Includes the albums This Is Walt Dickerson, A Sense Of Direction, Relativity, and To My Queen. CD

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An amazing discovery in soul – rare and unreleased sides from Aretha Franklin's prime years at Atlantic Records – nearly all of which are as exciting as the classics in her catalog! The work here is truly incredible – a range of demos, outtakes, and other rare moments that all offer up Aretha in a more personal, intimate setting – one that shows a bit more of the roots of her years before Atlantic in Columbia, sometimes with a bit more jazz in the mix as well. The overall feel is still very much the kind of soul you'll know from Franklin's Atlantic albums – especially as the set moves on into the early 70s – but there's a less-iconic feeling here that we really love – a way of getting past the legend, and even more into the person – at a level that's really helped rekindle our love of Aretha's music! The package features 35 tracks in all, nearly all of which have never been released – and titles include rare versions of "Sweet Bitter Love", "Rock Steady", "I Need A Strong Man", "Heavenly Father", "I Want To Be With You", "Ain't But The One", "Love Letters", "Are You Leaving Me", "My Way", "My Cup Runneth Over", "You're Taking Up Another Man's Place", "Pledging My Love/The Clock", "The Fool On The Hill", "Talk To Me", "Mr Big", "Lean On Me", and "Suzanne". CD

An incredible record from the southern scene of the 70s – a really unique set that's filled with righteous soul touches, and which really stands out from most other southern soul of the time! The feel here is often in a cosmic mode with plenty of jazz at the bottom – a sound that's influenced by Earth Wind & Fire, but which is also carried off here in a more laidback mode that seems to get equal inspiration from soulful fusion of the mid 70s. The group has both male and female singers trading things back and forth nicely and sometimes coming together on the choruses – creating an overall feel that's almost like Roy Ayers at times. And as with Ayers' best work, there's a tightness and focus to the whole record that's really wonderful – a cohesive groove that's way more than just a few ensemble funk tracks cut in the studio, and which really displays a wide musical vision! Titles include "My Queen", "Clock In", "Fantasy Garden", "Clap Song", "Love & Affection", "My Dreams", and "Magnificent Choo Choo". CD

0 classic tracks from Loleatta's years at Salsoul – some of the heaviest female disco ever cut to wax! This set features a number of remixes of famous tunes, and titles include "Love Sensation (Tom Moulton mix)", "Mama Don't, Papa Wont (Double J/Silk Hurley rmx)", "Gotta Be #1 (Jr Vasquez LP mix)", "Chocolate Sensation (Tom Novy vs Pufo Latin Sensation rmx)", "Ride On Time (Morales D master mix)", "Dreamin (Hatiras Liquid Adrenaline mix)", "Stand Up (Johhny Vicious mix)", and "Burnin Up (Cevin Fisher mix)". CD

Sublime soundtrack work from Devonte Hynes – an artist you might know under other sounds as Blood Orange, but who emerges here as a film score force to be reckoned with – creating these amazing tracks that are a balance between richness and subtle instrumentation! The film is fantastic (one of our favorites in years) – and Devonte's music is a key part of its creative success – carefully-chosen electric and acoustic elements, sometimes balanced with larger arrangements, but often done in a lean style that really fits the intimacy of the story. The string passages alone are completely captivating, and there's some haunting piano and keyboard elements that are wonderful too – on titles that include "Get Upstairs", "Slim's Horse", "What's Next", "A Couple Deer", "This Is A Safe Place", "Bed", and "Sneak Out". LP, Vinyl record album

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An unreleased live set – recorded during a party hosted by Paul and Linda McCartney! CD

Patti Page is working here to class up her image from the country waltz sound of her biggest hit – and is going instead for a waltzing mode that's more traditional, and which brings out the duskier side of her vocal talents! Don't get us wrong, there's not a lot of Strauss in the mix – it's just that the arrangements of tunes all have a lightly dancing, gently waltzing quality – one that still preserves the syncopated rhythms of Patti's bigger singles, yet which takes them out of the country pop side of the spectrum, and showcase Page as a singer with a deeper range. Backings are by Vic Schoen, and titles include "What'll I Do", "Memories", "Till We Meet Again", "Remember", "Now Is The Hour", "Wondering", and "You Will Find Your Love In Paris". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic Hammond work from female organ legend Shirley Scott – in her best mode of the 60s! Here's the reasons: 1) The group features husband Stanley Turrentine on tenor, adding in some nice extra tones to Shirley's usual trio! 2 ) The rhythm section is Bob Cranshaw and Otis Finch – surely one of Shirley's best. 3) The set was recorded live, in the Front Froom in Newark, with a real down-home gutbucket approach that's different from some of the other Impulse albums. 4) Tracks are long, with plenty of room for soloing – even more so than some of Shirley's other records of the time. Titles include "That's For Me", "Rapid Shave", and "Squeeze Me". Nuff said! CD

