Two amazing tracks from underground Chicago jazz legend Paris Smith – back to back on a limited 45! "Thought Seeds" is this amazing blend of vibes, alto sax, and haunting female vocals – a very righteous tune, and one with a spirit that's unlike anything else we can think of – dark, but vibrantly positive too – with a nice solo from Jimmy Ellis near the end! "Lilith Came" has never been on vinyl before – an overlooked gem from Paris CD-only release from the 90s – with more beautiful vibes, and a lyric that's as haunting as the title! 7-inch, Vinyl record

BB King hips up his groove a bit here – picking up some of the crossover soul and rock touches used by contemporaries over at Chess/Cadet, and expanding his sound with a range of guests that include Leon Russell, Joe Walsh, and Carole King! Despite the presence of these bigger names, the set's very much in BB's own spirit – mostly focused on his vocals and guitar work, and still mostly including original compositions. A few tunes get nice and funky on the rhythms, although still very much in a blues-based way – and Jimmie Haskell contributes a few larger arrangements from time to time. Titles include "King's Special", "Until I'm Dead & Cold", "You're Still My Woman", "Hummingbird", "Go Underground", and "Chains & Things". LP, Vinyl record album

Michael Musillami on guitar, Joe Fonda on bass, George Schuller on drums, Marty Ehrlich on alto sax, Matt Moran on vibes, and Ralph Alessi on trumpet. CD

Easily one of the greatest records that Brazilian percussionist Airto ever recorded – a stunning blend roots and jazzy currents, and a set that follows strongly off his work in the group Quarteto Novo! The set's got contributions from one of his key partners in that combo – reedman Hermeto Pascoal – and like Pascoal's material at this point, the whole thing is maybe one of the most perfect realizations of the musical vision that Airto was going for! There's none of the tighter, more polished sounds of his later fusion years – and this is the record that will show you just why his arrival on the American scene made such big waves at the time. Flora Purim also sings on the record – and titles include "Andei", "On Sonho", Papo Furado", and "O Galho da Rosiera". LP, Vinyl record album

Proof that the US Army had plenty going on during the 70s – as you'll hear from this killer set of military-produced grooves from East Of Underground! The set goes way past the previous East Of Underground reissue – to feature work by the groups Soap, Black Seeds, and Sound Trek – all wrapped up in a beautiful package that's as visually pleasing as the music is funky! The cuts here were all recorded by US Army servicemen during the height of the Vietnam war – as Army-issued albums designed to encourage recruitment (as if a few funky grooves could help offset the bad press the war was getting on TV!) But despite that odd origin, the music here is all pretty great – mostly covers of familiar tunes from the time, but recorded with a nicely gritty quality that's mighty nice – and which makes the overall feel of the records like digging into some lost small studio tapes – ala Numero! Now Again have done a great job of putting together the whole package, too – contributing a wealth of notes and photos, and really digging deep into the scene in which these unique records were created. Not only that, but the packaging also replicates the style of the original odd releases too! The set features a CD each of music by East Of Underground and Soap – plus another CD that brings together an unusual double LP by the groups Black Seeds and Sound Trek. Titles include "I Just Want To Celebrate", "Kool & The Gang", "Walking In The Rain", "Backstabbers", "I Love Everything About You", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Go Outside In The Rain", "Black Magic Woman", "Hell Below", "Higher", "Popcorn/Santana", "Walk On By", "Java Girl", and "Get Together". CD

A really great album as a leader from bassist Dave Holland – a musician who was really coming into his own at this point in his career, and using all the talents he'd developed in looser settings to help bring new focus to a group! The lineup here is exceptionally strong, and a really great blend of different styles and talents – Steve Coleman on alto and soprano sax, Julian Priester on trombone, Kenny Wheeler on trumpets, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums – all rising majestically under the leadership of Holland. Titles include "Uhren", "Homecoming", "Perspecuity", "Celebration", "World Protection Blues", "Gridlock (Opus 8)", "Walk A way", "The Good Doctor", and "Double Vision". CD

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4-CD set including the re-mastered album, B-sides & two discs of unreleased material Blu-ray features Steven Wilson 5.1 mix and stereo versions. CD

