A record that marks a very different chapter in the career of Bill Nelson than his initial rise to fame at the head of Be Bop Deluxe – a set that offers up a leaner take on the 70s styles of Nelson's music, and a sound that's decidedly aimed much more at the new wave generation! Bill was always a bit ahead of the pack in terms of production and instrumentation – and he definitely puts that work to use here, by retuning an earlier aesthetic in ways that are definitely at the forefront of UK electronic pop! Vocals are often processed, keyboards and guitars intertwine nicely, and titles include "Don't Touch Me I'm Electric", "Stop Go Stop", "Furniture Music", "Revolt Into Style", "The Atom Age", and "A Better Home In The Phantom Zone". 2CD version features the remastered album, a new stereo mix, and bonus tracks that include "Acquitted By Mirrors" and "Wonder Toys That Last Forever", in both mixes – plus "My Light", a previously unreleased track from the sessions – and Red Noise session tracks "Ideal Homes", "Instantly Yours", and "Disposable". CD

A fantastic package of work from the legendary On-U Sound label – four of the most important early albums on the label – from a time when the imprint was completely revolutionizing the influence of Jamaican music on the British scene! All of the albums were produced by Adrian Sherwood – who'd drank heavily of the sounds of Kingston in the 70s, but also grew up at a time when the more unique electronics and production styles of the post-punk years were holding sway – modes that he brought into play with the reggae sounds on the records, for one of the most unusual blends you can imagine! While The Clash and other UK artists just took on Jamaican music directly, Sherwood attempted to re-channel and shape it – at a level that not only offered respect and new showcases to reggae performers, but also then went back to have an influence i Jamaica too. The set features four full albums, all in tiny LP-styled covers – Leaps & Bounds by Singers & Players, Threat To Creation by Creation Rebel with New Age Steppers, Lows & Highs by Creation Rebel, and the classic compilation album Wild Paarty Sounds Vol 1 – one of the earliest, and most mindblowing On-U sound albums of all time! CD

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A huge run of greatness from Roscoe Mitchell – one of the most important musicians to come out of the AACM scene in Chicago, and a player who may well have been one of the best to really flower in the freedoms offered by the Black Saint/Soul Note label! By the time of these records, Mitchell had already made classic albums on his own, and with the Art Ensemble Of Chicago – but these sides represent Roscoe reaching great new heights as a leader – trying out a variety of different groups and new ideas, and both expanding the overall AACM palette, while also reaching out to new scenes as well. Every record is a little bit different, and the groups are too – as Mitchell works with his Sound Ensemble that includes Hugh Ragin and Spencer Barefield, the Sound & Space Ensembles with Mike Mossman and Tom Buckner, the Roscoe Mitchell Quartet with Malachi Favors and Steve McCall, the Note Factory with Matthew Shipp and William Parker, a Sextet with Muhal Richard Abrams and Anthony Davis, and in duets with Borah Bergman on one record, and Muhal Richard Abrams on another! Every album comes in a small sleeve with its original artwork – and the box features the albums 3X4 Eye, Roscoe Mitchell & The Sound & Space Ensembles, The Flow Of Things, Live At The Knitting Factory, Duets & solos, This Dance Is For Steve McCall, The Italian Concert, Shadowgraph 5, and Spihumonesty. CD

Prince Far I issued a number of classic Cry Tuff albums on the On-U Sound label back in the 80s, all under his own name – but this similarly-titled set brings together tracks the legendary Jamaican MC did with other acts on the label – including Singers & Players and Creation Rebel! Prince Far I was taken from the planet in the early 80s – too soon to see the success of his work with Adrian Sherwood and the label – and this set stands as another tribute to their brief moment of genius, with cuts that include "91 Vibration", "Autobiography", "Calling Over The Distant Sea", "Nuclear Weapon", "Dreadlock Soldier", "Prodigal Son", "In I Father's House", "Quante Jubila", and "Beware The Flying Predator". CD

Keith Tippett on piano, zither, music box, and percussion and Julie Tippett on voice, zither, music box, and percussion. CD