If you've ever doubted the genius of Yma Sumac, here's a set that will really change your mind – as the overstuffed package presents a huge amount of music from the legendary singer – including a full disc's worth of material recorded in Argentina, before her famous postwar work on Capitol Records! Over the decades, Sumac has become the stuff of legend – a singer with an incredible four-octave range, which she uses on a variety of exotic modes that begin with South American styles, but soon move into the kinds of modes that made Yma a key force in the world of exotica during the 50s – maybe even an important precursor to that moment, as her records for Capitol were so successful, they opened the door to lots of exotica experiments to come. The package features 18 especially rare tracks recorded in Argentina – under the name of Imma Sumack – plus the full Capitol albums Voice Of The Xtabay, Legend Of The Sun Virgin, Inca Tqui, Mambo, Legend Of The Jivaro, and Fuego Del Ande – plus the tracks "Babalu" and "Wimoweh" too. 86 tracks in all – and detailed notes in both French and English! CD

The queen of Memphis soul – caught "alone" after a some earlier hit recordings as part of a duo with Otis Redding – but now on her own in the years after Otis untimely early passing! The album has Thomas strongly returning to the sound of her first few albums on Stax – a bold, full-voiced sound that has her reemerging as one of the first ladies of soul at the end of the 60s, and coming across with a sound that's a fair bit more mature than her earliest singles. The tunes include a great batch of original Isaac Hayes & David Porter compositions – the strength of which really hold the album together, and make for a no-filler set all the way through! Titles include "Unchanging Love", "I'll Always Have Faith In You", "Lie To Keep Me From Crying", "Stop Thief", and "I Take It To My Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

The voice of June Tyson was a key part of the sound of the Sun Ra Arkestra during the first few decades of its existence – but this is the first time the lady herself has ever gotten a record under her own name – a beautiful collection of Ra-backed, Tyson-fronted tunes that includes classics and a fair bit of unreleased titles too! The music is from deep in the catalog of Saturn Records – and showcases a singer who could have taken both the jazz vocal and soul music worlds by storm, had she not chosen to dedicate herself to the larger cultural mission of the Arkestra – a place that June Tyson called home for more than a decade or two – and where she gave the world sublimely soulful vocals like these. Titles include the unissued "Enlightenment", "They'll Come Back", "Never Never Land", and "If You Are Not A Myth/Strange Worlds In My Mind" – plus "The Moors (complete version)", "Somebody Else's World", "Stardust From Tomorrow", "Astro Black", "Smile", "Tapestry From An Asteroid", and "Outer Space Is A Pleasant Place". LP, Vinyl record album

A great mix of new cuts and older classics – all used alongside the main soundtrack in this mindblowing film! We loved the movie, and sometimes the visual power onscreen made us forget how many great tracks were used alongside – nicely corrected here with all cuts given full length presence in the package. Titles include "Cedes Benz" by The Dream, "Searching" by Roy Ayers, "Runnin Away" by Blood Orange, "Standin At Yo Door" by Little Freddie King, "Catch The Sun" by Lil Baby, "Guarding The Gates" by Lauryn Hill, "My Money My Baby" by Burna Boy, "Doomed" by Moses Sumney, "Soul Sista (rmx)" by Bilal and Raphael Saaqiq, "Yo Love" by Vince Staples, "Queen & Slim" by Coast Contra with BJ The Chicago Kid, and "Getting Late" by Syd. LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime soundtrack work from Devonte Hynes – an artist you might know under other sounds as Blood Orange, but who emerges here as a film score force to be reckoned with – creating these amazing tracks that are a balance between richness and subtle instrumentation! The film is fantastic (one of our favorites in years) – and Devonte's music is a key part of its creative success – carefully-chosen electric and acoustic elements, sometimes balanced with larger arrangements, but often done in a lean style that really fits the intimacy of the story. The string passages alone are completely captivating, and there's some haunting piano and keyboard elements that are wonderful too – on titles that include "Get Upstairs", "Slim's Horse", "What's Next", "A Couple Deer", "This Is A Safe Place", "Bed", and "Sneak Out". CD

Queen of Soul is right! Heck, on these early albums, Etta practically invented soul – or at least invented a deep soul style of singing that would be taken up by countless other female singers during the 60s, but rarely matched with this kind of brilliance. Straight up beautiful stuff! The arrangements are uncredited, but we think they're probably by Riley Hampton – who did so much of Etta's other wonderful work in the early 60s. The recordings for sure took place at points between '62 and '64, mostly in Chicago, with couple in New York and one in Nashville. One other thing that is crystal clear about the sessions is that she had access to the very best musicians and the best sound possible – all you need is a listen to know that! The album's an all-solid, all-soul record with loads of obscure tunes and not a bit of filler! Titles include "Flight 101", "Bobby Is His Name", "Breaking Point", "Mello Fellow", "Do Right", and "Somewhere Out There". LP, Vinyl record album