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BB King hips up his groove a bit here – picking up some of the crossover soul and rock touches used by contemporaries over at Chess/Cadet, and expanding his sound with a range of guests that include Leon Russell, Joe Walsh, and Carole King! Despite the presence of these bigger names, the set's very much in BB's own spirit – mostly focused on his vocals and guitar work, and still mostly including original compositions. A few tunes get nice and funky on the rhythms, although still very much in a blues-based way – and Jimmie Haskell contributes a few larger arrangements from time to time. Titles include "King's Special", "Until I'm Dead & Cold", "You're Still My Woman", "Hummingbird", "Go Underground", and "Chains & Things". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes music by The Blue Magoos, Seeds, Standells, Captain Beefheart, The Music Machine, Five Americans, Nightcrawlers, Merry-Go-Round, and more – 18 tracks in all! CD

A legendary Latin funk album – spearheaded by Eddie Palmieri! The record is a landmark crossover album from the early 70s – cut at the end of the Latin soul era, but featuring that genre's wonderful mix of Puerto Rican soul, Spanish Harlem Latin, and New York funk – which are then given a new sort of push in this era of strong Latin pride and new opportunities for the youthful scene in New York! The grooves are all nice and long – with plenty of hard jamming, Latin rhythms, funky solos, and even soulful lyrics in English – sung with a very righteous, positive message that's kept the album at the top of the stacks for years. Eddie Palmeri plays piano and directs the group – and titles include "Seeds Of Life", "Harlem River Drive", and "Idle Hands". CD

Very powerful work from the great Nicole Mitchell – the third of her albums to be based on the work of Octavia Butler, and the first to be done in collaboration with vocalist Lisa E Harris! The music was commissioned by the Art Institute of Chicago, and recorded in a large open space in that august institution – which gives the spare moments this wonderfully echoey sound, and the fuller passages a real sense of spontaneous urgency! As with most of Mitchell's music, there's a powerful message within – one that's showcased even more by the vocal contributions by Harris – and in addition to flute, Mitchell also adds in some electronics – as does Harris, plus theremin as well. Other musicians include Zara Zaharieva on violin, Ben Lamar Gay on trumpet and electronics, Tomeka Reid on cello, and Avreeayl Ra on percussion. Titles include "Ownness", "Moving Mirror", "Whole Black Collision", "Elemental Crux", "Fluids Of Time", "Purify Me With The Power To Self Transform", and "Biotic Seeds". CD

A classic set of raw raunchy rock from the late 60s – originally issued as kind of a "cash in" record to grab some bucks on the rise of psych and garage – but a record that easily stands head to head with the best of its time! These guys drink heavy from the same brew as The Seeds, Count Five, Sonics, and other groups of the period – and work in a raw, garagey style that's hardly what you'd expect from Mercury Records Wing label subsidiary – especially given the sound of the guitars! Many cuts are covers, but they're performed with as much bold energy as the original tracks – and the set is awash in freak, fuzz, and echo! Titles include "Psychotic Reaction", "Psychedelic Dream", "Psychotic Vibrations", "Mind Jammer", "The Warper", and "Turn On Your Love Light". LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal work from Wilco – one of those key records where they were firmly establishing themselves as one of the most solid, complete bands of their generation – maybe hitting instant classic status with an album like this! The set's both very contemporary and true to their roots – the kind of set you'd swear you heard on AM radio back in the 70s, but which never would have gotten played back then – thanks to the ever-sharpening songwriting skills of Jeff Tweedy, and the overall musicianship and production skills of the group. Titles include "Walken", "Leave Me Like You Found Me", "Either Way", "You Are My Face", "Impossible Germany", "Side With The Seeds", "Please Be Patient With Me", "Hate It Here", and "On & On & On". CD

This deluxe box set includes loads & loads of memorabillia, a hardbound book, and the complete music from the motion picture spread across 8 LPs, 5 CDs, and a bonus 7"! Original score is performed by Nancy Wilson. Original soundtrack includes tracks by Led Zeppelin, Cat Stevens, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, MC5, Seeds, Neil Young, Allman Brothers Band, Iggy & The Stooges, Yes, Jethro Tull, Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell, Little Feat, and many more! Also includes the complete recordings of fictitious band from the movie, Stillwater! LP, Vinyl record album

The not so Guilty Secrets Of Northern Soul on Ace – uptempo, dancefloor ready singles compiled by Ace – leftfield stormers from pop, rock and blue-eyed soul and otherwise uncommon resources that meet the exciting, floor-shaking criteria! It's cool stuff all the way, with recognizable names and lesser knowns – singles by Judy Harris, The Rumblers, The Seeds with Sky Saxon, The Spyders, Garland Green, Jay & The Americans and many more! 24 tracks in all: "Don't Stop Lookin'", "You Touched Me" by Judy Harris, "Ten Miles High' by David & The Giants, "Keeps On Burning" by The Burning Bush, "You Sexy Sugar Plum (But I Like It)" by Rodger Collins, "Bumpin' And Stompin'" by Garland Green, "Elusive" by Babe Ruth, "I Can Take Care Of Myself" by The Spyders, "Walk Tall (Like A Man)" by by 2 Of Clubs, "Livin' Above Your Head" by Jay & The Americans and more. CD