Amazing package – fold-over cardboard sleeve and binder! CD

UK trumpet legend Harry Beckett makes a surprising appearance here for the On-U Sound label – although maybe that's not much of a surprise, given all the diversely creative moments Beckett has had in his decades-long career! The format is very much in the best On-U Sound mode, but with a bit more bite too – as although Harry blows trumpet over grooves that feature plenty of dark-tinged production from Adrian Sherwood and work from likely studio talents – there's a greater presence to his solos than some of the other instrumental On-U sessions – much more up in the mix, which gives Beckett the prominence he deserves! The set features guest vocals from Junior Delgado on one track, and Orphy Robinson plays vibes throughout - on titles that include "Ultimate Tribute", "The Forgotten Man", "Switch Up", "Out Of The Blue", "The Storyteller", "Fantastic Things", and "Facing It". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic work from Hawkins – recorded for a small label at a time when his star had fallen a bit, but with some AMAZING tone that really makes the album cook! The group's a combo that features piano and organ by Earl Knight, trumpet by Ernie Royal, trombone by Eddie Bert, and guitar by Sidney Gross – and the whole thing has a laidback blowing feel that really lets Hawkins hit some of those fantastic notes he keeps pulling out at the end of his career. If you've ever doubted why folks think Hawk's a genius, check this one out, and prepare to have your ears cook! Titles include "My Own Blues", "What's New", "Running Wild", "Blue Room", and "I'll Never Be The Same". CD

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A garage psych masterpiece from The Music Machine – one of those records that seemingly sprang out of nowhere back in the 60s, and gave music an edge that really paved the way for pysch, punk, and even metal classics to come! The leadoff track "Talk Talk" is maybe the group's best remembered cut – a really sinister tune with sneering vocals and this intense guitar solo in the middle – but the whole record is equally great, even when the group is taking on tunes by other acts – completely transforming them with a raw sort of energy that makes them key contemporaries of The Seeds, and maybe even a precursor to The Stooges. Titles include "Talk Talk", "Taxman", "Masculine Intention", "The People In Me", "Wrong", "Come On In", and "Hey Joe". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic Miami funk from Ron Louis Smith – an artist who's working here in the best TK Records mode of the late 70s, but also bringing a bit more soul to the set with his vocals! Ron wrote, arranged, and produced the record himself – and he's clearly a heck of a talent, even though he's got a bit of help on the record from other TK stalwarts – including KC of Sunshine Band fame, and keyboard wiz Timmy Thomas! The record's got a tight sound, but is never too slick or commercial – definitely one of those harder-edged TK sessions from a time when the label was still going strong – and titles include "The Worm", "You're My Everything", "We Like To Party", "Come On & Do It", "Party Dress", and "Party Freaks Come On". CD

Music from Fatboy Slim, Underworld, Kid Creme, Scanty, The Clumps, Leftfield, Roland Clark, Basement Jaxx, and more, CD

AACM stalwart Edward Wilkerson on reeds, Rod McGaha on trumpet, Harrison Bankhead on bass, and Reggie Nicholson on drums. Tracks include "Nommo's Bag", "Box Canyon", "Twelth Dialect", and the title track "Light On The Path". CD

Mid 50s work by trombone legend Jack Teagarden – one of the few albums cut for the small Urania label back, and a pretty great album that has maybe more of a 50s jazz vibe than some of his other records! That's partly due to the approach – which uses slightly longer tracks, really opening up nicely – with work from a hip combo that includes Lucky Thompson on tenor, Ruby Braff on trumpet, Kenny Kersey on piano, and Sidney Gross on guitar! Tracks include "Lover", "Blue & Esoteric", "After You've Gone", "Hundred Years From Today", and "Stars Fell On Alabama". CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

