16 classic tracks – mostly from the post-Clyde McPhatter years of The Drifters – with Ben E King on lead vocals on a number of cuts! CD

Wonderful work from the ladies who helped redirect R&B during the 90s! Sure, En Vogue were chart toppers for many years – but they also were some of the first female singers to really use the changes in hip hop production to work out a more solid approach to soul music, and the crossover strength of early classics like "Hold On" and "Lies" are more than proof of that! The 16 track set features both regular and hip hop mixes of "Hold On", plus the cuts "Let It Flow", "Don't Let Go", "Whatta Man", "Lies", "Waitin On You", "Love Don't Love You", "Giving Him Something He Can Feel", "Runaway Love", and "My Lovin". CD

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A great collection of work from the Everly Brothers – a career-spanning set, with a number of unusual tracks, and a few unissued numbers! CD

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A nice collection of Fatback's later work – featuring 14 tunes the group cut for the Event label, once they smoothed out some of the sharper edges of their earlier funky stuff for Perception. The tracks aren't the hardest the group ever cut – save for the breakbeat classic "Let's Do It Again" – but they're a pretty tasty blend of bass-heavy funk designed to storm the dancefloor. Titles include "Is This The Future?", "Spanish Hustle", "Can't You See", "Yum Yum (Gimme Some)", "Gotta Get My Hands On Some Money", "Backstrokin", "Angel", and "King Tim III (Personality Jock)", which is often cited as the first rap record! CD

A legendary album – one that has Aretha Franklin returning to her roots in gospel music – but working with all the strength and power that Atlantic Records had to offer! From early years recording as a young voice alongside her father's congregation, Aretha has matured into a hell of a lead singer – and really knocks it out of the park here alongside the mighty James Cleveland, and the Southern California Community Choir! While it might have been nice to record the set back home in Detroit, the California setting for the material works perfectly to elevate Franklin to a special place in the heavens – tying together her heritage in beautiful ways, and making for another great stride forward in her career during the 70s. One of the best ideas ever for a soul music concept album – with titles that include "Mary Don't You Weep", "How I Got Over", "Precious Memories", "Wholy Holy", "Never Grow Old", "Amazing Grace", and Climbing Higher Mountains". This package really expands past the original album – and adds in all these other tracks recorded during the proceedings, which were done over the course of two different nights in November of 1972 – with a mighty set of long tracks that quadrupalizes the original double album! CD

Aretha Franklin sings it loud and proud, in front of a classy crowd at the Olympia Theater in Paris – a move that would have made Berry Gordy proud, but which is carried off here in a classic Atlantic mode throughout! Given the tight studio handling of Aretha during these early Atlantic years, the live setting is a nice surprise – and shows that the Jerry Wexler touch could still hold strong, and present a concert version of Franklin's new groove that was every bit as great as the studio one. Aretha's vocals are right up front in the mix, and gets a bit of backing support from a trio that includes her sister Carolyn. Titles include "Baby, I Love You", "Soul Serenade", "Don't Let Me Lose This Dream", "Natural Woman", "Chain Of Fools", "Respect", and "Come Back Baby". CD

One of Aretha Franklin's undisputed classics from her late 60s run on Atlantic Records – a seminal session that furthered her deep soul agenda with key backings from Arif Mardin and Tom Dowd – both of whom handle the mix of rawness and polish that made Aretha so great at the time! The Sweet Inspirations provide sublime backing vocals behind Franklin's maturing delivery of the lyrics – and the music is by an all-star group of players that includes Spooner Oldham, Bobby Womack, Jimmy Johnson, King Curtis, Tommy Cogbill, Roger Hawkins, and even Eric Clapton – clearly the cream of the crop, more than willing to be part of such an amazing set! Cuts include "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman", "Chain Of Fools", "Money Won't Change You", "Come Back Baby", and "Ain't No Way". LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks include "Rock Steady", "Spanish Harlem", "Spirit In The Dark", "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "Brand New Me", "Angel", "Oh Me Oh My", "Until You Come Back To Me", and more – 16 cuts in all. CD

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Recorded live at Red Rocks Ampitheatre in Colorado. Tracks include "Ramble On Rose", "Sampson & Delilah", "El Paso", "Terrapin Station", "Estimated Prophet", and a cover of Warren Zevon's "Werewolves Of London". CD

