It's been way too long since the last 4 Hero album – but it's definitely been worth the wait, as they're even more focused and fabulous than before! There's a real "instant classic" feel to this record – the kind of feeling that folks must have got when first buying Rotary Connection albums in the late 60s, or Herbie Hancock fusion sides in the 70s – a jaw-dropping sense of perfection and invention from the very first notes, rolling forward into a set of tunes that delight the ears at each new twist and turn! There's both a sense of classic composition and freeform creation going on here – one that respects the past, but grabs its hand strongly for a bold journey into the future! The rhythms are amazing, the keyboards incredible, and there's none of the cliches here that mar the music of so many others inspired by 4 Hero's work of years back. One of the key factors to success is a strongly song-based approach – served up with vocals from Carina Andersson, Lady Alma, Darien Brockington, Bembe Segue, Talita Long, Face, Kaidi Tatham, Ursula Rucker, Jody Watley, and even Larry Mizell! Tracks include "The Awakening", "Sophia", "Superwoman", "Look Inside", "Sink Or Swim", "Play With The Changes", "Give In", "Something In The Way", "Morning Child", "Take My Time", and "Stoke Up The Fire". US version features 15 tracks in all. CD

We're not normally ones to rave about electric blues albums, but this one's a lot nicer than you might think – recorded with plenty of deep soul touches, and even a dose of funk in the right places! We hate to admit it, but a big part of the credit here goes to Eric Clapton – who produced most of the record and gives Buddy and Junior a tightness that's missing from some of their other records of the time. There's almost a post-Cream sort of groove to the record – that "hipper than rock" sensibility that colored many of Clapton's old group members' projects for Atlantic in the years after Cream disbanded. But of course, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells are the real stars of the set – and the record's good enough to make even jaded Chicago residents like us appreciate their talents here! Titles include "A Poor Man's Plea", "My Baby She Left Me", "A Man Of Many Words", "I Don't Know", and "This Old Fool". CD

Sweet electric blues from Albert King – recorded with some great full production, in a burning Memphis style that's got plenty of soul in the mix as well! The set's got a quality level that takes it past some of the cliche-ridden blues of the time – really soulful overall, with a sound that comes straight from the heart, and avoids any of the easy tricks that could mar such a session – proof that music like this could really sparkle in the hands of Stax Records – especially when the backing instrumentation features The Bar-Kays and Memphis Horns! Titles include "High Cost Of Loving", "Little Brother", "I'll Play The Blues For You (parts 1 & 2)", "Breaking Up Somebody's Home", "Angel Of Mercy", and "I'll Be Doggone". CD features four previously unissued bonus tracks – "Albert's Stomp", "I Need A Love", "Don't Burn Down The Bridge (alt)", and "I'll Play The Blues For You (alt)". CD

Groovy female club tracks – with George Clinton producing, and funky horn arrangements by Fred Wesley and the usual crew. A bit more uptempo than regular P-Funk material, but with some nice moments, nonetheless. Tracks include "Wolf Tickets", "I'm Mo Be Hittin' It", "Funk Until the Edge of Time", and "Help from My Friends". LP, Vinyl record album

A well-done live set from the legendary pianist Oscar Peterson – and one that resonates strongly with his earlier material for the Pablo label, given that the group also features guitarist Joe Pass! The live setting is really used well here – as there's two extremely long cuts – a 19 minute "Duke Ellington Medley", and an equally long "Salute To Bach" – bringing jazz improvisation to territory that we're not sure we've heard Peterson or Pass play before! The other tracks are all nice and long too – and the group features Dave Young on bass and Martin Drew on drums – on titles that include "Cool Walk", "Sushi", "Love Ballade", "Cakewalk", "Soft Winds", "A Time For Love", and "Waltz For Debby". LP, Vinyl record album

A mad bit of funk and jazz from Ben Sidran – much more tripped-out than his later work! Ben's got a great bunch of musicians on the album – with either Tony Williams or "funky drummer" Clyde Stubblefield on drums, and Phil Upchurch on bass, laying down a nice dark groove on the best cuts – often with an offbeat funky sound that's made the record a favorite for crate-diggers for years. Ben's on piano, grooving in a number of different hipster modes – from LA sleezy to New Orleans soulful – and his vocals, as always, are compelling and catchy. The set includes the nice long groover "Now I Live (And Now My Life Is Done)", a monster track with a great slow groove that's been sampled a number of times over the years – and other cuts include "Full Compass", "Play The Piano", and "Think Twice". LP, Vinyl record album

Lost in time, but brought back brilliantly – a host of incredible upbeat soul numbers from the latter half of the 60s – all of them perfect for a Northern Soul dancefloor! There's plenty of Detroit influences going on in the music, and a bit of Chicago as well – but the tracks represent a great range of underground grooves from the days when indie soul 45s were coming out in droves – so much so that the charts couldn't even come up with the quality of the recordings, which resulted in great under-discovered gems like these! The package is really top-shelf all the way through – cuts that come on strong, and keep staying long – filled with undeniable spirit. Titles include "I Keep Tryin" by Fred Hughes, "Let The Music Play" by Didi Noel, "I Hurt On The Other Side" by Sydney Barnes, "I Don't Want A Playboy" by Barbara Lynn, "I'd Think It Over" by Sam Fletcher, "Tear Stained Face" by Don Varner, "Just Like The Weather" by Nolan Chance, "Baby What Has Happened To Our Love" by The Ringleaders, "New Girl" by Jimmy & The Entertainers, "You Hit Me Like TNT" by Linda Jones, "Just Another Heartache" by Little Richie, "Breakaway" by The Valentines, "I'll Always Love You" by The Artistics, and "Lonely For You Baby" by Sam Dees. CD

Classic kitschy biker material from Davie Allan and The Arrows – one of the best-ever groups to play on schlocky soundtracks during the 60s! There's lots of guitar and lots of fuzz – and guessing from the photos of the movie, the music was the best thing about it! Toddler Mike Curb put the whole thing together – but the vibe is much more like some of Allan's excellent guitar instrumental albums of the time – apart from the few more standard rock band tracks you'd find in Curb's other productions from the period. Most of the album's instrumental Arrows work – and tracks include "The Chase", "Bongo Party", "Blues Theme", "Theme From Wild Angels", and "The Unknown Rider" – plus the vocal cuts "Theme From The Wild Angels" by The Visitors and "Midnight Rider" by The Hands Of Time. LP, Vinyl record album

The title's no lie – because the album is one of the shining jewels of Lou Donaldson's legendary funk years for Blue Note – that second period when he returned to the label at the end of the 60s, and really helped redefine the sound of soul jazz at the time! The format here is very much the same as other Donaldson classics from the time – like Hot Dog or Possum Head – in that the tracks are long, open, and plenty darn grooving – locked in some funky rhythms that feature Idris Muhammad on some very heavy drums! Other players are great too – and include Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Melvin Sparks on guitar, and Lonnie Smith on Hammond – all cooking things up nicely on tracks that include "West Indian Daddy", "Donkey Walk", "Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky", and "Hamp's Hump". LP, Vinyl record album