All the great early albums from Creation Rebel – plus their excellent comeback too! The set begins with Dub From Creation – not just the debut album from Creation Rebel, but also a set that marks the first studio work from the young Adrian Sherwood – part of the long On-U Sound legacy to come, and a wealth of other wonderful music! There's a spareness here that's great – maybe a bit less dark than later Sherwood projects, but no less stark – with melodica and keyboards weaving nicely amidst the dubby rhythms! Titles include "Basic Principals", "Dub Fusion", "Liberation", "Rising Star", "Vision Of Creation", and "Creation In A Iration". Next is Close Encounters Of The Third World – an early part of the On-U Sound legacy, even if the set wasn't issued on the label – a key effort by Creation Rebel that features recording work done both in London and Kingston, layered together in a beautifully dubby way! The sound here is definitely underground – full of message-oriented lyrics from Crucial Tony, who sings in a style that definitely earns him his name – with great melodica and organ flowing through the mix next to Lizard's bass – topped with added horn work from The Arabs in all the right spots! The production is superb – flat on the drums, wide on the sides, which makes for a really wonderful groove – on titles that include "Know Yourself", "Conspiring", "Creation Fever", "Natty Conscience Free", and "Joyful Noise". Rebel Vibrations features early production genius from Adrian Sherwood – and a record that sets the tone for all the On-U Sound genius to come! The set's a huge step forward from even the previous excellent Creation Rebel album – as the way the sounds are layered together is incredible – almost modes learned from post-punk production, but used to deliver a pure, righteous dub album – one that drops out all the vocals, and allows you to concentrate even more on the totally wicked instrumentation! The set features stunning drums from Style Scott, heady bass from Lizard, and all sorts of very cool keyboard work from Clifton Morrison – used in these ways that float about like a swarm of sounds, especially when mixed with the melodica of Doctor Pablo. The whole thing's amazing – and titles include "Diverse Doctor", "Hunger & Strife", "Jungle Affair", "Rebel Vibration", "Black Lion Dub", and "Mountain Melody". Starship Africa is a brilliant Creation Rebel effort for On-U Sound from the dawn of the 80s – landing in the futuristic dub spacecraft that is their Starship Africa – percussion heavy and spaced out ingenuity from Adrian Sherwood & co! Tripped, echoey atmospherics that's cast as a soundtrack to movie that doesn't exist, the music is forward thinking, boundary busting dubby grooves exists out of time and sounds great to this day. Includes "Starship Africa" (Sections 1-5) and "Space Movement" (Sections 1-4). On Psychotic Jonkanoo, Crucial Tony is back in the mix for this righteous early 80s album from Creation Rebel – a set that has Adrian Sherwood only furthering his production genius as he layers together stunning instrumental work from the group! The presence of the vocals has the instrumentation slightly back in the mix – but there's still a great run of rhythms throughout, all driven by the mighty heady basslines of Lizard Logan! There's less keyboards than before, but still some nice electronic bits all over the place – and titles include "The Dope", "African Space", "Threat To Creation", "Highest Degree", "Mother Don't Cry", and "Drum Talk". From 2023, Hostile Environment is the first album in many years from this legendary studio project from On-U Sound and Adrian Sherwood – and one that makes us feel as if the passage of decades hasn't happened at all! Sherwood's production is still wonderful – and, if anything, maybe less showy, or more soulful, or less moody – just something that seems to let the work of the group come through with energy that's wonderfully warm and organic, while still resonating with plenty of touches that will make longtime label fans proud! Vocals are shared between Charlie Eskimo Fox and Mr Magoo, and the set also features guest appearances from Prince Far I and Daddy Freddy – on titles that include "That's More Like It" "Jubilee Clock", "Swiftly", "Stonebridge Warrior", "Crown Hill Road", "The People's Sound", and "Whatever It Takes". CD

A dubbed-up remake of Lee Scratch Perry's excellent Rainford album – done in strong partnership with producer Adrian Sherwood, and featuring guest help from a host of talents – including the legendary Brian Eno, and trombonist Vin Gordon! The sound here is right up there with the earliest On-U Sound recordings – a forward-looking approach to Perry's older legacy, but never overdone with any sort of too-contemporary elements – that perfect blend that made Sherwood and the label so great back in the day. Titles include "Crickets In Moonlight", "Mind Worker", "Ensighted", "Hooligan Hank", "Dreams Come True", "Above & Beyond", and "Heavy Rainford". LP, Vinyl record album

