make Love To You", "These Dreams Of You", "Into The Mystic", "Warm Love", "Saint Dominic's Preview", "Bring It On Home To Me", "Listen To The Lion", "Gloria", "Cyprus Avenue", "Caravan", and "Take Your Hand Out Of My Pocket". LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous album from organist Freddie Roach – arguably his best record ever for Blue Note, and a really wonderful session! The set's got Freddie opening up in a slightly hipper groove than on some of his more R&B-influenced sides – working with a quartet that includes Percy France on tenor, Kenny Burrell on guitar, and Clarence Johnston on drums. Tracks are longish, with some really great rhythms – and show Freddie moving past straight Hammond grooving, into a more righteous mode that would emerge even more on his albums for Prestige. 6 tracks in all, and the titles include "De Bug", "Ahm Miz", "Althea Soon", and "Lion Down". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible batch of electric funk from Grover Washington Jr – easily one of his best albums ever! The record really picks up from the sweet CTI sound of the 70s – taking Bob James arrangements with a lot of space and electric keyboards, and letting Groover blow some wonderfully soulful lines over the top on soprano sax! The album's got some really wonderful funk tracks that feature a mad mix of drums, bass, and lots of that Bob James "space" – including the massive cuts "Hydra" and "Knucklehead" – both of them magic! Other tracks include "Moonstreams", "It Feels So Good", and "The Sea Lion". LP, Vinyl record album

A surprisingly strong collection of reggae recorded in Boston during the 80s – or maybe not that surprising at all, given that the city had a growing Caribbean population, and a very strong college audience for the music! Still, the package is a huge discovery – strong quality work from a city that most folks would associate with just about any other style of music – with a key emphasis on the sorts of message-oriented cuts that helped reggae find a huge global audience in the generation of Bob Marley – carried forth here by a host of local acts working in very faithful, well-produced modes. The set's got a great booklet of notes – more than enough detail and explanation for this unique musical moment – and titles include "Take Us Home" and "Our Father's Land" by Danny Tucker, "Country Girl" and "Two Minute Warning"by Lambsbread, "Errol's Love" and "Oh What A Saturday Night" by Errol Strength, "Without Your Love" and "Nations Unite" by Healing Of The Nations, "Burning Fire" and "Condemnation Lion" by Zion Initiation, and "Love Is A Pleasure" by I Tones. LP, Vinyl record album