Wow! We can never get enough of Eddie Harris. Despite all of the silly situations he's ended up in over the years, an album like In Sound still stands as a beautiful testament to all of the raw power in Eddie's playing. His tone is perfect, and totally unique – and he plays here with Cedar Walton on piano, Ron Carter on bass, Billy Higgins on drums, and the great Ray Codrington on trumpet, who also played with the JFK Quintet. No tricks here, just incredibly solid jazz playing, on tracks like Eddie's famous "Freedom Jazz Dance", plus "Born To Be Blue" and "Cryin' Blues". Mean Greens is another example of classic 60s soul jazz material by Eddie – and proof that the move to Atlantic was a good one! As usual with Eddie's 60s sessions, the players are very hip – and feature an amalgamation of younger and lesser-known talents like Melvin Jackson, Ray Codrington, and Sonny Philips. Cedar Walton also plays some lovely piano on the record, giving a few tracks a bit more of a lyrical touch than usual – and Eddie responds to this nicely in his solos. Includes an early take of "Listen Here", with Eddie on electric piano, next to Sonny Philips' organ. Also with "Goin' Home", "Blues In the Basement", and "Mean Greens". CD

A nice little album from Johnny Hartman – recorded back in the mid 50s for Bethlehem, in the years before he recorded his more famous dates for the Impulse label! The set has Johnny singing nice and mellow – with backing by a group led by pianist Ralph Sharon, one of Tony Bennett's longtime accompanists, with added trumpet by Howard McGhee – which creates some nicely moody interplay in the relatively spare setting of the session. Hartman's vocals are a dream, as always – and tracks include "What Is There To Say", "Moonlight In Vermont", "I'll Remember April", "Down In The Depths", "I Fall In Love Too Easily", and "We'll Be Together Again" – plus 6 alternate takes! CD

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Excellent early work from Roland Kirk – not as groundbreaking as later sessions, but still filled with fire and imagination, and proof that the famous blind player was a genius even at an early age! Kirk plays alto, tenor, and soprano – and on all tracks, he plays them in his unique "3-in-1" style, in which he's actually blowing all horns at the same time! The result is an incredible sound, unlike anyone else we can think of – and it's an amazingly raw tone that still swings very hard. Players include Jimmy Madison on piano, Carl Pruitt on bass, and Hank Duncan on drums – a really rootsy quartet that helps Roland hit a really gutbuckety sound on the record. Titles include "Triple Threat", "Slow Groove", "Roland's Theme", "Easy Living", "The Nearness Of You", and "A La Carte". CD

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Some of the best non-Motown soul to ever come out of Detroit, and a brilliant example of the uptown soul sound of the 60's! Barbara Lewis was an amazing singer – and although her work was always pretty darn polished, it was handled in a unique way that still remained very soulful, and which was filled with loads of nice twists and turns. This 20-track set from Rhino features the best of her Atlantic years – and nearly every track's a little gem of 60s soul! Includes lots of classics like "Baby, I'm Yours", "Hello Stranger", "Make Me Your Baby", "Puppy Love", "Snap Your Fingers", "Don't Forget About Me", "Baby What Do You Want Me To Do", and more! Heavenly soul, and stuff that we never tire of! CD

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Includes the songs "Tears On My Pillow", "Two People In The World", "So Much", "The Diary", "It's Not For Me", "Wishful Thinking", "A Prayer And Juke Box", "I'm Alright", "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop", "My Empty Room", "I'm Taking A Vacation From Love", "Please Say You Want Me", "Traveling Stranger", "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)", "Goin' Out Of My Head", "Hurt So Bad", "Take Me Back", and "I Miss You So". CD

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With 18 tracks including "Cry Me A River", "No Moon At All", "My Heart Belongs To Daddy", "Easy Street", "Go Slow", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "The Thrill Is Gone", and "Round Midnight". CD