Nice dubby material from this obscure On-U Sound combo – recorded back when Adrian Sherwood was at the helm, and was including a lot of odd post-modern techniques into the mix. The overall sound is pretty spare, and perhaps a bit dated – but the record's one of the more enigmatic from the early days of On-U, and has more than enough nice moments. Titles include "Very Big In America Right Now", "Grand Prix", "Feeling Wild", "Slipped Disco", "Stopping & Starting", and "Technical Miracle". CD

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Seminal sounds from the On-U Sound label – and a record that perhaps provides one of the most lasting illustration of the label's genius! African Head Charge work in this unique blend of Jamaican dub, British post-punk electronics, and some earthier textures that might be more at home in Brian Eno's "fourth world" series – a masterful blend handled by producer Adrian Sherwood, who's still at the height of his power here – and works with percussion from Bonjo I, melodica from Doctor Pablo, saxes from Deadly Headly, and some nice echoey drums from Mus'come and AV Scott. Lizard provides the heavy bass – and cuts include "Elastic Dance", "Stone Charge", "Hole in the Roof", and "Crocodile Shoes". LP, Vinyl record album

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An early part of the On-U Sound legacy, even if the set wasn't issued on the label – a key effort by Creation Rebel that features recording work done both in London and Kingston, layered together in a beautifully dubby way! The sound here is definitely underground – full of message-oriented lyrics from Crucial Tony, who sings in a style that definitely earns him his name – with great melodica and organ flowing through the mix next to Lizard's bass – topped with added horn work from The Arabs in all the right spots! The production is superb – flat on the drums, wide on the sides, which makes for a really wonderful groove – on titles that include "Know Yourself", "Conspiring", "Creation Fever", "Natty Conscience Free", and "Joyful Noise". LP, Vinyl record album

Crucial Tony is back in the mix for this righteous early 80s album from Creation Rebel – a set that has Adrian Sherwood only furthering his production genius as he layers together stunning instrumental work from the group! The presence of the vocals has the instrumentation slightly back in the mix – but there's still a great run of rhythms throughout, all driven by the mighty heady basslines of Lizard Logan! There's less keyboards than before, but still some nice electronic bits all over the place – and titles include "The Dope", "African Space", "Threat To Creation", "Highest Degree", "Mother Don't Cry", and "Drum Talk". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic solo album from saxophonist Deadly Headley Bennett – a key session player on the Jamaican scene of the 70s, where his reedwork graced countless sessions – often without much credit to the man himself! That's nicely changed here, as Headley's the star – but also working in an all-star lineup that features some smoking trombone work from Rico, guitar from Crucial Tony, and heavy On-U basslines from Lizard – all of whom keep things nice and laidback, while the production of Adrian Sherwood adds in all the sharper edges. Nick Plytas makes a surprising appearance here on keyboards, Bim Sherman sings a bit, and titles include "The Danger", "Head Charge", "Two From Alpha", "Another Satta", "Without A Love Like Yours", and "Little Dove". LP, Vinyl record album