We've always loved the music of Kahil El Zabar – and over the decades, the work of the drummer/percussionist has made us very proud to be part of the Chicago music scene! Yet recently, Kahil seems to be on fire even more than before – driven with a new sense of purpose and message that's had the musician making some of his greatest records in a long time – like this fantastic quartet session, an instant classic that has El Zabar working with some key Chicago associates in a very spiritual style! The album features key work from the great Isaiah Coller on tenor and soprano sax – a young player who's really setting things on fire, and finding a fantastic sense of direction here, alongside Corey Wilkes on trumpet and Justin Dillard on keyboards. As with Kahil, all other musicians bring a bit of percussion to play at times – on titles that include "A Time For Healing", "Urban Shaman", "Eddie Harris", "The Coming Of Spring", "We'll Get Through This", and "Time Is". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet electric blues from Albert King – recorded with some great full production, in a burning Memphis style that's got plenty of soul in the mix as well! The set's got a quality level that takes it past some of the cliche-ridden blues of the time – really soulful overall, with a sound that comes straight from the heart, and avoids any of the easy tricks that could mar such a session – proof that music like this could really sparkle in the hands of Stax Records – especially when the backing instrumentation features The Bar-Kays and Memphis Horns! Titles include "High Cost Of Loving", "Little Brother", "I'll Play The Blues For You (parts 1 & 2)", "Breaking Up Somebody's Home", "Angel Of Mercy", and "I'll Be Doggone". LP, Vinyl record album

Guitars playing plenty of games here – easy to do when in the godlike hands of Harvey Mandel – a guitarist rooted in blues, but also with lots of psychedelic inclinations as well! This album's one of Harvey's best as a solo act – and gets some sweet fuzzy production by the legendary Abe Voco Kesh – whose touches help give the record that sort of genre-stepping vibe of the best Bay Area material of the time. Harvey's guitar is firmly in the lead, but there's a bit more vocals on the set than some of the previous Mandel records – and titles include a trippy version of Horace Silver's "Senor Blues", plus "Capurange", "Ridin High", "Honky Tonk", "Leavin Trunk", and a wild stoned version of "Games People Play". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful run of music from the mighty Harvey Mandel – a musician whose biggest fame was his bluesy work with Canned Heat, but a guitarist who also had plenty of jazz and funk to offer as well! The set brings together Mandel's killer solo albums – Cristo Redentor, Righteous, Games Guitars Play, Baby Batter, and The Snake – each of them a wonderful blend of psychedelic styles, jazzy currents, and some nice funk touches – music that's as unique now as it was when it was recorded – which sometimes meant that Harvey's genius was lost between the cracks, because the stores and radios never knew where to put him! The set also features a rare live performance – Live At The Matrix – with tracks that are even longer and grittier than some of Mandel's studio work of the time! CD

Pure mellow magic – four early 70s Johnny Mathis albums in a single set! Love Story has Johnny Mathis finding a perfect 70s space for his sublime vocal style – not the late nite love moods of the early years, but instead the warmer territory of the rising adult contemporary market – one that almost seemed tailor made for the Mathis magic! Producer Jack Gold does a great job of mixing up moods here – but as you might expect, the ballads are where Johnny really knocks it out of the park – on titles that include "Love Story", "We've Only Just Begun", "My Sweet Lord", "Goin Out Of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You", "Loss Of Love", "We've Only Just Begun", and "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life". You've Got A Friend is a great setting for the legendary voice of Johnny Mathis – as the maturing singer takes on then-contemporary tracks by artists like Carole King, Kris Kristofferson, and The Bee Gees! These tunes really get a different treatment here in Johnny's hands – not just because the arrangements are quite far from the original pop songs – but also because that magic Mathis style really has a lot of different inflections on the lyrics! Titles include "You've Got A Friend", "Help Me Make It Through The Night", "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart", "If You Could Read My Mind", "For All We Know", "If We Only Have Love", and "It's Too Late". First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is one of those records that perfectly illustrates the shift that Johnny Mathis had made by the 70s – his move from the late nite spot on the cushions of the couch, to a more sophisticated interpreter of richer emotions that provide more than a day's worth of expression on an album like this! Mathis has completely perfected his voice by this point – and almost uses it in painterly fashion, over full arrangements from All Caps and D'Arneill Pershing – with lightly flowing strings, tinkling piano, and all these subtle elements that never get in the way of Johnny's majestic lead. Titles include "The Summer Knows", "Since I Fell For You", "Without You", "Betcha By Golly Wow", "Last Night I Didn't Get To Sleep At All", "Speak Softly Love", and "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". Song Sung Blue is a nice little album that has the legendary voice of Johnny Mathis taking on mature songwriting material from Gilbert O'Sullivan, Ralph MacDonald, Burt Bacharach, Neil Diamond, and even Bill Withers! All the tunes get completely transformed in the Mathis approach – very different than their familiar versions, not just thanks to Johnny's unique vocals – but also the rich arrangements by D'Arneill Pershing, who was turning out to be one of the best Mathis arrangers in the 70s – able to balance individual elements in the backings in just the right way to echo the spirit of the songs. Titles include "Play Me", "Alone Again Naturally", "Lean On Me", "Too Young", "Where Is The Love", "Run To Me", and "Song Sung Blue". CD

Two generations of Hammond heroes – teaming up here in an old school-styled set! We'll admit that we're a bit more partial to Jack's organ than Joey's, but DeFrancesco's still pretty great – and the pair play together as if on some old twin-Hammond date from the 60s on Prestige (although thinking back, the label really didn't ever cut sessions like that!) Players include Paul Bollenback and John Hart on guitars, Jerry Weldon on tenor, and Andrew Beals on alto – and titles include "Pork Chops & Pasta", "Please Send Me Someone To Love", "Black Jack", "Funk Pie", "Rock Candy", "Yesterdays", and "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World". CD

Magical mainstream Morricone – a sublime score for Sergio Leone's epic tale of gangland growth in the 20th century! Although penned for a wider audience, most of the best Morricone elements are still at play in this soundtrack – a great sense of space and timing, and some key use of spare, isolated instruments – including the pan flute of George Zamfir, an odd choice given the New York setting of the film, but one that comes off beautifully in the mix. Strings back up most of the tunes, but they're never too sleepy – just slightly sentimental, but in a really good way. Titles include "Childhood Memories", "Once Upon A Time In America", "Cockeye's Song", "Childhood Poverty", "Friends", "Photographic Memories", "Speakeasy", and "Poverty". CD also features some bonus tracks too! LP, Vinyl record album

A well-done live set from the legendary pianist Oscar Peterson – and one that resonates strongly with his earlier material for the Pablo label, given that the group also features guitarist Joe Pass! The live setting is really used well here – as there's two extremely long cuts – a 19 minute "Duke Ellington Medley", and an equally long "Salute To Bach" – bringing jazz improvisation to territory that we're not sure we've heard Peterson or Pass play before! The other tracks are all nice and long too – and the group features Dave Young on bass and Martin Drew on drums – on titles that include "Cool Walk", "Sushi", "Love Ballade", "Cakewalk", "Soft Winds", "A Time For Love", and "Waltz For Debby". CD

TV music from late 60s Japan, served up here in a very cool mix of jazzy tracks, mod instrumentals, and some of the weirder, wilder songs you might find in a Japanese crime film of the time! Some of the music was done for the show Play Girl, but it seems as if there's other work here too – and the instrumentation includes trumpet solos, guitar parts, flute lines, and even some very cool female vocals that show up from time to time – really fitting the spirit of the music! The set's overflowing with very cool short tracks – and titles include "Play Girl Opening Theme", "Dressing For Pleasure", "Erotic Electric", "The Music Of Chase Scene", "Piano Lounge Q", "Lonely Guitar", "Labyrinth Of Love", and "Night Walker". LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty great album of mellow jazz tracks – recorded in a very spare setting that has trumpeter Ruby Braff playing with pianist Ellis Larkins, and no other accompaniment! The setting's quite unusual for the time, and it makes for a relaxed intimate meeting between two strong talents that really differs from the work that either of them were recording elsewhere. But even more incredible is the way that the two players come together without additional support – working beautifully in a format that would have others faltering – always swinging the tunes despite the lack of bass or drums, and clearly very at home here with the extra space that lets both of them open up creatively! Titles include "Where Or When", "I Could Write A Book", "The Girl Friend", "Little Girl Blue", and "Thou Swell". CD