A mindblowing solo set from Curtis Mayfield – a record that not only foregrounds all the subtle politics he'd been forging in the Impressions during the 60s – but one that also really has Mayfield exploding as a force to be reckoned with in the studio! The album's a personal masterpiece – to the career of Curtis what the early solo albums of Issac Hayes were to his own genius – a bold, unfettered statement of pride and power – of the sort that would both make Mayfield and the Curtom Records label forces to be reckoned with in the 70s. Every cut is a classic – and titles include "Move On Up", "If There's a Hell Below We're All Gonna Go", "Miss Black America", "Wild & Free", "Give It Up", "The Makings Of You", "The Other Side Of Town", and "We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest albums ever from the legendary soul singer Curtis Mayfield – even though it's different than most of the rest as well! Curtis is captured here in a small club, with a tight band, spinning out these extended readings of some of his best tunes – both tracks he sang with The Impressions, and as a solo act – completely transformed here in the righteous energy of the setting! The vibe is similar to the classic Donny Hathaway Live album from the same time – save for the fact that this set is double-length, and maybe even more powerful as Curtis sings and plays guitar in a small group with additional guitar, bass, and drums – and some very hip percussion from Master Henry Gibson, of Pharoahs fame. Tracks include "We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue", "Stare and Stare", "Check Out Your Mind", "Stone Junkie", "I Plan To Stay A Believer", "If There's A Hell Below We're All Going To Go", "Mighty Mighty", and "The Makings Of You". LP, Vinyl record album

Curtis Mayfield's lasting classic – and an album that the world will remember forever! Apart from being his hugely successful entry into the blacksploitation soundtrack field, this album's also a monster set of grooves that includes some of Curtis' funkiest work ever – a record that works as well as a 70s soul album as it does a hip action film score! The track list alone reads as a who's who of 70s funk – filled with gems that include "Pusherman", "Freddie's Dead", "Little Child Runnin' Wild", "Give Me Your Love", and "Superfly" – and the rest of the set is equally great, essential listening throughout! Plus 2 bonus tracks, the single mix of "Freddie's Dead" and "Superfly". CD

A well-collected batch of tracks from the mighty MC5 – easily the second heaviest sound to come out of the 60s Detroit rock scene after The Stooges! The package offers up the classic uncensored version of "Kick Out The Jams" – the controversial cut whose story is almost more famous than the band itself – plus loads of other gems that include "I Can Only Give You Everything", "Looking At You (A Square single version)", "Ramblin Rose", "Come Together", "Rocket Reducer 62", "Teenage Lust", "Tonight", "High School", "Call Me Animal", The American Ruse", "Shakin Street", "The Human Being Lawnmower", "Miss X", "Sister Anne", "Skunk", and "Over & Over". CD

This might well be the best album that Les McCann ever cut during the 70s! It's got some killer electric piano riffs, of the sort that are being sampled heavily today by the kids, and which are getting his music to a whole new generation. The tracks have a tight spacey funk sound, and they don't have any of the vocals that (we feel) can often get in the way of some of Les' later works! Loads of great tracks, including "The Harlem Buck Dance Strut" and "Dunbar High School Marching Band", both of which are nice and sexy and funky, and with a cool dope sound to them! Other tracks include "Before I Rest", "Soaring (At Sunset)", and "Sometimes I Cry". CD

Includes work with Richard Groove Holmes, Gerald Wilson, Stanley Turrentine, Lou Rawls, and Eddie Harris. 21 tracks total. CD

The extremely successful union of two of Atlantic's biggest funky jazz stars, caught live in Switzerland, with the amazing Benny Bailey sitting in on trumpet. The tracks are long and funky, and are virtually a blueprint for pop soul jazz playing of the time – mixing slinky rhythms with some breakout solos that show that all players are still deeply committed to a strong jazz sound. Titles include "Cold Duck Time", "The Generation Gap", "Kathleen's Theme", and their great version of "Compared To What", with the famous vocal by Les that made the track a soul jazz vocal hit! CD also features the bonus track "Kaftan". CD

One of Mingus' classic sessions from the middle period – a legendary blending of jazz with bluesy gospel touches, in a mode that seemed to move away from the politics of some of the late 50s years, and open up his work to a whole new audience! The band is an all-star ensemble all the way through – tentet that features Jackie McLean, Booker Ervin, John Handy, Pepper Adams, Jimmy Knepper, Willie Dennis, and Horace Parlan – cutting a line perfectly with Mingus on the album's 6 original tunes. Includes the oft-copied "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting", plus "My Jelly Roll Soul", "E's Flat Ah's Flat Too", "Moanin", and "Tensions". Includes 4 bonus tracks – alternates from the album! CD