The swaggering, hard grooving and hard rocking debut of Aerosmith! While "Dream On" gets as much or more rock radio play than any song should ever need, it's actually pretty easy to overlook just how good the rest of the record is. They may borrow the bluesy swagger of the Stones and heavy riffing of Led Zeppelin, but it's ultimately a heavy, but accessible rock sound that's distinctively all their own. Includes "Dream On", "Make It", "Somebody", "Walkin The Dog", "Write Me", and "Mama Kin". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album from The Allman Brothers – and a set that forever set the standard for double live albums in the 70s! The expanded format really let the group open up and show the strengths they had already developed as a live act, long before they walked into the studio for their initial album – as the tracks are often quite long, and let you hear the way they approached the process of creation – using lots of jamming energy that's really let loose here on the longer tunes, which are awash in amazing guitar and organ solos! Dickey Betts and Duane Allman are fantastic together – and titles include the side-long "Whipping Post" and "You Don't Love Me" – plus "Hotlanta", "In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed", "Statesboro Blues", "Stormy Monday", and "Done Somebody Wrong". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic work by maestro Burt Bacharach – subtle genius, and an album that offers more to us every time we listen to it! Burt's work has been recorded by many – but few ever gave it the kind of treatment that he did – as you'll hear in this brilliant array of sweeping strings, sly syncopation, and well-placed instrumental solos! The sound is breathtaking throughout – a new level of maturity and majesty for 60s instrumental pop – and the record's an enduring classic that deserves a place in every sensitive record collection. Includes the amazing cut "Pacific Coast Highway", plus great versions of other classics, like "Wanting Things", "She's Gone Away", "Knowing When To Leave", and "This Guy's In Love With You". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent lost jazz work from Chet Baker! The CD combines 5 tracks from a never-before-heard live set recorded in 1953 at the Curran Theatre in LA, plus 9 more cuts from 1954 session that was issued on the long out-of-print LP Jazz At Ann Arbor. Both sessions feature Chet playing with pianist Russ Freeman, an amazingly understated player whose graceful darkness perfectly matches young Chet's sound on the trumpet. The pair are backed by Carson Smith on bass and either Larry Bunker or Bob Neel on drums – and the extended set's a wonderfully no-nonsense batch of jazz tunes that really sparkles in comparison with some of Baker's later live work. Titles include "All The Things You Are", "Maid In Mexico", "Lover Man", "My Funny Valentine", "Stella By Starlight", and "Russ Job". CD

Percussionist Zach Barocas leads a really wonderful group here – one who find freedom in spiritual jazz expression, but with instrumentation that's a nice change from the norm! The group's got some occasional sensitive string moments on cello and oboe, both reworked from their more familiar histories in European music, and set here next to nicely-building grooves from a lineup that also features J Robbins on electric piano and organ, and Mark Cisneros on a great range of elements – tenor, saxello, stritch, bass clarinet, flute, trombone, bass, and more percussion! Cisneros provides plenty of colors to the set, and really resonates next to the cello of Gordon withers and oboe of Lenny Young – as the ensemble work through eight different numbers that build in a wonderfully modal sort of way! Titles include "Eight Freedom", "Eleventh Freedom", "First Freedom", "Tenth Freedom", "Fourth Freedom", and "Fifth Freedom". LP, Vinyl record album

The last time around, this hip combo gave us eight freedoms – and while they've shortened the number here, they've also really augmented their music in a really great way – almost as if they're merging spiritual jazz expressions with some of the building minimalism of the Steve Reich/Terry Riley generation – all of which makes for a very unique approach! Drummer Zach Barocas leads the group as before, with a very masterful command on the kit – but the longer tunes have a nice journey as they find their way to their core, then really set fire – working with an unusual lineup that includes voice from Janet Morgan, piano from J Robbins, cello from Gordon Withers, oboe and English Horn from Lenny Young, and a mix of baritone, flute, bass clarinet, and stritch from Mark Cisneros. The album also has a stunning use of viol da gamba by Amy Domingues, an instrument you're not as likely to find in in a spiritual jazz combo, and one that further expands the sonic palette in a really wonderful way. Titles include "Twelfth Freedom" and "Fourteenth Freedom". LP, Vinyl record album

A different groove than usual for Jose Roberto Bertrami – and a record that definitely lives up to the promise of its title! Bertrami's really broken free from the regular Azymuth groove on this set – much more so than on some of his recent solo albums – playing here with a vibe that's very jazzy at times, with a range of different modes – mod one minute, funky the next, and sweetly straight at other points! Jose Roberto handles his familiar Fender Rhodes on most tracks – but also plays a bit of organ and acoustic piano as well – and other instrumentation includes guitar, bass, and drums – plus added horns on some of the fuller, funkier tracks. A few tunes feature some great wordless vocals from Bertrami – scatting along with his keyboards in a warm and breezy way – and production on the set is great, thanks to the Far Out touch – never too smooth, and quite different from any of Bertrami's albums recorded in the US. Titles include "Laranjeiras", "Choro", "No Tempo Da Bossa", "O Pescador", "Ecstatic 70", "Brilliante", "Eighties Times", "Aventura", and "Maixa". CD