These guys are great – a sublime harmony combo with a sound that's always a treat, and which makes digging up their singles always worth while! Both sides on here are wonderful – sung perfectly, and arranged by Johnny Pate with a slight lilt that really hits a sweet Chicago groove, keeping things nice and fresh, and allowing the vocals some great play! 7-inch, Vinyl record

The second of two groundbreaking albums for the Paris jazz scene. Although Loussier's formula was often copied during the 60s, at the time of these recordings, his mix of jazz and classical styles was fairly revolutionary – and a perfect way to link the postwar European love of jazz with older musical traditions on the continent. And sure, Bach got overdone during the 60s by artists like Swingle Singers or Walter Carlos – but this set's some of the first jazz Bach ever recorded, and thanks to some great rhythm work by Christian Garros and Pierre Michelot, it still sounds pretty darn jazzy! Titles include "Prelude No 6", "Fugue No 16", "Gigue", "Menuet 1", and "Allemande". CD

A classic compilation of material from the hip later years of Impulse – put together with a title that's a bit misleading, given that some of this stuff was clearly getting some play on underground FM radio! There's some key righteous classics here – like "Attica Blues" and "Money Blues" by Archie Shepp, "Astral Traveling" by Pharoah Sanders, "Galaxy In Turiya" and "Blue Nile" by Alice Coltrane, and "Worry Bout It Later" by Cliff Coulter – alongside other tracks that include "Larry Of Arabia" by Chico Hamilton, "Wave" by Ahmad Jamal, and "Crystalized Tears" by John Klemmer. LP, Vinyl record album

The second album from the Allman Brothers, and maybe the one where their sound really comes together – an incredibly chromatic approach to long-spun work on guitar – almost influenced by jazz at times, and definitely very different than some of the more jamming work of the scenes on the coasts at the time! The group really let the tunes open up and flow – brimming over with so much sublime guitar work from Greg Allman, already a very distinct voice on his instrument – matched with more guitar from Dicky Betts, and given all these warm organ lines from Greg Allman, whose vocals are wonderful too. This may not have been the first record to try to find a southern voice in modern rock, but it's definitely one of the most crucial – as you'll hear on titles that include the classic "Midnight Rider" – plus "In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed", "Revival", "Don't Keep Me Wonderin", "Hoochie Coochie Man", and "Please Call Home". LP, Vinyl record album

That's "heart bop", not "hardbop" – a title that really gets at the warm feeling and sense of soul on this overlooked date! The album's an early 80s gem from Enja – cut at a time when the label was really finding its own, and doing an especially great job of giving musicians just the right sort of outlet to move forward – in this case not just trumpeter Franco Ambrosetti, but also altoist Phil Woods and pianist Hal Galper – all of whom are great! There's an angular formation to most of the tunes at the start, but they flow with a warm, lyrical energy right from the start as well – supported by the drums of Billy Hart and bass of Mike Richmond – on titles that include "A Flat Miner", "Fairy Boat To Go", "Heart Bop", and "Triple Play". CD

The overlooked legacy of Bachdenkel – maybe not the biggest name on the British scene at the start of the 70s, but a group who were initially signed to Philips, and made some really fantastic music at the time! The group are a trio, and it's a bit hard to sum up the quality of the work in easy words – as it's sometimes very personal, but not folksy at all – other times a bit more instrumentally intense, yet not really prog either – always somewhat dark overall, and never trying at all for an easy hook or the kind of track that might have gotten them any sort of radio play at all. The initial album on the set is Lemmings, a moody masterpiece that Philips only issued in France, but which is a stunning piece of work – and the second record, Stalingrad, got even less circulation at the time, but is equally powerful too. The 3CD set features both those records, plus lots of bonus tracks added to each – and a full bonus CD of material from 1967 through the 70s – 22 more tracks that really fill in the space between the main records, as does the very detailed notes that come with the package. 50 tracks in all – and long overdue! CD

An obscure trio from the early 60s, but one who play with plenty of soul jazz in their sound – thanks to some mighty heavy work on the keys of the piano from leader Red Bahnik! Red's got this sharp attack and inherently rhythmic sound that would have been right at home on early 60s Prestige Records – alongside piano gems from artists like Bobby Timmons or John Wright – yet the groove also isn't just copping American styles of the time, as they've got an unusual inflection to their rhythms – maybe some blocker styles that carve things out with a unique spirit, especially given the spacious echo used in the recording. Titles include the long originals "Fata Morgana Altamira" and "Santander" – plus "Fish This Week", "The Uptown", "Sister Sadie", and "Vacushna". CD

A far reaching late 70s set from Gato Barbieri – a record that blends fusiony jazz funk, lush stings, and Latin rhythms and fluid solos on a varied batch of tunes! One of the more interesting things about the production is that those varied approaches often come into play within the same tunes – with clean, lean fusiony bass and percussion underneath swelling string accents, showing Barbieri was unafraid to intermingle myriad influences at the time. Titles include a take on Caetano Veloso's "Odara", plus "Poinciana (Song Of The Tree)", "Latin Lady" (which guest Carlos Santana trading solos with Gato over tropical jazz funk backing), "She Is Michelle", "Where Is The Love", "Evil Eyes" and "Bolero". LP, Vinyl record album

One of John Barry's first true moments of genius – recorded back when he was the leader of a fab little instrumental combo called the John Barry 7, and was tagged to do some soundtrack work that would forever change the rest of his career! The album's got some incredible instrumental tunes that mix electric guitar and beatnik jazz in a mode that's keeping with the juvenile delinquent theme of the film – with some strings sneaking in to cheese things up a bit, but in a great way that only makes the tunes sound even better! Adam Faith sings vocals on "The Beat Girl Song", "Made You", and "I Did What You Told Me" – and other tunes include "Blues For Beatnicks", "Blondie's Strip", "Beat Girl", "Time Out", "The Sharks", and "The City 2000 AD". CD also includes the 1961 album Stringbeat. CD

A trio of classics from this electronic duo – all brought together in a single set! First up is In A Wild Sanctuary – one of the best records ever from Beaver and Krause – largely because there's not so much noodling! This one features the pair on moog and organ, with help from Dave Grusin on piano, Milt Holland on percussion, Howard Roberts on guitar, and Bud Shank on reeds. The sound isn't jazz at all – but more a mix of spacey grooves and bubbling bits, with much more of a song-like structure than on other records. There's a few nice cuts here that almost hit a groove, and even when they don't, they still have a nice stripped down moogy sound that's very pleasing. Titles include "Spaced", "Salute To The Vanishing Bald Eagle", "People's Park", "Walking Green Algae Blues", and "Another Part Of Time". Gandharva is a cool mixture of rock and electronics – a perfect example of the Beaver & Krause team at their best! The ensemble on this one is bigger than usual, and the players includes jazz musicians like Mike Bloomfield, Gerry Mulligan, and Howard Roberts – but Beaver & Krause still play a lot of moog, though, and the songs are pretty groovy – although a little short. Side 2 was recorded at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Titles include "Soft/White", "Walkin By The River", "Walkin", "Nine Moons In Alaska", "Bright Shadows", and "Short Film For David". All Good Men is a higher concept album than usual for the team of Beaver & Krause – a record that still features plenty of cool moog and electronics by the pair, but which also has them teamed up with arranger Jimmie Haskell in a set of tunes that mixes older themes with original numbers! A fair bit of tracks here have vocals – either by Krause, or by female vocalists Cris Williamson, Adrienne Anderson, or Elisabeth Wilson – plus the "celestial choir" on a few tracks. There's a hearkening back here that's a bit confused at some moments – mixing Scott Joplin with the then-common apology to Native American mode – but things sound best on the original numbers, which have picked up a groove a bit more than before, and even have some nice warmer tones we really like. Titles include the spacey spinner "Between The Sun & The Rain", plus "Loves Of Col Evol", "Sweet Williams", "Bluebird Canyon Stomp", "Looking Back Now", "Child Of Morning Sun", and "All Good Men". CD