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A triumphant third album from The Smiths – one that really focuses the energy of their previous sets, and helps them find a new sort of sonic perfection! Those haunting guitars are still in all the right places – as are Morrissey's heartfelt lyrics – but there's also a nice balance here between humor and honesty, which may well make the album the most appealing Smiths set to our ears! Titles include "The Queen Is Dead", "Never Had No One Ever", "Vicar In A Tutu", "Cemetery Gates", "Frankly Mr Shankly", and "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others". CD

An incredible record from the southern scene of the 70s – a really unique set that's filled with righteous soul touches, and which really stands out from most other southern soul of the time! The feel here is often in a cosmic mode with plenty of jazz at the bottom – a sound that's influenced by Earth Wind & Fire, but which is also carried off here in a more laidback mode that seems to get equal inspiration from soulful fusion of the mid 70s. The group has both male and female singers trading things back and forth nicely and sometimes coming together on the choruses – creating an overall feel that's almost like Roy Ayers at times. And as with Ayers' best work, there's a tightness and focus to the whole record that's really wonderful – a cohesive groove that's way more than just a few ensemble funk tracks cut in the studio, and which really displays a wide musical vision! Titles include "My Queen", "Clock In", "Fantasy Garden", "Clap Song", "Love & Affection", "My Dreams", and "Magnificent Choo Choo". LP, Vinyl record album

Queen of Soul is right! Heck, on these early albums, Etta practically invented soul – or at least invented a deep soul style of singing that would be taken up by countless other female singers during the 60s, but rarely matched with this kind of brilliance. Straight up beautiful stuff! The arrangements are uncredited, but we think they're probably by Riley Hampton – who did so much of Etta's other wonderful work in the early 60s. The recordings for sure took place at points between '62 and '64, mostly in Chicago, with couple in New York and one in Nashville. One other thing that is crystal clear about the sessions is that she had access to the very best musicians and the best sound possible – all you need is a listen to know that! The album's an all-solid, all-soul record with loads of obscure tunes and not a bit of filler! Titles include "Flight 101", "Bobby Is His Name", "Breaking Point", "Mello Fellow", "Do Right", and "Somewhere Out There". This first ever proper CD release is loaded with excellent bonus material – recordings from the same early-to-mid 60s period – 13 of them "You Got Me Where You Want Me", "Only Time Will Tell", "Pushover". "You Can't Talk To A Fool", "Would It Make Any Difference To You", "Pay Back", "Tomorrow Night", "I Can't Hold It Any More" and more. 23 tracks in all! CD

Fantastic work from one of the grooviest singers of the 60s – the amazing Mina, a vocalist who hardly made waves on this side of the Atlantic, but who served up a wealth of wonderful material from the Italian scene at the time! You might know Mina from a few key soundtrack contributions she made over the years – her vocal range is stunning – and arrangements here are often by important forces from the Italian cinema scene – like Ennio Morricone, Piero Piccioni, Augusto Martelli, and Bruno Canforna – all of whom give Mina these full, rich backings that really match the vivid quality of her voice! But there's also groovy elements at the core, too – styles that are similar to French or British female pop of the period – especially with some of the soul currents of the latter – but shaped differently, given both Mina's style, and the Italian language and the way it comes across in song. The package is long overdue – maybe the first-ever done for the international market on Mina's music – and as with all work on Ace, the presentation is great, with very detailed notes that will teach you plenty while you enjoy the songs – a lineup that includes "Se Telefonando", "E L'Umo Per Me", "Io Sono Quel Che Sono", "No", "Citta Vuota", "Tu Farai", "Beve Amore", "Addio", "Insensatez", "Se C'E Una Cosa Che Mi Fa Impazzire", "TA Ra Ta Ta", and "La Banda". CD

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Lil Kim's showing plenty of herself on the cover, and on the record too – just her second set, but one that has the MC grabbing the title of Notorious at a time when it might have been a bit too sensitive for most – and jumping into the fray with all-star help from Mary J Blige, Redman, Grace Jones, and Junior Mafia! Tracks include "Custom Made", "Suck My D**k", "Revolution", "Notorious Kim", "No Matter What They Say", "Queen Bitch Pt 2", "Don't Mess With Me", "Hold On", "How Many Licks", "Off The Wall", "Right Now", and "Lil Drummer Boy". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Revolution's In My Pocket", "Academy Cemetery", "Cherokee Queen", "They Brought Sadness", "Equinox", "Copper Plates", "Leave Me Stay", and "Love's Not The Way To Treat A Friend". CD