One of the most unusual albums we've ever heard from saxophonist Nat Birchall – and that's saying a lot, given the very unusual qualities of most of his work! Yet this set is very special in that it's a solo effort – music by just Nat himself, but never on one instrument at a time – as he works in his own studio to create these tunes that have a strongly spiritual vibe, especially for music from one individual – with a tenor or soprano sax solo often in the lead, amidst other instrumentation that includes bass, drums, percussion, bells, and bass clarinet – plus a bit of work on a Korg minilogue! If you're worried about the album sounding gimmicky, or lacking the depth of some of Birchall's other recordings – don't – because the whole thing is as rich and soulful as all the other kinds of records that have made us love Nat so much over the years. Titles include "Dance Of The Sun God", "Omniscient Beings", "Outer Realm", "Space Time Vortex", "Celestial Spheres", "Cosmic Visitant", and "Inner Pathway". CD

Brilliant later work by Bobby Blue Bland – done with backings that are much fuller than on his earlier albums – a mixture of strings and horns that really expand the sound! That doesn't keep things from being soulful, though – as Bobby's in incredible form vocally, really rising to the occasion of the session with some of his best vocal performances of the decade. Great throughout – and one of his few true classic sessions after the early Duke years. Titles include "Today I Started Loving You Again", "I Take It On Home", "I Hate You", "If Fingerprints Showed Up On Skin", and "Too Far Gone". LP, Vinyl record album

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

A fantastic project from this contemporary South African performance ensemble – one that seeks to weave together older strands of sound from the nation's rich cultural heritage, and link them to a more contemporary mode of expression, as befits the group's role in the younger generation! Some of the tunes here have older origins – initially created by artists who include Mongezi Feza, The Malopoets, Johnny Dyani, and others – but they are taken in all these new directions in ways that mix jazzy touches with soulful South African expression – handled by the group in a mix of tenor, alto, keyboards, guitar, bass, and drums. Siyabonga Mthembu handles lead vocals, and contributed a lot of lyrics to the set – and there's also vocal contributions from other group members too. Titles include "We Madoda", "Together", "Kea Bereka", "Anishilabi", "You Think You Know Me", and "For Mo". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful book of images – not just for record lovers, but for all fans of sonic delights – as the author starts from the earliest days of recorded sound, then moves up through decades of representation – following images of record players, radios, cassette tapes, albums, 78 record sleeves, and dozens of other variations on the way that sound and music is presented! The heavy volume is an artbook first, but also has plenty of history in the mix – and the author presents images from around the world, in a way that really gets away from the Anglo-centric evolution of the record industry – coming up with all sorts of weird images of record scenes in so many different locations, mixed with stark photographs, blueprints, and other images too. The book is a visual delight throughout – even in final pages that deal with the digital generation – and this heavy hardcover volume is 350 pages, with full color images throughout! Book

Killer stuff – as Jerry's getting the full early Philly treatment here, with arrangements by Thom Bell, Bobby Martin, and Roland Chambers, and production by a young Gamble and Huff! The sound isn't nearly as icy as the old Vee Jay days – but that's fine with us, as Jerry is nice and soulful on tracks like "Moody Woman", "When You're Alone", "I Forgot To Remember", "Brand New Me", "What's The Use Of Breaking Up", and "Walking Around In Teardroops". Nice cover, too – with Jerry standing in a pile of fake diamonds! LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful hardbop from Boston – and one of the first-ever albums recorded by trumpeter Donald Byrd as a leader! The set was originally done for the obscure Transition label – also home to inventive early recordings by Sun Ra and Cecil Taylor – and as with those records, there's a very special sort of sound going on here – as the date's a quartet outing, with a very unusual group – with Ray Santisi on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Jim Zitano on bass – all giving Byrd plenty of room to solo in the lead. The record features a very different side than some of Donald's other early two-leader sessions (such as the dates with Pepper Adams) – especially as he blows with a warmth and moodiness that we don't normally hear from him at this point – sounding fantastic on titles that include "Little Rock Getaway", "If I Love Again", "What's New", and "Stella By Starlight". LP, Vinyl record album