Funky soul from one of the less-discovered scenes in the south – the hotbed of small labels that were making some mighty great grooves in Atlanta during the 70s! The Peachtree city isn't nearly as well-cited as a soul music source in comparison to places like Memphis, Muscle Shoals, and even Miami – but back in the mid 70s, there was something really special going on – and for a strong moment, a few different labels really gave the city some great music! Much of the work here represents the changing character of Atlanta itself – deep soul vocals that were forged in a longer southern tradition, mixed with well-crafted grooves that show all the modern elements coming into play as the city grew and matured. Most of this work has a pre-disco vibe – with rhythms that are similar to the early work of Fatback or Kool & The Gang – with the difference that the singers in the lead are all pretty darn great on their own. BGP did an excellent job of choosing the tracks for the set, and the notes, as always, are great – and the package features 22 titles that include "Let's Dance" by Family Plann, "Seeds Of Life" by East LA Car Pool, "Down At The Disco" by Maggabrain, "Ain't It Funky" by Johnny Jacobs, "The Bump" by Floyd Smith, "Help Me (parts 1 & 2)" by Archie Russell, "I Don't Know What It Is But It Sure Is Funky" by Ripple, "Funk Pump" by The Counts, "Claim Jumpin" by Bill Brandon, "Checkmate" by The Ebony Godfather, "Shouldn't I Be Given The Right To Be Wrong" by Joe Hinton, "Husband In Law" by CL Blast, "Only A Fool" by Loleatta Holloway, "When I Build My World" by Jimmy Lewis, and "Complain To The Clouds" by Deep Velvet. CD

A treasure trove of Nuggets from the LA Scene – fantastic material from a far reaching line up of gritty garage rockers, sunshine pop tunesmiths, psychedelic groovers, trippy psyche folk and much more – masterfully collected on 4 discs by the box set geniuses at Rhino! With such a diverse catalog to mine, the CDs are divided surprisingly well, and like other Nuggets comps, it's a great way to intro a ton of obscurities, while still including bigger hits that deserve to be remembered. Packaged in a beautiful 48 page book with essays, artist commentaries, tons of great photos, and even a 60s LA club guide! Disc one On The Strip includes: "Riot On The Sunset Strip" by The Standells, "Gentle As It May Seem" by Iron Butterfly, "Take A Giant Step" by The Guilloteens, "Tripmaker" by The Seeds, "Girl In Your Eye" by Sprit, "Eventually" by Peanut Butter Conspiracy and many more. Disc two The Studio Scene includes: "Action, Action, Action" by Keith Allison, "The Rebel Kind" by Dino, Desi & Billy, "Yellow Balloon" by Yellow Balloon, "Montage Mirror" Roger Nichols Trio, "Don't Say No" by The Oracle, "Baby, Please Don't Go" by Ballroom and lots more. Disc three Beyond The City includes: "Jump, Jive & Harmonies" by Thee Midnighters, "She Done Moved" by The Spats, "Underground Lady" by Kim Fowley, "Our Time Is Running Out" by The Yellow Payges and many more. Disc four New Directions has 3 previously unreleased tracks: "Sit Down I Think I Love You" by Stephen Stills & Richie Furay, "Words" (demo) by Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart, and "Once Upon A Time" by Tim Buckley; plus "November Night" by Peter Fonda, "Marshmallow Skies" by Rick Nelson. "You Set The Scene" by Love and many more. 101 songs on 4CDs! CD

One of the coolest, moogiest records we've ever heard from Mort Garson – and that's saying a lot, given that the man gave us the Wozzard Of Iz and a host of moog-based astrological records too! The album's billed as "mood music especially composed to aid the growing of your plants" – and while we doubt that claim, it's more than groovy enough without any herbaceous activity at hand – these cool keyboard lines that are often sweetly tuneful, but nicely tripped-out too – played by one of the best cats to really grab hold of the moog right at the start of its great musical run! Titles include "A Mellow Mood For Maidenhair", "You Don't Have To Walk A Begonia", "Concerto For Philodendron & Pothos", "Ode To An African Violet", and "Plantasia". LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary Latin funk album – spearheaded by Eddie Palmieri! The record is a landmark crossover album from the early 70s – cut at the end of the Latin soul era, but featuring that genre's wonderful mix of Puerto Rican soul, Spanish Harlem Latin, and New York funk – which are then given a new sort of push in this era of strong Latin pride and new opportunities for the youthful scene in New York! The grooves are all nice and long – with plenty of hard jamming, Latin rhythms, funky solos, and even soulful lyrics in English – sung with a very righteous, positive message that's kept the album at the top of the stacks for years. Eddie Palmeri plays piano and directs the group – and titles include "Seeds Of Life", "Harlem River Drive", and "Idle Hands". CD