Tracks include "Harlem (A Tone Parallel To Harlem)", "Mood Indigo", "Caravan", "Night Creature", and "The Queen's Suite". CD

A split album – one side live, one in the studio – one that features guest work from Graham Nash, Spencer Davis, and Rita Coolidge – on titles that include "Pearly Queen", "Just A Song", "To Be Free", "Headkeeper", "World IN Changes", and "Feelin Alright". LP, Vinyl record album

Power trio consisting of Tony Newman, Reid Hudson, and James Black. Seven tracks, including "Smoking The Day Away", "Dreaming", "Squeet", "Fire Queen", and "Virgin Waters". CD

A really compelling collaboration between Joe McPhee and Michael Zerang – both players who've worked together often in the past, but who seem to find a fresh new voice on this album! Things are very loose and free – and the pair perform live, improvising some amazing sounds between McPhee's alto and pocket trumpet, and Zerang's always-creative work on the regular drum kit – used here with a wide pastiche of sounds that perfectly matches Joe's post-musical tones on his instruments. The pocket trumpet is especially compelling – and titles include "Congo Square Dance/Saints & Sinners", "Rise/After The Flood", "Crescent City Lullaby", and "And Now Miss Annie The Black Queen". CD

One of the best records we've heard in years from Medeski, Martin, & Wood – a searing batch of grooves that really gets back to the trio's original brilliance, and which features some wonderful production from the Dust Brothers! There's a lean, hard, and funky sound to the set that struck us a real surprise after some of their recent recordings – a groove that often feels lifted straight off of a 70s funky soundtrack, inflected with some production touches to update the sound slightly, and accommodate a more beat-heavy approach that really helps their style a lot! The album features some guest guitar from Marc Ribot – nice and nasty, in a way that brings a real edge to the tunes – but as usual, it's the blend of keyboards, bass, and drums that push the real charm of the set! Titles include "Shine It", "Curtis", "Ice", "Bloody Oil", "Anonymous Skulls", "End Of The World Party", "Reflector", "Sasa", and "Queen Bee". CD

The Blue Note debut of cornet player Ron Miles – a musician with a great sense of phrasing, and maybe some of the strongest sense of color we've ever heard come from the instrument in recent years! The group here, though, is really a strong part of that sense of tone – as the lineup features Bill Frisell delivering some delicious elements on guitar, and Jason Moran fleshing things out on piano – while drummer Brian Blade works with his strong sense of spaciousness, often letting the silences between his drumbeats do as much as the percussion itself. Bassist Thomas Morgan wraps the whole thing together from the bottom up – and Miles delivers a strong set of original compositions for the record – including "Queen Of The South", "Like Those Who Dream", "The Rumor", "Custodian Of The New", "This Old Man", "Blinder", "A Kind Word", and "Rainbow Sign". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic from the Modern Jazz Quartet – recorded back when the group still featured Kenny Clarke in its membership, but already with some of the more serious, somber tones that would mark the combo's more famous years! Tracks here are from a variety of sessions in 1953, 1954, and 1955 – and trace an evolution of the MJQ style from initial more composed renditions of bop and modern jazz, to some of the more ambitious colors and tones of the Lewis-penned songbook. Titles include longish readings of "Django" and "La Ronde Suite", plus "Milano", "But Not For Me", "The Queen's Fancy", and "Delaunay's Dilemma". CD

A totally fantastic 80s album from electronic wizard Clara Mondshine – one that's a fair bit different than her earlier material, and also shows maybe a bit of influence from the post-punk world of the time! The instruments are often stark, sharp, and rhythmic – but with lots of darkness in the corners, at a level that really reminds us of the best Chris & Cosey material from the period – equally stripped-down, with a key focus on certain elements on each track, and moments of surprising beauty that flower amidst the shadows. Better even than most dark wave classics – and titles include "Chipmania", "Metasamba", "O Queen Of Saba", "Caesar In Camerun", and "High Moon Enters Heaven". CD

Includes "Rat Patrol", "Surf Combat", "Gear", "Metastasis", "Leeches", "Roller Queen", "On", "I Don't Know", "Libido", "Only In America", "No Sex", "Stupid", and "Managua" LP, Vinyl record album