The first four albums from this crucial group – along with four more CDs of rare live material too! First up is the self-titled Cactus – the first album from this legendary group – an important American hard rock powerhouse, driven by the famous rhythm duo of Tim Bogert on bass and Carmine Appice on drums – both of whom roll out of the gate here with amazingly frenetic energy! They're maybe only topped by the guitar work of Jim McCarty, whose searing lines are clearly learned from blues inspirations, then turned up in both speed and power – to match the vocals and harmonica of Rusty Day! There's nothing going on here that sounds like blues rock at all – even though the set begins with a cover of "Parchman Farm" – next to other titles that include "My Lady From South Of Detroit", "No Need To Worry", "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover", and "Let Me Swim". On One Way Or Another, Cactus are totally at the top of their game – and the guitar of Jim McCarthy really sets the record on fire, right from the very first note – at a level that should have made Jim one of the real guitar hero legends of his generation! Yet there's also power from the whole group going on too – tight rhythms from the team of Carmine Appice and Jim Bogert, the latter of whom starts to bring in his own vocals a fair bit more, offering backup to the raspy lead of Rusty Day. And while there's a few currents that show their older influence from blues, the sound here is massively hard rock all the way through – making the record a great illustration of the way that slavish blues rock gave birth to a fresh new jamming sound in a matter of just a few short years. Titles include "Rockout Whatever You Feel Like", "Song For Aries", "Feel So Bad", "Rock N Roll Children", and "Hometown Bust". Restrictions is next, and despite the title, there's no restrictions at all – as Cactus seem to be even more confident, more able to stretch their wings and fly than ever before – even adding in some extra piano and keyboards at points to the core guitar-heavy sound of the quartet! All the group's best elements are very firmly in place – searing guitar, righteously confident vocals, and a strutting sensibility that makes this early 70s album way ahead of the game in terms of territory that so many bigger groups would later copy for their own classic records. Titles include "Guiltless Glider", "Evil Alaska", "Sweet Sixteen", "Bag Drag", "Restrictions", and "Mean Night In Cleveland". Ot N Sweaty is a record that's got a bit of a shift in the classic Cactus lineup – as the group's still driven strongly by the work of Carmine Appice on drums and Tim Bogert on bass, but get guitar power from Werner Fritzschings, who's a pretty amazing player – next to some added keyboards from Duane Hitchings, and vocals from Peter French – a singer who's ballsy power might be even more in line with the group than their previous lead singer! The album's got an unusual approach in that side one was recorded live, side two in the studio – each with a nicely different flavor as a result – on titles that include "Swim", "Our Lil Rock N Roll Thing", "Bedroom Mazurka", "Telling You", "Bad Stuff", and "Bringing Me Down". 8CD set is overflowing with great material – bonus tracks added to three of the four albums in the collection, than a further 4CDs worth of live material – titled Fully Unleashed – The Live Gigs Vols 1 & 2. The live material is great – and really shows the tightness of the group at their best! CD

Four killer albums from Cameo – all brought together in a single set! First up is Knights Of The Sound Table – massively funky work from Cameo – a set that's right in the middle of their classic early run – and still quite strong on the bass-heavy grooves the group helped inspire in countless legions of imitators! The tightness of the set is incredible – moving at a pace that's simply mindblowing, especially in a pre-sampling, pre-programming world – proof that spontaneous work by a group like this could still blow away any commercial crap! There's a few mellower moments too – always a side of the group that we love – and titles include "Use It Or Lose It", "Freaky Dancin", "I Like It", "Knights By Nights", "I'll Always Stay", "The Sound Table", and "Don't Be So Cool". Next is Alligator Woman – old school Cameo still strongly in a funk-based mode, before some of the stiffer grooves of their later years! Bass is the ruler of the set – and most tracks here vamp around in a very heavy P-Funk style of groove – lots of guitar dancing around the rhythms, and plenty of spoken/sung vocals from the whole ensemble – not to mention a heavy dose of keyboards that helps keep things clean and lean! A partyful album if there ever was one – with tracks that include "Soul Army", "Enjoy Your Life", "Flirt", "Secrets Of Time", "I Owe It All To You", and "For You". Next is Style – a key set in the trimming down of Cameo – one of those records when the group wisely made the move to change up their sound a bit from the fuller ensemble style of the 70s to the leaner groove that so many other groups were starting to use in the 80s! Yet in the process, the group lose nothing at all – and maybe in face come up with an even better focus on the vocals and songwriting skills of Larry Blackmon – supported with other vocals from Tomi Jenkins, and fantastic keyboard work throughout from the great Charlie Singleton – whose sound is also a key part of the change of the groove! Titles include "Slow Movin", "Style", "Can't Help Falling In Love", "Aphrodisiac", "This Life Is Not For Me", "You're A Winner", and "Let's Not Talk Slot". Last up is She's Strange – an indisputable classic from Cameo – one that has them changing up their sound from earlier albums! The heavier funk of some of their late 70s sides is long gone, and in its place is a more stripped-down style that relies more on electric percussion and keyboards to update their sound. The best cuts on the set have that mellow crossover feel that Kool & The Gang were using at the time – smoother, slinkier soul that played well with larger audiences, yet still had a nice degree of soul. Titles include "She's Strange", "Love You Anyway", "Groove With You", "Hangin Downtown", and "Le Ve Toi". CD