Charles Mingus at Carnegie Hall – but playing here with relaxed and intimate feel that's not what you might expect from the staid setting! The album features 2 long tracks – both done in more of a jam session mode than any other Charles Mingus recordings we can think of. Both numbers are Ellington classics – "C Jam Blues" and "Perdido" – showcasing Mingus' late fascination with the Duke, but in a way that still preserves all of the modern inventions of his own earlier work. As on much of the best Mingus albums from the time, there's a real focus on the strengths of the soloists here – players who include Roland Kirk on tenor and stritch, Hamiet Bluiett on baritone, Jon Faddis on trumpet, John Handy on alto and tenor, Charles McPherson on alto, and Don Pullen on piano – all of whom really play with some sharp edges and bold notes! CD

20 classics – including the sublime "Porpoise Song" from Head – plus "The Monkees", "Last Train To Clarksville", "Pleasant Valley Sunday", "Words", "Goin Down", "Valleri", "DW Washburn", "Listen To The Band", "Mary Mary", and "A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You". CD

A pair of amazing albums – and a huge amount of bonus material too – all from one of the coolest groups on Warner Brothers at the end of the 60s! First up is the record The Moth Confesses – one of our favorite albums ever from the genius moment of late 60s Warner Brothers – a set we'd rank right up there next to our favorites by Van Dyke Parks and Harper's Bizarre! The set's billed as a "phonograph opera", written by Tupper Saussy – and it's served up with these fantastic arrangements that are ambitious, but nicely handled, too – with lots of groovy currents that keep the whole thing far from soppier territory of cats like Rod McKuen, and always done with that great sense of wit that makes this Warner era so great! There's definitely a few tuneful tracks that could spin as Sunshine Pop hits – but the whole thing's really better taken as a whole, as the way everything comes together with a sense of mood and tone is completely sublime – really a lost aesthetic, and one that deserves new discovery all these many years later. Titles include "Morning Girl", "Brilliant Colors", "Little Sparrow", "The Last Time I Saw Jacqueline", "Cowboy", and "The New Life Out There". Next Is Neon Philharmonic – the second sublime album from Neon Philharmonic – and one that seems to go even deeper than the first in its blend of ambitious musical themes and mature lyrical ideas! The presentation here is even more symphonic than on the first record – but at a level that's never soppy or sleepy – as there's a gentle groove on most tracks, loping around in these really lovely modes that make the tunes sparkle and glisten with the best sort of late 60s Warner Brothers wit! There's this wonderful mix of longing, nostalgia, and a kind of new vision for post-60s adulthood to the record – very hard to describe, but completely wonderful – at once completely heartfelt, but also with a great sense of distance on itself. Titles include "Long John The Pirate", "Do You Remember Dresden", "You Lied", "Forever Hold Your Peace", "Harry", and the wonderful "F Scott Fitzgerald & William Shakespeare". The 22 bonus tracks are especially amazing – rare singles, b-sides, and even some radio spots too – a huge amount of added genius from this incredible group. Bonus titles include "Letters Crossing", "Jody", "Better Times", "A Little Love", "Flowers For Your Pillow", "Snow", "Clouds", "To Be Continued", and "Keep The Faith In Me". CD

Arguably the most perfect record ever from New Order – a stunning second full length set that has the group emerging from the turgid depths of the early post-Ian Curtis years, and before the schmaltzy pop of the John Hughes generation! The electronics are wonderful – definitely a few generations ahead of their time, especially in the way they realize all the north England experimentation of the time, but bring it into more tuneful territory – yet never without losing its edge. The group produced the record themselves, and managed to hold onto lots of the best lessons learned from Martin Hannett – and there's a tightness and economy to the songwriting that holds up beautifully over the years. Titles include "Ultraviolence", "The Village", "We All Stand", "Your Silent Face", and the lovely "Leave Me Alone". LP, Vinyl record album

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A fantastic, label-spanning collection that brings together material recorded for Guild, Dial, Savoy, and Clef. Features work with Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Max Roach, Bud Powell, Duke Jordan, and more. 38 tracks on 2 CDs, plus a nice set of notes too. CD