A double-length collection of work from Billy Ocean – a soul singer who came of age during the era of the 12" single – which means that his catalog is filled with remixes, extended versions, and all the great b-side material that used to make up that great vinyl format! This package is a great addition to the single CD issues of Billy's material over the years – and the package brings together 23 long numbers that start in his early years on Columbia/CBS, then run through his huge 80s fame on Jive/BMG – mostly work that was originally only issued on vinyl, collected here in a 2CD set! Titles include "European Queen (special mix)", "City Limit (alt version)", "When The Going Gets Tough (ext version)", "Love Really Hurts Without You (1986 dance mix)", "Loverboy (dub mix)", "Mystery Lady (club mix)", "Get Outta My Dreams Get Into My Car (ext version)", "Are You Ready (12" version)", "License To Chill (ext version)", "Pressure (UK 12" ext mix)", "When The Going Gets Tough (inst)", "Love Zone (ext version)", "Loverboy (ext club)", "Bittersweet (ext version)", "Dance Floor (ext version)", "African Queen (new ext mix)", "American Hearts (12" ext)", "When The Going Gets Tough (club version)", "I Sleep Much Better (ext version)", "Love Really Hurts Without You (dub)", "Pick Up The Pieces (Reese club riot mix)", and "When The Going Gets Tough (7th heaven club mix)". CD

The first we've ever heard of Loren Oden – a singer with a falsetto style that's perfect for the sweetly soulful backings of Adrian Younge – a mix of modes that's almost in the same territory as Adrian's record with The Delfonics a few years back! Yet the style here is also more contemporary – warm currents of 21st Century soul, tripping along in a gentle Linear Labs sort of way – beats on the backburner, as the keyboards often carry as much rhythm ad melody – with the right sort of gently bubbling vibe to match the mellow soul energy of Oden's vocals! The whole thing's a contemporary sweet soul album to rival the greatness of gems from the 70s – with titles that include "All Roads", "Galaxies", "Addicted", "Queen", "My Heart My Love", "Somber Sonnet", and "Timeless Answers". CD

The first we've ever heard of Loren Oden – a singer with a falsetto style that's perfect for the sweetly soulful backings of Adrian Younge – a mix of modes that's almost in the same territory as Adrian's record with The Delfonics a few years back! Yet the style here is also more contemporary – warm currents of 21st Century soul, tripping along in a gentle Linear Labs sort of way – beats on the backburner, as the keyboards often carry as much rhythm ad melody – with the right sort of gently bubbling vibe to match the mellow soul energy of Oden's vocals! The whole thing's a contemporary sweet soul album to rival the greatness of gems from the 70s – with titles that include "All Roads", "Galaxies", "Addicted", "Queen", "My Heart My Love", "Somber Sonnet", and "Timeless Answers". LP, Vinyl record album

Patterson's second LP, with a transitional sound between his more mainstream debut effort and his later neo classic approach. With "Treat You Like A Queen", "Sure Boy", "It's Alright Now", "Do You Feel The Way I Do", "Friend Of Mine", "The Day", "It Ain't Love", "Humor", "The Moment" and "Get Here". CD

Weird sounds from Sun Ra – material from a 1970 performance in London, with some of the most far-reaching, most out-there music you'll hear from the Arkestra at the time! Things start in a very "out" part of the spectrum – wild electronics on a variety of keyboards from Ra – eventually distilling down with more organic elements to a groove that takes on some slightly more earthy jazz tones, yet always in ways that threaten to soar to the skies once again! There's a nice degree of echo in the recording, which seems to abstract things even more – and given the good acoustics of the concert space (The Queen Elizabeth Hall), you can almost feel the Arkestra really playing with the sound of the room, and letting their improvisations take flight as a result. The group is fairly large, especially for an overseas tour at this point – and titles include lots of improvisations, plus "Planet Earth", "Life Is Splendid", "Theme Of The Stargazers", "The Shadow World", and "Walking On The Moon". CD

Post Pearls Before Swine work from Tom Rapp – a record that has him stepping out as a solo act, but with a feel that's quite similar to his recordings with the group! The mood here is laidback and slightly folksy – but also augmented more by piano than by guitar, and recorded with a watery style that works wonderfully with Rapp's sad-tinged vocals. A number of the songs appear to be remakes of versions from earlier years – and titles include "Snow Queen", "The Jeweler", "Rocket Man", "Sail Away", "Full Phantom Five & I Shall Not Care", "These Things Too", and "Grace Street". LP, Vinyl record album

Possibly not as righteous as you might expect from the title or queen images on the cover – but a pretty nice little album nonetheless, and maybe the best so far from the Ritchie Family! The trio are working with disco maestro Jacques Morali here – and side one features the extended "African Queens" suite – a long track that tells the tales of Nefertiti, Cleopatra, and Sheba – all set to lush disco rhythms! Side two features some shorter numbers – one of which is a great remake of "Quiet Village", given some great disco rhythms and lyrics – plus "Summer Dance" and "Voodoo". LP, Vinyl record album