An incredible album of Latin Funk – recorded in Peru during the early 70s, but right up there with the best from New York and LA at the time! The record has a fantastic style that blends together electric instrumentation, acoustic percussion, and some sweetly soulful lyrics – in English on all the tracks, and nice and funky throughout! Despite its obscure initial origin, the record's gone onto become a seminal Latin groove favorite over the years – thanks to keen global interest in the group, and a solid sound on the record that keeps this one at the top of our play pile over the years. The whole album's a gem – and killer cuts include "Funky Man", "Too Late", and a beautiful version of "Pussy Cat" – a super track from the soundtrack to the film The Owl & The Pussycat, with totally tasty Fender Rhodes grooves! LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet 80s soul from Peggi Blu – an artist who recorded this gem for Capitol Records with hardly any fanfare at the time, but who's gotten plenty of play from the set over the years! Peggi's got a style that's nicely unassuming – a voice that still has all the range and power of the bigger female soul stars of the time, but without being as pushy or overly diva-conscious – a quality that's helped the record to grow strongly in reputation over the years, as Peggi herself has continued to record other wonderful work too. Titles include "Over & Over", "Mesmerize Me", "All & All", "I Believe In You", "All the Way With You", "Two Can Play At That Game", and "Tender Moments". CD features bonus tracks – "Two Can Play At That Game (radio)", "All The Way With You (late night mix)", and "All The Way With You (day time mix)". CD

One of the biggest and best albums ever for Hamilton Bohannon – filled with quirky rhythms and really unusual grooves! Bohannon was one of the key forces in setting the scene for disco in the early 70s – and by the time the rest of the country was hitting the dancefloor in the middle part of decade, he was still moving forward, into a whole new realm of groove! The tracks on this set have some really mad rhythms – skittish and scattered, still with a dancefloor approach, but with lots of odd touches that set them apart from the rest of the pack. A key example of this is the great tune "Me & The Gang", which has this off-key piano loping out over chunky beats – but the whole thing's great, with a lot more of a sly edge than you'd expect from the cover. Titles include "Summertime Groove", "The Street Dance", "Let's Start The Dance", "Listen To The Children Play", and "I Wonder Why". CD

Seminal work from Anthony Braxton – a crucial concert recorded at Town Hall in the early 70s – originally only issued in Japan, but a date that's ended up getting some real global attention over the years! The first half of the set features Braxton's alto in a trio with Dave Holland on bass and Phil Wilson on percussion – working in lots of open, angular space – on two very long readings of Braxton compositions "Composition 6N" and "Composition 6(O)" – plus an incredible take on "All The Things You Are" – done around the time Braxton had recorded some straighter material, but really pushed outside here by the trio! The second half of the set features work by a quintet – still with Dave Holland on bass, but also a Circle appearance by Barry Altschul on drums, plus John Stubblefield on tenor, flute, and bass clarinet – and even Jeanne Lee on vocals. Braxton plays a number of horns – alto and soprano sax, flute, bass clarinet, b-flat clarinet – and even some percussion – and the group play one long track, "Composition 6", in two parts. CD

A really wonderful, very organic album from the duo of Anthony Braxton on reeds and Georg Grawe on piano – a set that's got a looser, freer vibe than some of Braxton's other music of the time – and which maybe takes us back to the spirit of some of earliest work on the Chicago scene! Grawe's got a nicely pointed style of playing – notes that are free, but clear and distinct – which seems to almost produced a grittier style from Braxton at times, as he blows a range of instruments that include soprano sax, clarinet, alto, and flute. The titles are free of the more academic codes that Braxton usually brings to play, and the music is too – on selections that are simply titled "Duet 1", "Duet 2", and "Duet 3". CD

A compelling album of twin-piano lines – one in which Bill Evans and Bob Brookmeyer play head-to-head, in a spiraling modernist style that brings out the best in each player! Although Brookmeyer's best known as a trombonist, he's pretty great here on piano – and the album's a real treasure from his legendary late 50s years – a time when Bob was really opening up tremendously in his music! The album separates out the players via stereo – with Bill Evans in the right channel and Brookmeyer in the left – and the format usually has one player in a rhythm groove while the other solos over the top. The bass of Percy Heath and drums of Connie Kay complete the group – and titles include longish versions of "As Time Goes By", "I Got Rhythm", "The Man I Love", and "The Way You Look Tonight". Phoenix pressing adds 7 bonus tracks. CD

Wonderful work from Walter Brown – a bluesy singer who first rose to prominence in the early 40s band of Jay McShann (alongside a young Charlie Parker) – but who recorded these great cuts in the postwar years! The style is a nice fusion of earlier jazz modes and some of the leaner currents that were coming into play as the R&B years approached – a bit more jazz-based than work by some of Brown's contemporaries – a legacy that comes in part from his style honed with McShann, but which also represents the way some artists of the time were taking swing styles into hipper, tighter territory for the jukebox crowd. Walter died young, and this set features a huge chunk of work from the midpoint of his career – singles for King Records, Signature, Capitol, and Peacock – a few of which have him reunited with Jay McShann, one with tenor from Ben Webster. Titles include "The Search", "What Evil Have I Done", "Gonna Play With Your Woman", "Fine Brown Lady", "Stop Light", "Confessin The Blues", "I'm Glad To Be Back", "Mary B", "I'm A Liar If I Say I Don't", "New Style Baby", "What Did You Do Last Night", "New Four Day Rider", and "Gonna Open Up A Business". CD

Mellow vibes and spacious piano – a 70s classic from the team of Chick Corea and Gary Burton, serving up some of their finest work of the decade! The style is a bit mellower and more contemplative than some of Chick's harder-hitting fusion of the time – and he seems to nicely borrow a page from Burton's book on the record, letting space seep into the tracks as much as his own work on the acoustic piano – which is used here in a warmer, more contemplative mode than we normally expect from Corea. Titles include "Senor Mouse", "Desert Air", "I'm Your Pal", "What Game Shall We Play Today", "Crystal Silence", "Falling Grace", and "Children's Song". LP, Vinyl record album

The complete Okeh label recordings of Billy Butler – Jerry Butler's lesser-known brother, but an even more grooving artist on the Chicago soul scene of the 60s! Billy's work at Okeh is easily some of the best of the all-great imprint – tracks that step, slide, and groove along in a flurry of tight-edged Chi-soul rhythms – nearly all of which are produced by the legendary Carl Davis, with arrangements from Johnny Pate and Riley Hampton! Billy's in the lead on vocals, but nearly all numbers have a strong harmony soul component too – support from The Four Enchanters or Chanters – in a mode that echoes The Impressions' style of the time somewhat, but which also carries more of the Butler-family emotive quality, thanks to the stronger lead. This is the first time all this material has ever been brought together so well – and the package features great notes and a number of previously unissued titles as well – including some rare versions and instrumentals that are sure to get some play from Northern Soul listeners. Titles include "Found True Love", "Lady Love", "Gotta Get Away", "Can't Live Without Her", "Right Track", "Boston Monkey", "Does It Matter", "Fighting A Losing Battle", "To Be Or Not To Be", "Singing The Blues", and "You're Gonna Be Sorry". CD