A landmark album from vocalist Betty Carter – not her first time in the recording studio, but maybe one of the first full length sets to really communicate all the genius she was bringing to the field of jazz vocals in the postwar years! The record is one of Carter's more sophisticated sessions, and it's one of the few from the old days to really capture her jazzy vocals well in a large group setting – using arrangements from Richard Wess to bring some nice modern currents to the proceedings. As always, Betty handles the material with a great deal of class, and an incredible sense of poise and emotion – and the set list is nice, too, and includes many lesser-known tracks – like "For You", "Jazz (Ain't Nothin' But Soul)", "Don't Weep For the Lady", "My Reverie", and "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album from vocalist Betty Carter – not her first time in the recording studio, but maybe one of the first full length sets to really communicate all the genius she was bringing to the field of jazz vocals in the postwar years! The record is one of Carter's more sophisticated sessions, and it's one of the few from the old days to really capture her jazzy vocals well in a large group setting – using arrangements from Richard Wess to bring some nice modern currents to the proceedings. As always, Betty handles the material with a great deal of class, and an incredible sense of poise and emotion – and the set list is nice, too, and includes many lesser-known tracks – like "For You", "Jazz (Ain't Nothin' But Soul)", "Don't Weep For the Lady", "My Reverie", and "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic recent performance from electronics wizard Susanne Ciani – one that has all the depth and imagination of her famous recordings from the 70s – and which also features the legendary buchla synthesizer as well! The original concert must have been amazing to hear in person, as it was performed in Quad – but the record itself is more than enough, as Ciani improvises beautifully on an instrument she virtually helped to pioneer – stretching out over some core elements that she uses as building blocks to then really take off in these bold waves of electronic sound! Beautifully recorded – and issued here on her own label, its first release. LP, Vinyl record album

A long-overdue look at the amazing Clark Sisters – a fantastic gospel group, and one with a vocal depth that we'd put right up there next to any of our favorite soul acts of the time! The Clarks are maybe best known for their landmark track "You Brought The Sunshine" – a completely righteous blend of gospel, soul, and disco that crossed over very big back in the day – but the group have an endless amount of great music to offer, a great deal of which is brought together in this wonderful set! The sisters always kept a strong ear towards the secular soul styles of their day – but they also always pushed things with the sort of amazing vocal interplay that used to only be the territory of male gospel groups in earlier decades – fantastic harmonies, soaring leads, and really great group formation. And if you're not a completely huge fan of gospel, don't worry – because the message here is often a more general one of positivity, which really lifts up the spirit of the tunes in a universal way. Titles include "You Brought The Sunshine (single edit)", "Everything Is Gonna Be Alright", "He Keeps Me Company", "Patience", "I'm Going To Have Just What I Want", "Power", "Overdose Of The Holy Ghost", "My Mind Is Made Up", "Nothing To Lose All To Gain", "No Other Name", "Keep On Looking Up", and "I Found What I'm Looking For". CD