The complete recordings of July – a set that features their rare original album, unreleased tracks, and lots of surprisingly great later material too! First up is the self-titled July album from 1968, presented in both mono and stereo mixes – the debut album from July – a group who only gave the world this gem of a record back at the end of the 60s – but who've gone on to become legendary, based on the strength of the set! The whole thing is a real standout in the psych scene of the UK – well-crafted songs that are tight, but groovy and loose at the same time – tuneful, but filled with experiments – and produced with just the right sort of inventive qualities to make the special flourishes and individual moments of genius really come to light! There's so many great things going on here – an all-rich, no-filler record that's filled with gems that include "My Clown", "Dandelion Seeds", "Jolly Mary", "Hallo To Me", "You Missed It All", "The Way", "To Be Free", "Crying Is For Writers", "I See", and "A Bird Lived". Next is Second Of July – a great counterpart to the legendary self-titled album from July – material recorded in a private setting, to predate that psych masterpiece – but every bit as stunning overall! The quality of this work goes way beyond its origins as demo material – as the sound is wonderful, the musical ideas very rich, and overall psychedelic conception is amazing! There's no overindulgence, but also no easy pop psych modes either – and it's really incredible how much these guys can pack into a short song – from unusual guitar lines, to freewheeling rhythms, and trippy ideas in the lyrics. Many numbers have a sweet groove underneath, and are slightly freakbeatish – but there's also a much more unique feel to the record as well. Tracks include "Dandelion Seeds", "You Missed It All", "My Clown", "Friendly Man", "I See", "The Girl In The Cafe", and "Move On Sweet Flower". The box set then moves into two later albums from a re-formed group – Temporal Anomaly and Resurrection – both of which feature material conceived over a number of years, issued on Resurrection in 2013, and on Temporal Anomaly here for the first time ever. Tracks are great – still very much in the spirit of the classic material, and produced with a nicely understated vibe. Last up is The Wight Album – a recent project from July – still sounding surprisingly great after all these years! At this point, the group is a duo – original members Peter Cook and Tom Newman – but they really manage to craft some great sounds here, with a style that ties back to their initial recording in 1968, and which features some of the successful flourishes of their revived activity from about a decade ago! The tunes are way better than any sort of younger attempt at material like this – mostly because there's a nicely understated, although still quite psychedelic, approach to the whole thing – maybe a reminder that with the best psych records, charm is every bit as important as fuzz. Titles on the double-length set include "The Traveler", "Sophie", "Special Guy", "Henry's Squirrel", "Seeking The Hacksaw Blades", "The Game", "What's Gonna Be", "Disco Klingon", "Mods Of Ryde", "It's Up To Me", and "Once When We Was Free". CD

Lothar & The Hand People gave the world one of the greatest psych albums ever issued by Capitol Records – but this set of earlier recordings shows the group in a very different light – raw, noisy, and very garagey – much more in the territory of The Seeds or The Sonics! The recording is live, but feels more like it was captured in a small basement room than a larger rock club – as there's a very forward sound to the whole thing, as if the group were trying to rip the performance space out of its foundations, while they work their own rough-edged magic on tunes that are familiar, but which sound very different in this setting – a perfect illustration of the genius of garage at its best! The guitar lines are wonderful – and titles include "If I Have To Choose", "Walking The Dog", "Baby Please Don't Go", "Come Along", "Who's Been Talking", "Gloria", "That's Another Story", and "Nobody Knows". CD