A great chapter in the career of trumpeter Donald Byrd – his post-Blue Note work with the group 125th Street NYC – which is kind of a second chapter to the jazzy fusion style he developed at the start of the 70s! This time around, there's an equal emphasis on soul and jazz – often with some strong vocals in the lead, but also plenty of room for Donald to stretch out and serve up the kind of perfect solos he worked out with the Mizell Brothers in the years before – modes that are continued here with some great guest help from singers and musicians who include Syreeta, Isaac Hayes, Jim Gilstrap, Wah Wah Watson, and Greg Phillinganes! If you like Donald Byrd albums like Places & Spaces or Stepping Into Tomorrow, you'll find that the sound here is a continuation of that mode – taken into the leaner funk territory that would come to play in the 80s. 2CD set features almost all the best tracks from those years, including some single mixes too – and titles include "Thank You For Funking Up My Life (12" disco version)", "Marilyn", "Butterfly", "Gold The Moon White The Sun", "Sexy Dancer", "Love Has Come Around", "Loving You", "Love For Sale", "Star Trippin", "I Love You", "Midnight", "Your Love Is My Ecstasy", "Have You Heard The News", "People Suppose To Be Free", "Morning", "I'm Coming Home", "Sunning In Your Love Shine", "Everyday", "Falling", "So Much In Love", and "Forbidden Love". CD

A pair of classic albums from Clarence Carter – back to back, and with bonus tracks too! Testifyin is excellent early work from Clarence Carter – recording here with production and arrangements by Rick Hall – in that sweet Muscle Shoals style that never sounded better than it did with Clarence! Carter had a way of working with Hall that was really beyond some of the cliches that crept into the scene at the time – a blend of bluesier roots and leaner soul that was totally great – and which was always touched by Clarence's keen sense of wit and personality! The record's got a slightly funky sound in parts – especially on the great cut "Snatching It Back" – and the rest of the titles are all killer southern soul material, with classics that include "Making Love (At The Dark End Of The Street)", "Soul Deep", "Doin' Our Thing", "I Smell a Rat", and "I Can't Do Without You". Patches is the album that very firmly put Clarence Carter on the mainstream soul map – thanks to his brilliant version of the title tune! By the time of this set, Carter was already one hell of a soul singer – and really brought amazing sounds to play with classic production from Rick Hall and the Fame Studios gang. But when he pointed those talents towards the country soul story "Patches", he really found his groove – mixing southern roots from both sides of the fence into one really unique groove – and following it up with a host of other well-chosen tunes that really helped establish Carter's unique place in music. George Jackson co-wrote a number of the best tunes – a few with Clarence – and titles include "Patches", "I'm Just A Prisoner", "Till I Can't Take It Anymore", "Changes", "Say Man", "Willie & Laura Mae Jones", "CC Blues", and "Getting the Bills (But No Merchandise)". CD features three bonus tracks – on CD for the first time ever – "Say A Little Prayer", "Johnny Poverty", and "I Found What I Wanted". CD

Maybe the crowning achievement of DJ Cash Money – a sharp DJ from the early Philly scene – and a talent who was every bit as great at the time on as Jazzy Jeff on the wheels of steel! Cash is paired here with Marvelous, an MC whose sense of wit really matches the sharpness of the production on the record – and the album's a classic from a time when the indie underground was starting to burst out again with strong full length albums like this! There's plenty of deft, playful rhymes on the set – and titles include "Find An Ugly Woman", "Play It Kool", "Is It Real", "Time Is Up", "A Real Mutha For Ya", "Marvelous' Drawers", "Ugly People Be Quiet (rmx)", "Ugly People Be Quiet", "The Mighty Hard Rocker", and "The Music Maker". CD

Very cool work from Belgian artist Jacques Charlier – music that almost brings a cold wave style into play with some more familiar French song styles – but with this dark edge that almost feels like work on Factory Records or Disques Du Crepuscule! A good deal of these tracks are unreleased, and fit nicely to the few that came out on albums in the mid 80s – almost all with a spare drum machine rhythm behind Charlier's effects-laden guitar and stark vocals – sometimes coming across like Vini Riley of Durutti Column in an angry mood on a bad day! We'd not heard any of this work when it was release, which makes the whole thing a great discovery, especially given the unreleased tracks – a set with titles that include "Vampirella", "Perki Show", "Check Up", "L'Amour Dans Les Chansons", "Sambas", "Passing Time", "Tout Va Bien", "Un Chat Dans Mon Lit", and "End Of WE". LP, Vinyl record album

A soaring set from the later years of Detroit funk powerhouse Westbound Records – a record that has the label moving into clubbier territory, but with all the sharpness they brought to their earlier releases! Detroit producers Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey are at the helm of the record – and although the set has disco elements that include chorus vocals and upbeat rhythms, the approach is maybe more in a fast funk style than more commercial work of the time – which keeps things nice and lean throughout, at a level that's similar to early work from T Connection and some of the hipper groups of their scene! Both Motown legend Earl Van Dyke and Dennis Coffey play on the album – and tracks include "We Got Our Own Thing", "Free To Be Me", "Get A Groove In Order To Move", and "Sure Can't Go To The Moon". CD

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". LP, Vinyl record album

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". LP, Vinyl record album

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". 2CD version features a full bonus album of material that includes "Lazy Bird (alt take 1)", "Lazy Bird (alt take 2)", "Blue Train (false start)", "Blue Train (alt take 7)", "Moment's Notice (alt take 4)", "Blue Train (alt take 8)", and "Moment's Notice (incomplete alt take 5a)". CD

John Coltrane's classic – and only – recording as a leader for Blue Note! The album's no throwaway date, though – as it stands strongly with both Coltrane's other label work of the time, and with the best of the late 50s Blue Note scene – a time when the label was really cooking at full strength! The groove here is a bit harder, heavier, and hardbop-inflected than some of Trane's late 50s sides with Red Garland – thanks to a lineup that features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. There's a crisp modern edge to the record that really holds up beautifully – even after years of play – and titles include "Blue Train, "Locomotion", "Moment's Notice", and "Lazy Bird". This beautiful 2LP version features heavy cover and vinyl – and a full bonus album of material that includes "Lazy Bird (alt take 1)", "Lazy Bird (alt take 2)", "Blue Train (false start)", "Blue Train (alt take 7)", "Moment's Notice (alt take 4)", "Blue Train (alt take 8)", and "Moment's Notice (incomplete alt take 5a)". LP, Vinyl record album

Super-sharp work from Con Funk Shun – one of the best of the mainstream funk acts to emerge in the second half of the 70s – working with the sort of style that was trained in the funky 45 underground, then given a bigger, fuller push to album-length glory! The set is a superb selection of their work for Mercury records – and the tracks here also really show why Con Funk Shun were always a cut above – as they had a way of bringing strong soul vocals to play that often illuminated the tunes very strongly – especially when the group would harmonize together. The set features 32 tracks in all – including "So Easy", "Chase Me", "Ffun (12" mix)", "Confunkshunizeya", "Loveshine", "Shake & Dance With Me", "Sure Feels Good To Me", "Electric Lady", "Burnin Love", "Can You Feel The Groove Tonight", "Ms Got The Body", "By Your Side", "Bad Lady", "California 1", "Too Tight", "Lady's Wild", "Let Me Put Love On Your Mind", "Who Has The Time", "Ain't Nobody Baby", and "Got To Be Enough". CD

A great solo performance from Jerome Cooper – not just drums and percussion, but work on flute, balaphone, and other instruments too! Cooper really brings all of his most thoughtful elements into play here – working slowly, and covering space with ideas that really take some time to stretch out and find themselves – then confidently move forward to open up new chapters in the performance – a bit like some of the best early moments of the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, but presented here as a solo act! Side one features "The Unpredictability Of Predictability", in four movements – and side two features "Bert The Cat". LP, Vinyl record album