Don't let the Another One title make you think this is some passable record that repeats earlier ideas – because the set is a real gem in the 50s catalog of bassist Oscar Pettiford, and one of his strongest dates as a leader! Pettiford really sparkles here – leading a great group that features key 50s modernists like Gigi Gryce on alto, Jerome Richardson on tenor, Bob Brookmeyer on trombone, and Donald Byrd on trumpet – all tightly arranged at most moments, but given enough space on the set to strike out and state their own ideas. Pettiford's bass is wonderfully upfront in the mix, leading off most tunes with a nice sense of force – and titles include some really wonderful original material – like "Oscalypso", "Don't Squawk", "Bohemia After Dark", "Minor Seventh Heaven", and "Kamman's A Comin". CD

Fantastic work from this mighty figure in New Orleans music – loads of Atlantic Records classics, mixed with other material too – and even some early R&B material when the Professor recorded under the name of Roy Byrd! All that, and a great booklet of notes. CD

16 of Otis Redding's best numbers, pulled together out of the Stax vaults after Atlantic had more or less completely taken over the Memphis label. Includes "I Can't Turn You Loose", "I've Been Loving You Too Long", "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)", "Try A Little Tenderness", "Tramp", "Shake", "Respect", "Satisfaction", "These Arms Of Mine", "Mr Pitiful" and "Dock Of The Bay". CD

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The masterpiece by one of the greatest, most sincere rock bands of all time! Let It Be veers all over the place, or at least as much as jangly rock music can, in the best way possible. Includes the pseudo twangy opener "I Will Dare", with the distinctly midwestern hardcore of the group's earlier years showing up on "We're Coming Out" and "Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out", and Westerberg's great heart-on-sleeve, ragged balladry appearing for the closers. Like the Meat Puppets and X, the 'Mats really found themselves after they shed the rigid rules of punk rock, and developed into something every bit as honest and heartfelt. They followed the rock songbook just enough to keep their work warm and familiar, but with way too huge and hard-pounding heart to ever seem even the least bit derivative. Hell, they even make Kiss's "Black Diamond" sound sincere! Other tracks include "Favorite Thing", "Androgynous", "Unsatisfied", "Seen Your Video", "Gary's Got A Boner", "Sixteen Blue" and "Answering Machine". LP, Vinyl record album

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A landmark album for Dusty Springfield – one in which she more than proves her soul music talents, by taking a trip to Memphis, and recording in a sweet Atlantic soul mode! The album's handled by stellar talents all the way through – arrangements by Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin, production by those two and Jerry Wexler, backing vocals by The Sweet Inspirations, and studio work from the likes of Tommy Cogbill, Bobby Wood, Bobby Emmons, and other talents that were huge on the Memphis scene at the time. Titles include Dusty's famous reading of "Son Of A Preacher Man", plus "The Windmills Of Your Mind", "So Much Love", "Just A Little Lovin", "In The Land Of Make Believe", and "No Easy Way Down". This deluxe edition fits in a huuuuuge amount of extra tracks from the sessions – expanding the original 11 track album to 25 songs – a motherlode of sweet vocal soul! CD

A landmark album for Dusty Springfield – one in which she more than proves her soul music talents, by taking a trip to Memphis, and recording in a sweet Atlantic soul mode! The album's handled by stellar talents all the way through – arrangements by Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin, production by those two and Jerry Wexler, backing vocals by The Sweet Inspirations, and studio work from the likes of Tommy Cogbill, Bobby Wood, Bobby Emmons, and other talents that were huge on the Memphis scene at the time. Titles include Dusty's famous reading of "Son Of A Preacher Man", plus "The Windmills Of Your Mind", "So Much Love", "Just A Little Lovin", "In The Land Of Make Believe", and "No Easy Way Down". LP, Vinyl record album