Massive issue with a great interview (with amazing photos) with Chicago 60s and 70s behind-the-scenes soul music queen Helen Saffold, another ridiculous Nardwuar interview with Snoop Dogg, the story of British Invasion pin-up boy Ian Whitcomb, Metal graphic designer Dennis Dread's visit to Frank Frazetta's art collection, the tragic tale of underground comix rebel Jim Osborne, Cleveland 70s punk legends Easter Monkeys, Plastic Crimewave salutes the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, an in-the-booth interview with White Sox organist Nancy Faust on the eve of her retirement, an insiders look into the Ramones, and tons of comix, reviews, and obituaries. Magazine

New wave opera space elf Klaus Nomi (Bowie collaborator), remembered by friends and fans. The story of Sylvester ("Mighty Real", "Do Ya Wanna Funk"), with listeners guide, bibliography and amazing fotos. Esquerita centerfold. Chicago r&b eccentric Bo Dudley interviewed. Mayo "Red Crayola" Thompson talks at length. Shonen Knife interviewed. Acid jazz legends Pharaohs tell it like it is. Sammy Davis Jr. Chili mix reviewed by Mark Robinson. Plus: Eazy E, Fountains of Wayne, eight shining Shebrews, Ricky Wilson, Queen, Peter Allen, Liberace. Magazine

A set that's way more than the classic rock outing of some of the group's Bay Area contemporaries – as the young Carlos Santana finds a way to mix inspirations from blues and Latin music into this fierce fusion of so many different elements at once – stretching out, jamming, and touching decades of listeners in the process! The whole thing's a perfect sonic blend – guitar, keyboards, and plenty of percussion – on the group's stunning remake of "Oye Como Va", their fusion of "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen", and the cuts "Se A Cabo", "Samba Pa Ti", "El Nicoya", and "Singing Winds Crying Beasts". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare west coast funk, soul, and funky soul – all from the vaults of George Semper – an artist that most folks know from a classic organ jazz record in the 60s, but also a backroom figure behind a range of great soul records on the Cali scene of the 70s! This set is a rare collection of George's hippest productions from the time – material that was either issued as rare singles, or only showed up on this label anthology, issued in a small pressing – brought together as testament to the groovy genius of George. The set features a few instrumentals issued under George's own name – "Cosmic Funk" and "Got To Find A Way To Make Some Money" – plus more vocal cuts, including "Goodie Goodie Gumdrops" and "Queen For A Day" by Jimmy Hayes, "You're So Good To Me" and "Never In My Life" by The Love Affair, and the cuts "That's The Way It Is", "Let's Live and Let's Live", and "Never In My Life" by Lewis Flournoy. LP, Vinyl record album

Snide, surly and cathartic genius from the Sex Pistols – a record with a legacy as eternal as any rock album, punk or otherwise – all the more stunning, given it's the band's lone studio album! One classic after another, including "Holidays In The Sun", "Bodies", "Anarchy In The UK", "No Feelings", "Problems", "Pretty Vacant", "God Save The Queen", "New York", "EMI", "Liar", "Submisson" and "Seventeen". LP, Vinyl record album

Sho-Nuff deepens their sound nicely for this second set for Malaco Records – still sticking in the lean club funk sound of their debut for the label – but also reaching a bit more on the lyrics and vocals too! Ballads show up a bit more than before, and almost evoke an old school group soul approach that's quite a surprise – especially when the higher-voiced lead mixes in with the deeper harmonies – creating some nice mellow moments that really stand out! There's still plenty of groovers – the kind of dancefloor numbers the group first started cutting for Stax in the 70s – and titles include "You Got Me Workin", "Queen Of The Night", "Don't Be Lonely", "Don't Use Me Up", "Sho-Nuff Groove", and "Choosin You". CD

The electrifying debut of Bruce Springsteen – flying the flag for earnest souls in the strange years of the early 70s, and busting right out of the gets in prime form! Loads of classics – including "For You", "Blinded By The Light", "Mary Queen Of Arkansas", "Growing Up", "Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?" and "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City". CD

Two very groovy records – back to back on a single CD! Gypsy 66 is one of Gabor Szabo's best records – a hip small combo session, featuring backup by Gary McFarland, Sadao Watanabe, Richard Davis, and Willie Rodriguez – an odd kind of lineup, but one that goes well with the offbeat grooves of the set! The overall sound has lots of touches of the McFarland Latinized rhythms of the time – but also stretches out with some of those great snakey guitar solos from Szabo – not nearly as extended or trippy here on other albums of the time, but in a really great way that makes for some tight, hip, mod little tracks! The set's one of Gabor's best from the 60s – and titles include "Flea Market", "Walk On By", "Gypsy Jam", "Gypsy '66", and "The Echo Of Love". The whole thing's kind of a compressed take on the sound of Gabor's Spellbinder album – if you know that one! Spellbinder is breezy brilliance from the legendary Gabor Szabo – and one of the grooviest albums the Hungarian guitarist recorded during the 60s! The set's almost a tightening up of the style that Szabo first brought to prominence in his work with Chico Hamilton – a sound that's got roots in gypsy guitar, but which is also influenced by modern, Latin, and soulful styles of the 60s. There's an airiness to Gabor's guitar that's almost trippy – but which never goes too far out on the set, and really keeps a focus on the backings laid down by the album's highly rhythmic combo of Chico Hamilton, Ron Carter, Victor Pantoja, and Willie Bobo. Szabo makes a surprisingly great vocal appearance on 2 tracks – "Bang Bang" and "Autumn Leaves" – both sung in this weirdly dark style that's a great contrast to the lightness of his work on guitar. Other titles include Gabor's hit "Spellbinder", plus "Gypsy Queen", "It Was A Very Good Year", "Yearning", and "Cheetah". CD