A mix of styles from the one-and-only Count Bass D – approachable but strange just like we've come to expect! This time out The Count backs his witty word play with some tracks that have a tried-and-true block rocking vibe, some strangely classical sounding beats, and more. Tracks include "What's Wrong?", "Internationally Known", "Case O' Dilla", "Brasilian Landing Strip", "Tradin' Whore Stories", "False Or True", "Slugger Of Louisville", "Softly & Tenderly", "Long Goodbyes", "Half The Fun", "Junkies", "Pot/Liquor", "No Comp" and more. CD

Stunning work from Alison Crockett – a singer you may know from her earlier recordings with US3 and King Britt, emerging here as an incredibly talented artist who sounds even better on her own! Alison's got a rich sound that's based on years of singing on other folks' records, but hearing her here, it's like catching her act for the first time – a startling debut that's filled with incredibly well-crafted tunes, deeply soulful vocals, and a rich musical palette that goes far beyond just simple beats and keys. The whole thing's great – one of the best Neo Soul albums we've heard in a long time – and you can take it from us that this will be one album you'll buy today, and play for years! Titles include "What We Do Now", "Crossroads", "UR", "Save Me", "You Know What Happens", "Like Rain", and "Nappy". CD

Current Rage were one of the more obscure groups to come out of the Athens, GA scene in the early 80s – but they've also got all the instantly creative energy that made that short-lived world of music every bit as exciting as some of the best New York sounds at the time! There's a nicely choppy approach to the rhythms going on here, and plenty of strong guitar play too – deft music that's somewhere in the territory of Pylon, and like that group, maybe a warmer US answer to British post-punk sounds of the same time. Titles include "Right Side Of The Brain", "Bitte Schoen", "Sweet Torture", "My Dog Sam", "Looking Through Gels", and "Scream In The Dark". Expanded version features bonus tracks that include "Adventures In America", "Punch A Clock", "The Theme", "Constant Hiss (demo)", and live tracks "My Dog Sam", "AF", "Tequila", and "The Book Pressed Flowers". CD

Current Rage were one of the more obscure groups to come out of the Athens, GA scene in the early 80s – but they've also got all the instantly creative energy that made that short-lived world of music every bit as exciting as some of the best New York sounds at the time! There's a nicely choppy approach to the rhythms going on here, and plenty of strong guitar play too – deft music that's somewhere in the territory of Pylon, and like that group, maybe a warmer US answer to British post-punk sounds of the same time. Titles include "Right Side Of The Brain", "Bitte Schoen", "Sweet Torture", "My Dog Sam", "Looking Through Gels", and "Scream In The Dark". Expanded version features bonus tracks that include "Adventures In America", "Punch A Clock", "The Theme", "Constant Hiss (demo)", and live tracks "My Dog Sam", "AF", "Tequila", and "The Book Pressed Flowers". LP, Vinyl record album

Current Rage were one of the more obscure groups to come out of the Athens, GA scene in the early 80s – but they've also got all the instantly creative energy that made that short-lived world of music every bit as exciting as some of the best New York sounds at the time! There's a nicely choppy approach to the rhythms going on here, and plenty of strong guitar play too – deft music that's somewhere in the territory of Pylon, and like that group, maybe a warmer US answer to British post-punk sounds of the same time. Titles include "Right Side Of The Brain", "Bitte Schoen", "Sweet Torture", "My Dog Sam", "Looking Through Gels", and "Scream In The Dark". Expanded version features bonus tracks that include "Adventures In America", "Punch A Clock", "The Theme", "Constant Hiss", and live tracks "My Dog Sam", "AF", "Tequila", and "The Book Pressed Flowers". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little record from The Damned – even if the set does have them very far away from their punkish roots! Yet like some of the best of their contemporaries, the group grew up fast – shed a bit of anger, learned how to play their instruments, and really developed a way with a tune – an asset that you'll hear here right from the very first note! The songwriting is smart, but sensitive too – and with a slight edge at times, there's almost an evolution to the group's sound that's similar to XTC over the same stretch of time – save for the fact that the guitars are sometimes a bit more ferocious! Captain Sensible's definitely making himself felt more here than earlier – even singing on a few of the best songs too – in a set that includes "Ignite", "Generals", "Stranger On The Town", "The Dog", "Gun Fury", "Life Goes On", "Don't Bother Me", and "Under The Floor Again". 2CD edition includes loads of great bonus tracks – including the cut "Fun Factory", done with Robert Fripp – plus "Lovely Money", "I Think I'm Wonderful", "Take That", "Lovely Money (disco mix)", "Dozen Girls (7" mix)", "Mine's A Large One", "Torture Me", "Disguse", "Citadel Zombies", and even some live versions of tracks on the album too! CD

A great little record from Dilated Peoples – one that might have gotten slightly trapped in the "ah they were better before" sort of games that hip hop fans like to play – but which, over the scope of time, certainly stands head and shoulders above so much other mainstream work of the time! Evidence and Babu handle production, with a bit of help from Alchemist – and the album's got a unified intensity that holds strong from the group's early work – with maybe a slight nod to the shift in rhythmic flows that would soon open up from younger acts. Guests include Talib Kweli, Defari, Greenthumb, and Capleton – and titles include "Back Again", "Green Trees", "You Can't Hide You Can't Run", "Olde English", "Kindness For Weakness", "Rapid Transit", "The One And Only", "20/20", "Satellite Radio", and "Another Sound Mission". LP, Vinyl record album

These guys may not exactly be the 8th Wonder Of The World – but they're a pretty darn great 60s group nonetheless, and one who are finally getting their due with this well-done full length collection! The quartet emerged on the New York scene at a time when new musical modes were really opening up – echoes of The Beatles coming into play with some of the rawer garage elements cooked up on the west coast – touched maybe with a bit of nascent psych, all at a level that never saw full fruition at the time, given that the Vietnam war got in the way of the group's ability to work together! The set only features two records that were issued at the time – one on the Uptite label, the other on Coed – alongside some even more wonderful unissued material that really shows the group moving into very trippy territory of their own. Titles include "Summer Dreamin", "Must Have Your Love", "Give Me A Try", "Say Whaddaya Say", "Who Cares", "Must Have Your Love", "You You Yeah", "Susie Got The Word", and "Every Time I See You Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool set of work – a box set that brings together six different pic sleeve singles from Roxy Music legend Bryan Ferry – most of which were not issued in the US! The images alone are great – shots of Ferry in his youth, including a few images with a surprisingly slick moustache – and most of the work here dovetails nicely with the classic Roxy Music material, with some of the same musicians on hand, but given a slightly different spin in Ferry's company. Titles include the original tracks "Sea Breezes", "Remake/Remodel", "2HB", "Another Time Another Place", and "Chance Meeting" – plus versions of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "Hard Rain's Gonna Fall", "You Go To My Head", "The In Crowd", and "Let's Stick Together". Also features the very cool Extended Play EP – with versions of "It's Only Love", "Heart On My Sleeve", "Shame Shame Shame", and "The Price Of Love". 7-inch, Vinyl record

Reed player Chad Fowler works here on two wonderfully distinct instruments – the stritch, used famously by Roland Kirk – and the alto flute, which he blows with this beautifully open, soulful tone! As the cover implies, the set's a trio date – with perfect accompaniment from William Parker on bass, gently stepping along with Fowler on the flute moments, then getting more sinister when the bolder lines of the stritch come into play – an instrument that Chad handles with a tone that's like those moments when Kirk might burst out for a short time with intensity, but maintained for a much longer stretch here. Drummer Anders Griffen is equally adept at fitting the moment – and the set features three long titles that include "Kongerei", "Earunto", and "Shall". CD