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The mindblowing first album by The Talking Heads – a bold statement by a very young band who'd go on to shape the sounds of the left field for generations to come! The sound is spare and very focused – maybe the first layer that David Byrne would then build up when adding more percussion, horns, electronics, and some of those elements from funk and global music that were such a continuing influence. Here, the group's fresh out of school, filled with imagination, and able to do so much with just a little – all led by Byrne's fantastic sense of songwriting and presentation – in a mode that's completely his own. The record's not punk, not new wave, and still continues to be in its own space of inventiveness, imagination, and forthright lyricism. Every song's a classic – and titles include "Uh-Oh Love Comes To Town", "New Feeling", "Tentative Decisions", "Happy Day", "Who Is It", "No Compassion", "The Book I Read", "Don't Worry About The Government", "First Week/Last Week Carefree", "Psycho Killer", and "Pulled Up". LP, Vinyl record album

A still-searing moment of genius from Johnny Thunders – a record that captures the New York giant at a time when he still retained all the best intensity he brought to his work in the New York Dolls and Heartbreakers – yet at a level where he's also almost ready to burst out as a bigger solo act on his own! As has been well-documented elsewhere, Thunders habits always managed to get in the way of his path to success – but here, he's definitely moving forward with a nice sense of focus – heading up the set himself, but opening the door to a whole host of well-chosen guests – including Phil Lynott, Chrissie Hynde, Steve Jones, and Paul Cook. The set begins with a surprising take on "Pipeline" – then rolls into tracks that include "Great Big Kiss", "Ask Me No Questions", "Subway Train", "Downtown", "London Boys", and "Daddy Rollin Stone". LP, Vinyl record album

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One of America's grooviest pop acts from the 60s! This excellent 2CD set is a perfect introduction to The Turtles – a group that offers way more than just a few oldie hits, with a depth of presentation and humor that kept their records fresh long after the initial AM radio fame wore off. The Turtles had a perfect blend of LA sunny pop, 60s easy production, and a tongue in cheek style of lyricism that was rare for the often-too-serious summer of love generation! The package offers a great overview of their work – a total of 51 tunes in all, including a few rare demos, and plenty of unfamiliar numbers that will have you sitting up and saying "Hey, these guys are great!" Titles include "Happy Together", "Too Young To Be One", "Me About You", "Earth Anthem", "Somewhere Friday Night", "Marmendy Mill", "Cat In The Window", "Sound Asleep", "She's My Girl", "Goodbye Surprise", "House On The Hill", "Makin My Mind Up", "I Get Out Of Breath", "She'll Come Back", "Glitter & Gold", "Wanderin Kind", and "It Ain't Me Babe". CD

Sweet jazzy work from War – a record that has them stretching things out a bit from before, and finding new ways to groove for the second half of the 70s! All the core elements are still firmly in place – that sublime blend of jazz, soul, funk, and Latin elements – but there's a slight shift in the presentation, with maybe just a touch more of the jazz promised in the title – which might have to do with the album's initial placement as a Blue Note Records title! The first half of the record features all new material, showcasing this slight shift in the group's sound – and a mode that's nicely free of any hits – and the second half of the set brings back some key jazzy tracks from earlier records, which fit perfectly into place. Titles include "War Is Coming", "I Got You", "LA Sunshine", "Platinum Jazz", "Slowly We Walk Together", "River Niger", "H2Overture", "City Country City", "Four Cornered Room", and "Deliver The Word". CD

A classic collection of Bob Wills' famous Tiffany recordings for radio! CD

A classic collection of Bob Wills' famous Tiffany recordings for radio! CD

Includes tracks by Mongo Santamaria, Ramsey Lewis, Jimmy Reed, Albert King, Duane Eddy, The Meters, Staples Singers, Spinners, Dusty Springfield, and Jaynetts. CD

Includes music from Dion & The Belmonts, The Skyliners, The Five Satins, The Cadillacs, The Crests, Lee Andrews & The Hearts, and The Spaniels. CD

Music from The Moments, Sly & The Family Stone, The Jackson 5, Brook Benton, B.B. King, The Delfonics, Clarence Carter, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Tyrone Davis. CD

Music from Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, The Stylistics Feat. Russell Thompkins Jr., The Spinners, Al Green, Dramatics, Luther Ingram, Chi-Lites, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Billy Preston. CD

Not so much Latin music, so much as soul that played big on the Latino scene in East LA – but a great batch of tracks that spans three decades, but is all united by a very strong sound. There's a total of 16 cuts in all – including "East Side" by Hank Jacobs, "Sitting In The Park" by Billy Stewart, "Beware" by Jesse Belvin, "Dreaming Casually" by Thee Midnighters, "La La La La" by The Blendells, "Farmer John" by The Premiers, "Baby You Got It" by Brenton Wood, "Please Baby Please" by Cannibal & The Headhunters, and "Why Can't We Be Friends?" by War. CD