A fantastic debut from The Techniques – and a set that also features a fair bit of work from Jamaican trumpet legend Baba Brooks! The vocal quartet have a great sound that's even more soulful and sharp than some of their contemporaries – maybe the difference that four voices make compared to some of the Kingston trios of the time – which seems to have the Techniques sounding even more heavenly on their harmonies! The instrumentation is great – sharp, but never overwhelming on the vocal tracks – but in just the right mode when Baba Brooks steps out in the lead on an instrumental – and titles include "Queen Majesty", "I Am In Love", "You Don't Know", "Little Did You Know", "I Wish It Would Rain", and "My Whole Life Depends On You". This CD pitches things a bit differently than the original album – in that it features 7 of the 12 tracks, leaving out the instrumentals – then adds in 21 more selections by the Techniques – which makes the 28 track set a complete document of their work with producer Duke Reid in the 60s! CD

It's a battle of the blues, and everyone's winning – as the set's overflowing with killer cuts from the legendary R&B years of King Records! The tracks are from a time when the label did it better than just about anyone else – melding blues, jazz, and all the raw new styles of the postwar years – into a blend that makes for non-stop gems all the way through! Wynonie Harris delivers the hilarious "Grandma Plays The Numbers", plus "Rock Mr Blues" and "Bring It Back". Roy Brown sings "Old Age Boogie", "Queen Of Diamonds", and "Trouble At Midnight". And Eddie Vinson proves that he had fire back in the old days – on the tracks "Big Mouth Gal", "Lonesome Train", and "Good Bread Alley". CD

An amazing moment from The Who – and from the UK rock scene in general – as Tommy is one of the most fully-conceived concept albums ever recorded – a masterful effort that's still pretty hard to match all these many years later! Pete Townshend really knocked it out of the park with this one – and pushed the group way way past the simpler songs the were recording just a year before – into this deeply introspective territory, spun out both in the album's words and music. The Tommy tale's been well told many times over the years – so we won't bother with the full narrative – but just let us say that it's hard to go wrong with this one, an essential item in any collection of adventurous rock – classic or otherwise. Titles include "The Acid Queen", "It's A Boy", "Sally Simpson", "Miracle Cure", "Pinball Wizard", "Do You Think It's Alright", "Cousin Kevin", "Christmas", "Tommy's Holiday Camp", "I'm Free", and "We're Not Gonna Take It". CD

Beautifully baroque work from The World Of Oz – a group who share some of the dreamy vocal stylings of the Bee Gees at the time, but who also work here in a fuller sound that benefits from some groovy arrangements from John Cameron and Mike Vickers! The tunes on the set have a lovely sing-song kind of quality – taking a childlike approach to the subject matter, then tripping them out a lot – almost in an early Status Quo sort of mode, but again with more poise and grooviness. And thanks to the Brit Easy backings on the best tracks, there's even some slightly funky touches that groove the album more than you'd expect from the title and cover – making it even more of a treasure to our ears! Titles include "Bring The Ring", "Beside The Fire", "The Hum Gum Man", "With A Little Help", "Willow's Harp", "Like A Tear", and "We've All Seen The Queen". CD

A time and boundary crossing set – 10 tracks that build a bridge between African roots and post-colonial Europe! Following in the genre-melding style of Nascente's Brazilian Melt compilation, this one brings together recent work in the Afro Funk revival – Afro House tracks, African-inspired beats, and remixes of straighter African tunes, sliding in nicely with the newer work on the set! Titles include "Le Relax" by Mali Music, "Kalimba (flute mix)" by Freakniks, "Sema" by Acid Queen, "Just You & I" by Dzihan & Kamien, "Arbore (part 1)" by Alexkid, "Clicksong (click hop & fly mix)" by Xanbetos, "Mbolo" by Baaba Maal, "Real World" by Temple Of Sound, and "Star & The Wiseman (Temple Sound Of London Kings Cross mix)" by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. CD