A long-overdue look at the 45rpm legacy of Aretha Franklin at Atlantic Records – a set that brings together all the great singles she cut during her early years at the label – some of which you'll know as the cornerstones of her albums from the time, others that are maybe a bit more obscure! Jerry Wexler is at the production helm on all these numbers – as the man who really helped Aretha find her special style at the label – and the cuts also feature arrangements from Arif Mardin and Tom Dowd, both studio talents who'd really help Franklin open up with a new sense of power and majesty as the 60s moved on! All tracks are presented in their tight 45rpm single mixes – and titles include "Call Me", "Spirit In The Dark", "Don't Play That Song", "Border Song", "Share Your Love With Me", "My Song", "The Weight", "See Saw", "Ain't No Way", "Think", "The House That Jack Built", "I Say A Little Prayer", "Since You've Been Gone", "Baby I Love You", "Respect", "I Never Loved A Man", "Do Right Woman", "Chain Of Fools", "Don't Play That Song", "Eleanor Rigby", "Natural Woman", "You Send Me", "Tracks Of My Tears", and "I Can't See Myself Leaving You". LP, Vinyl record album

Pop soul from Full Force – filled with plenty of influence from mainstream hip hop, but all watered down into a much more partyful groove! The group here are a bridge between the commercial funk of Prince, The Time, and other 80s acts – and some of the more beat-heavy sounds coming out of hip hop – and while the goofy cover image (of a white family being surprised by Full Force's coming to their "crib") is pretty silly, the record itself sounds a fair bit better with age. Titles include "Love Is For Suckers", "Child's Play (pt. 3)", "Full Force Git Money $", and "Your Love Is So Def". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the darkest albums of the Krautrock scene in the 70s – an album that was actually recorded in a WWII-era bunker – where the duo were free to open up their instruments, jam for a very long time, and play with the sorts of effects and techniques you might know from bigger groups of the period! Yet there's a brooding quality here that's different than Can, Faust, or other groups – maybe because German Oak were a duo without a very clear path forward, and also because recording an album in an underground concrete bunker was bound to produced some weird vibes on the session! One of the group members recalls in the notes that in the space, he couldn't help thinking of the trauma of WWII – and you can definitely hear that in the music, and see it in the look of the package – which carries tunes that include "Screaming Skeletons", "Missile Song", "Belle's Song", and "Nothing". This fantastic package offers up some great notes from the group – in both German and English – and also adds in rare material too – the tracks "Bear Song", "Happy Stripes On Cats", "Ghost Guitar", "Belle's Song (extended)", "Python Vs Tiger", "Giant Rock Boulder Golem", "Missle Song (extended)", "Harpy & Peregrine", and "Bear Song (alt version)". CD

Killer work by Astrud Gilberto – very different than her Verve sides of the 60s! The album was produced by Astrud, arranged by Deodato – and has that wonderful warm full jazz feel of her classic album on CTI, but also a bit more like some of the funky work of Jorge Ben at the time – choppy at the bottom, with a sound that's a bit samba, and a bit funky at times. Mike Longo and Deodato play keyboards on the session, giving it an electric groove that works perfectly with Astrud's soaring vocals – and the whole album really holds together wonderfully! There's a nice bit of funk on the cut "Take it Easy My Brother Charlie" – and other tracks include "Zigy Zigy Za", "Baiao", "Gingele", "Bridges", and "Where Have You Been?". CD

A heck of a great girl group from the 60s – one who never got much play on our side of the Atlantic, but who were one of the most unique UK groups of the time! For one thing, the quartet didn't just sing to studio backings – they also played their own instruments too – which made them more in the mode of some of the mod male British acts of the time than some of the more polished Brit pop female singers! Not that they didn't get great help in the studio, though – as some of these cuts feature top production efforts from giants like Alan Price and Shel Talmy – both of whom never get in the girls' way, and just find a mode to let their sound shine even more strongly on record! Goldie & The Gingerbreads never got the full fame they deserved – save for a few singles issued on Decca and smaller labels – but they did record plenty for a brief stretch, as you'll hear here in a selection of 20 tracks that includes a few unissued tracks done for Atlantic Records as well. Titles include "That's Why I Love You", "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat", "Look For Me Baby", "The Skip", "VIP", "Bye Bye Baby", "What Kind Of Man Are You", "Something Beautiful", "Chew Chew Fee Fi Fum", "Little Boy", and "Sporting Life". CD

A trio of early classics from the great Merle Haggard – served up here in a single set! Branded Man is a key early album in the career of the legendary Merle Haggard – a set that's open about his time behind bars, and which resonates beautifully with all the themes of loss and loneliness that haunted his music for years! Even at this early stage, Haggard is head and shoulders above the rest – contributing his own fantastic work to the record, and also taking on a few tunes by others – almost making the whole thing feel like a concept album – not a unified suite of tracks, but more one that's unified with a sense of emotion and persona that few other country singers were bringing to the format at the time. While Johnny Cash may have learned to boost his career by recording in prisons, Merle used his time in one to create the sort of deep emotional well that you'll hear on classics that include "Branded Man", "I Threw Away The Rose", and "I Made The Prison Band" – next to other gems that include "Loneliness Is Eating Me Alive", "Long Black Limousine", "Go Home", "My Hands Are Tied", "Gone Crazy", and "Don't Get Married". Sing Me Back Home is a fantastic album from Merle Haggard – one that signals its sense of longing and wandering with its title and cover – then really delivers the goods in a package that's overflowing with strong original material by the man himself! While so many other country singers were singing about drinking and loving with a nod and wink, Haggard was able to set a whole new tone with a record like this – really digging deep both in spirit and lyrical presentation – and making the kind of music that raised the bar for generations to come! Every song on the record is a gem - and titles include "Where Does The Good Times Go", "Sing Me Back Home", "Look Over Me", "Wine Take Me Away", "If You See My Baby", "I'll Leave The Bottle At The Bar", "Home Is Where A Kid Grows Up", "My Past Is Present", "Good Times", and "Seeing Eye Dog". Okie From Muskogee is one of the most legendary albums in the long career of the mighty Merle Haggard – a live set that's capped with the famous title tune – recorded down in Oklahoma, as a nod to the roots of Merle's heritage – and one that was really able to carefully play both sides of the fence at the end of the 60s! So while Hag is singing the anthemic title tune – a proud statement against hippies and the radical underground while most of America is standing strong – he's still also reaching out with a palette of emotional expression that shows that the man himself is deeply complex, and able to rise up a bit of Okie pride, while also letting the world know that the same spirit was also fanning the flames of the musical revolutions out on the west coast too. The set's overflowing with classics – not just the new "Okie From Muskogee" – but also killer versions of "Mama Tried", "No Hard Times", "In the Arms Of Love", "If I Had Left It Up To You", "White Line Fever", "Blue Rock", and a medley of "Swinging Doors", "I'm A Lonesome Fugitive", "Sing Me Back Home", and "Branded Man". CD

One of the most compelling larger projects put together by Merle Haggard during his "concepts" years at Capitol Records – a double-length set that has the country legend dipping into the spiritual side of the spectrum, with key recordings at a number of different locations! The album features work recorded at the chapel at San Quentin Prison, at the Big Creek Baptist Church in Tennessee, a Rescue Mission in Nashville, and at the Assembly Of God Tabernacle back in California – all of which make for a nicely varied expression of the way that country music comes into play with spiritual themes, along with help from famous guests The Carter Family, and some vocals from Bonnie Owens too! The Strangers provide the backings, and although there's some spoken bits from time to time, the clear appeal of the record is Merle's great vocals as he takes on tunes that include "The Family Bible", "Guide Me Lord", "Life's Railway To Heaven", "Steal Away", "On The Jericho Road", "Precious Memories", "Turn Your Radio On", "Where Could I Go", "If We Never Meet Again", and "I Saw The Light". CD