Classic soul that played big on LA's Hispanic East Side – with a range of tracks that spans the fifties, sixties, and seventies! The interesting thing about this series is that the music is less from LA, than it is music that played big in LA – so you get a range of tracks that includes midwestern soul like "I Fooled You This Time" by Gene Chandler, "Tell Him" by Patti Drew, "Forever" by The Marvelettes, and "I'm Sorry" by Bo Diddley – mixed with west coast soul like "It's Got To Be Mellow" by Leon Haywood, "Tell Her She's Lovely" by El Chicano, "Catch You On The Rebound" by Brenton Wood, "Land Of 1000 Dances" by Cannibal & The Headhunters, and "Making Ends Meet" by Thee Midnighters. 16 tracks in all – and some nice notes on the scene! CD

Music from Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony, Shirley & Company, Gloria Gaynor, KC & the Sunshine Band, the Trammps, Diana Ross, Thelma Houston, Vicki Sue Robinson, a Taste Of Honey, and more. CD

Music from Norma Jean, Chic, Sister Sledge, Sheila & B Devotion, Diana Ross, Rene & Angela, KC & the Sunshine Band, Kool & the Gang, Inner Life, Change, the Peech Boys and more. CD

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Music from Ricky Nelson, Billy Reily & his Little Green Men, Icky Renrut, Buddy Holly, the Johnny Burnette Trio, Gene Vincent & his Blue Caps, Santo & Johnny, Bill Haley & his Comets, Duane Eddy & more. CD

Includes tracks by Jeff Beck, Taj Mahal, the Lovin' Spoonful, Ronnie Hawkins, Phil Upchurch, Cream, the Fendermen, Jerry Garcia, the Allmann Brothers, Sandy Nelson, and Country Joe and the Fish. CD

We don't normally go in for things like this – but we've got to admit that Rhino did an amazing job on this set! The package is a totally cool book on 70's pop culture headlines – with timelines and snippets of news and media history from throughout the decade – and inside you'll find 7 CDs of chart-topping music, with a mix of one-hit wonders and bigger stars from the decade. We can't even begin to list the huge amount of songs on here (160 tracks in all), but some titles include "The Air That I Breathe", "The Night Chicago Died", "Sky High", "Me & You & A Dog Named Boo", "Band Of Gold", "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)", "Vehicle", "Green Eyed Lady", "Popcorn", "Fly Like An Eagle", and lots lots more! This is the kind of thing that makes post-boomers like us cream – and as embarassed as we are to admit it, the whole package is pretty darn cool! CD

A well-done set by Rhino – with work from Earl King, Barbara George, Benny Spellman, Ernie K Doe, Jessie Hill, Chris Kenner, Bobby Marchan, Frankie Ford, Lee Dorsey, and others! LP, Vinyl record album

Features music from New Order, Ministry, Meat Puppets, Depeche Mode, Killing Johke, Dinosaur Jr, Aztec Camera, Japan, Minor Threat, Hoodoo Gurus, Bauhaus, Julian Cope, Sisters Of Mercy, Faith No More, PIL, Minutemen, Rain Parade, and so much more – 82 tracks in all, plus rare photos and notes on each of the artists! CD

Includes tracks by BB King, John Lee Hooker, Magic Sam Blues Band, Freddie King, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Muddy Waters, Lowell Fulson, Snooks Eaglin, and Howlin' Wolf. CD

A dozen songs from Mike Russo with Jeanne Hayes & The Dellwoods, Linda Lavin, Dick Libertini, Smyle, Alfred E Neuman, Steve Leeds with Phyllis Harris & Angela Harris, Karl Harris with Phyllis Harris & Angela Harris, Green Jelly, and Ben Vaughn. CD

Music from Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker's Ri Bop Boys, 52nd Street All Stars, Kenny Clarke & his 52nd Street Boys, Lester Young Quintet, Dexter Gordon & Wardell Gray, the Thelonious Monk Quintet, James Moody & more. CD