There's a whole lot more going down in Florida than alligators and Disney World – as you'll hear on this amazing little set! The package follows brilliantly in the tradition of Jazzman's Texas and Midwest Funk compilations – and like those collections, this one uncovers an incredible amount of under-heard music from an especially unlikely source! Florida is usually best remembered as the home of TK disco in the 70s, or contemporary club in more recent years – but back in the late 60s and early 70s, the state was a hotbed of indie funk activity – with loads of artists who were every bit as great as bigger names from points north, all working in an underground network of clubs, studios, and labels. The Jazzman team of Gerald Short and Malcolm Catto have really outdone themselves here – providing not only almost two dozen great funky tracks, but also a wealth of notes and information on each track – all served up in one really beautiful little package! The CD features a whopping 24 pages of notes and pictures all in color – with titles that include "Quit Jive'in" by Pearly Queen, "Cutting Room (Hot Pants)" by Oceanliners, "Super Cool" by Carrie Riley & The Fascinations, "Pure Funk (part 2)" by Delrays, "Do Right Man" by Sam Baker, "All The Time" by Bobby Williams & His Mar Kings, "Butterfly Theme" by Blowfly, "Lay It On Me" by Willie Johnson, "Funky Fast Bump" by The Outlaw Gang, "Na Na" by Coke, "Get Down" by The Montereys, "90% Of Me Is You" by Vanessa Kendrick, "Soft Soul" by Lavell Kamma, "Baby Don't Cry" by Third Guitar, "Spider Web" by Weston Prim & Backlash, "Soul Food" by Frankie Seay & The Soul Riders, "Save Me" by James Knight & The Butlers, and "It's Gonna Be A Mess (part 2)" by The Mighty Dogcatchers. US pressing features the bonus track "Soft Soul" by Lavell Kamma – and different cover art too! CD

A fantastic double-dip into the mighty catalog of Flying Dutchman Records – one of the hippest early 70s imprints in the worlds of jazz, soul, and funk! The blend of music here is great – as the collection features some key cuts by the bigger names on the label, plus some overlooked gems that really get at the all-great spirit of their recordings – pulled together with a vibe that matches the upbeat, positive spirit of the many other entries in the Free Soul series from Japan! There's plenty of vocal cuts on the collection, but some instrumentals too – and the 2CD package features 39 tracks in all, over 160 minutes of music – with titles that include "Money Honey" by Esther Marrow, "Love Each Other" by Leon Thomas, "Soulful Strut" by Steve Allen, "Heavy Soul Slinger" by Bernard Purdie, "When You Are Who You Are" by Gil Scott-Heron, "Bridges" by Cesar 830, "The Creator Has A Master Plan" by Louis Armstrong, "A Chance For Peace" by Lonnie Liston Smith, "Head Start" by Bob Thiele Emergency, "Tite Rope" by Harold Alexander, "Nicole" by The Cyrkle, "From This Moment On" by Shelly Manne, "He Don't Appreciate It" by Esther Marrow, "Mama Soul" by Harold Alexander, "Just In Time To See The Sun" by Leon Thomas, "This Is The Me Me" by Richard Groove Holmes, "I Think I'll Call It Morning" by Gil Scott-Heron, "El Arriero" by Gato Barbieri, "Footprints" by Lonnie Liston Smith, "Gypsy Queen" by Count Basie, and "See Saw Affair" by Cesar 830. CD

From the Panther movie soundtrack, by BWU (Black Women United) featuring Queen Latifah, Yo-Yo, MC Lyte, Nefertiti, Salt-N-Pepa, Patra, Me'Shell Ndegeocello. 12-inch, Vinyl record

The weirder side of the western music spectrum in the postwar years – not straight country tunes, but instead a whole host of songs and styles that change things up, and definitely live up to the "noir" and "jukebox" spirit in the title! CD brings together tracks from both the 10" vinyl releases volume 5 and 6 – and titles include "Satan's Child" by Anita Carter, "Everglades" by Dale Hawkins, "North Winds" by Chick Lewis, "Rain Dance" by Alvie Self, "Sweet Breeze" by Vernon Green & The Phantoms, "The Trance" by Billy Dixon & The Topics, "The Great Grandfather" by Bo Diddley, "Psycho" by Jack Kittel, "The Drifter" by Carl Perkins, "The Whipping Post" by Jody Reynolds, "The Devil's Queen" by Dorsey Burnette, "Mooshatanio" by Jimmie Driftwood, "North Wind" by Slim Whitman, "Blue Carnation" by Dennis Roberts, "Bandstand Doll" by Johnny Carroll, "Stamped" by Foy Willing & The Riders Of The Purple Sage, "My Downfall" by Virgil Holmes, and "Devil's Hand" by Mike Jarrett & Gene Herd. CD