One of our favorite albums of all time – and a record that just gets better and better the more we listen to it – and we've listened to it for years! Johnny "Hammond" Smith began his career as a simple soul jazz organist – but by the time of this album, he'd teamed up with the mighty Larry Mizell, the genius arranger/producer who'd breathed new life into the careers of Donald Byrd and Bobbi Humphrey. Mizell works with Hammond in the same way he does with other jazz artists – by taking a groove that works best with their solo style, and slowly layering other instrumentation and effects on top of it, so that when the solo kicks in, it's supported on waves and waves of funky sounds and soulful grooves. Mizell and his brother Fonce both play keyboards on the record, and the rest of the group includes monster fusion players like Harvey Mason, Roger Glenn, Hadley Caliman, and Jerry Peters. The real treat is Johnny, though – as his solos are heavenly, the best of his 70s work, stripped mean and lean, laid in at just the right points. Includes the breakbeat classic "Shifting Gears", the house classic "Los Conquistadores Chocolates", and funky numbers "Fantasy" and "Tell Me What To Do". LP, Vinyl record album

A lyrical masterpiece from the young Herbie Hancock – and a record that's really special for so many different reasons! First, the songs are really long and open – even more so than some of Hancock's other work – with a quality that's balanced between his soul jazz roots, and some of the freer ideas he was exploring with key counterparts of the time! Next, the group features a quartet with Freddie Hubbard on cornet – an instrument he didn't play that often, but which creates a really special sound here – one that's cool and compressed, but still has a sharp bite, too – especially over the inventive rhythms laid down by Ron Carter on bass and Anthony Williams on drums. All players are capable of going out – and have strong "new thing" cred by this point – but they keep it inside all the way through, but with a balanced sense of darkness that's really beautiful. The album features Hancock's classic (and oft-sampled) version of "Cantaloupe Island" – plus "One Finger Snap", "Olioqui Valley", and "The Egg". CD adds two alternate takes. CD

One of the most classic albums on the Tribe Records label from Detroit – music that was too heavy for most of the world when it was issued in the 70s – but which has gone onto achieve legendary status over the years! Reedman Wendell Harrison leads the group in a set of soaring, spacious, righteous tunes – with great help from Marcus Belgrave on trumpet, and assorted other instruments, which he and Harrison play in the best AACM tradition. Phil Ranelin's also in the group on trombone – and other players include Charles Eubanks on keyboards, Ike Daney on drums, and Will Austin on bass – and the album also features some spoken passages by the Black Messengers, Oba and Vajava. The whole thing's fantastic – that strong collaborative spirit that graced the best part of the American jazz underground of the time – and titles include "Mary Had An Abortion", "Vol II Angry Young Man (parts 1 & 2)", "Consciousness", and "Rebirth". CD

One of the most classic albums on the Tribe Records label from Detroit – music that was too heavy for most of the world when it was issued in the 70s – but which has gone onto achieve legendary status over the years! Reedman Wendell Harrison leads the group in a set of soaring, spacious, righteous tunes – with great help from Marcus Belgrave on trumpet, and assorted other instruments, which he and Harrison play in the best AACM tradition. Phil Ranelin's also in the group on trombone – and other players include Charles Eubanks on keyboards, Ike Daney on drums, and Will Austin on bass – and the album also features some spoken passages by the Black Messengers, Oba and Vajava. The whole thing's fantastic – that strong collaborative spirit that graced the best part of the American jazz underground of the time – and titles include "Mary Had An Abortion", "Vol II Angry Young Man (parts 1 & 2)", "Consciousness", and "Rebirth". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most classic albums on the Tribe Records label from Detroit – music that was too heavy for most of the world when it was issued in the 70s – but which has gone onto achieve legendary status over the years! Reedman Wendell Harrison leads the group in a set of soaring, spacious, righteous tunes – with great help from Marcus Belgrave on trumpet, and assorted other instruments, which he and Harrison play in the best AACM tradition. Phil Ranelin's also in the group on trombone – and other players include Charles Eubanks on keyboards, Ike Daney on drums, and Will Austin on bass – and the album also features some spoken passages by the Black Messengers, Oba and Vajava. The whole thing's fantastic – that strong collaborative spirit that graced the best part of the American jazz underground of the time – and titles include "Mary Had An Abortion", "Vol II Angry Young Man (parts 1 & 2)", "Consciousness", and "Rebirth". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic straight session by Joe Henderson – cut during his early years, when he was breaking out of the box with a heck of a lot of fire! Kenny Dorham's subdued lyricism complements Joe's impassioned playing over the angular, yet still-swinging rythm section of Andrew Hill, Eddie Kahn and Pete La Roca. The track "Pedro's Time" reflects Joe's fascination with Latin-flavored pieces (as evidenced by Joe's previous effort Page One, and his work on Dorham's Una Mas), while pieces like "Teeter Totter", "Our Thing" and "Back Road" play with time and structure in subtle ways. CD includes a bonus alternate take of "Teeter Totter (alternate take)". CD

Amazing stuff – an already-great album on CD, but with bonus cuts from singles, and a dozen unissued tracks! The core album is Something Special – the only Stax album cut by singer Jimmy Hughes – an artist with a huge impact on southern soul in the 60s, but one who never got the push his career deserved, probably because he kept bouncing from label to label! The style here is kind of an update of the groove that Jimmy first recorded for Vee Jay and Atco – a more refined approach to bluesy soul that's somewhat in the same space that Stax were hitting with Johnny Taylor at the time. Backings are sometimes nicely chunky, almost funky – and tunes are produced by Al Jackson, Al Bell, and Charles Chalmers – all good candidates for a set like this. Titles include "I Like Everything About You", "Let 'Em Down Baby", "Lay It On The Line", "Sweet Things You Do", "I'm Not Ashamed To Beg Or Plead", and "It's All Up To You". Bonus tracks are all mighty nice too – and include "Too Old To Play", "Leave Us Alone", "Your Love Is Important To Me", "Did You Forge", "You Done Fed Me Sumpin", "Don't You Know I'm All Alone", and "I Worry About You". CD

A later album by Paul Humphrey, and with production that's a little bit rawer than some of his other 70's releases. The music's made by just Paul and Tony Drake, and the two of them play drums, bass, and lots of electronic keyboards and Arps – in this kind of scatter-shot approach to jazz funk rhythms! Tracks include "Uncle Nate Dream", "Chu Chu", and "Scream and Shout". The liner notes say that Humphrey was working at the time as Lawrence Welk's drummer?! Crazy! LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the third great Philly studio group of the 70s – after MFSB and Salsoul Orchestra – a killer combo who provided backing grooves to plenty of great club tracks over the years – and who step out strongly here on their own debut album! Bunny Sigler helps give the album a sharp focus – with his own production and songwriting in play – in modes that are very much like his own best club tracks of the time – but the group is more than great enough on their own – with a funky edge that definitely lives up to their name, and a groove that's even sharper than the two aforementioned contemporary combos. Lead vocals are by James Carmichael, who's totally great – and titles include "Don't You Wanna Party", "Never Let It Go Away", "I Got My Mind Made Up", "Dark Vader", "Wide World Of Sports", and "You Say You Want Me To Stay". CD

Maybe the third great Philly studio group of the 70s – after MFSB and Salsoul Orchestra – a killer combo who provided backing grooves to plenty of great club tracks over the years – and who step out strongly here on their own debut album! Bunny Sigler helps give the album a sharp focus – with his own production and songwriting in play – in modes that are very much like his own best club tracks of the time – but the group is more than great enough on their own – with a funky edge that definitely lives up to their name, and a groove that's even sharper than the two aforementioned contemporary combos. Lead vocals are by James Carmichael, who's totally great – and titles include "Don't You Wanna Party", "Never Let It Go Away", "I Got My Mind Made Up", "Dark Vader", "Wide World Of Sports", and "You Say You Want Me To Stay". LP, Vinyl record album