Although this set was recorded early in the history of the Main Ingredient's career, it also compiles tracks from their strongest period – which means that nearly every track's a winner, and all are graced by smooth uptown soul arrangements by Bert DeCoteaux. Includes their seminal AM radio hit "Everybody Plays The Fool", plus "Black Seeds Keep On Growing", "Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling In Love)", "Make It With You", "I'm So Proud", "I'm Better Off Without You", "You've Got To Take It (If You Want It)", "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)", "You've Been My Inspiration", and "No Tears (In The End)". LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal work from Wilco – one of those key records where they were firmly establishing themselves as one of the most solid, complete bands of their generation – maybe hitting instant classic status with an album like this! The set's both very contemporary and true to their roots – the kind of set you'd swear you heard on AM radio back in the 70s, but which never would have gotten played back then – thanks to the ever-sharpening songwriting skills of Jeff Tweedy, and the overall musicianship and production skills of the group. Titles include "Walken", "Leave Me Like You Found Me", "Either Way", "You Are My Face", "Impossible Germany", "Side With The Seeds", "Please Be Patient With Me", "Hate It Here", and "On & On & On". LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible work from one of the maddest talents in rock and roll – the amazing Kim Fowley, one of THE most important forces on the LA scene of the 60s! Kim's known for many things – producer, arranger, musician, and insane performer – and this set really does a great job of bringing together all of those aspects – really getting at the "rockin hipster around town" persona that was Kim's calling card through over 3 decades of rock in the city. The package features 32 tracks in all – numbers that Kim recorded under his own name, or produced for other labels – all packaged with a stunning set of notes that's filled with stories, suspect history, and other dark chapters from the Kim Fowley past! Titles include "Animal Man", "Bubblegum", "The Trip", and "Space Odyssey" by Kim Fowley, "Wild Thing" by Cathy Rich, "Fallin Off The Edge Of My Mind" by The Seeds, "Pink Dominos" by The Crescents, "Honest I Do" by The Innocents, "Papa Oom Mow Mow" by The Rivingtons, "Like Long Hair" by Paul Revere & The Raiders, "Security" by N Betweens, "The Comedown Song" by Spider, "Popsicles & Icicles" by The Murmaids, and "Satans Holiday" by The Lancasters. CD

One of the best sets of jazzy grooves we've heard in ages! This one pushes way past the usual batch of funky hammond cuts and goes for a mighty soulful sound that encompases a wide range of styles and emotions. The overall groove is quite sophisticated, and Dr. Bob Jones has done a heck of a job in selecting cuts that have been favorites of the world groove scene for the past decade or so. Some of these cuts appeared on compilations years ago, but this is the first time they've been out legit, and for many other tracks, it's the first time that they've been included anywhere. There's 18 tracks in all, and titles include "Little B's Poem" by Dee Dee Bridgewater, "The Hipster" by Harold McNair, "Ridin High (parts 1 & 2)" by Bobby Cooke Quartet, "Babete" by Made In Brasil, "No Man No" by Bill Reddie, "Birimbau" by Os Maracatu, "Soulin With The Rivieras" by Julius Jones, "See You Later" by Joanne Grauer, "Panamanian Aire" by Byron Morris, "Stormy Jazzmin Part 2" by Stormy Jazzmin, "Baja Run" by Don Randi & Quest, "Better Than Anything" by Julie Kelly, "Trinkets & Trash" by Ryo Kawasaki, and "Seeds" by Sahib Shihab. Very nice, and chock full of goodies! CD

A huge look at the Liverpool scene in the UK – but one that doesn't focus on the generation of the Beatles and Brit Invasion groups – and instead brings some great attention to the city's contribution to the post-punk years and beyond! The package is tremendous – 100 songs in a huge booklet of notes – tracing an evolution from the late 70s years, when Liverpool was as creative and fervent of a scene as other North England territories, like Manchester and Sheffield – but also one that could quickly develop some tuneful aspects too, which no doubt helped the rest of the UK music scene of the 80s find a way to expand in some great global directions! Throughout the whole time covered here, there's a great tension between experimentation and commercial success – one that's covered beautifully by the many tracks in the collection, and also documented in the hefty notes within. There's far too many tracks here for us to list – but let us say that the package is overflowing with work by artists as diverse as Dalek I, The Wild Swans, China Crisis, Pink Industry, Care, Box Of Toys, Deaf School, Big In Japan, Pale Fountains, Icicle Works, Dead Or Alive, The Lotus Eaters, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Mr Amir, Brenda & The Beach Balls, Jegsy Dodd & The Sons Of Harry Cross, The La's, Jactars, Magic Carpets, Barbel, The Walking Seeds, Thomas Lang, Ministry Of Love, Nightmares In Wax, OMD, The Planets, Spitfire Boys, Geisha Girls, Royal Family & The Poor, Public Disgrace, It's Immaterial, The Balcony, The Yachts, Teardrop Explodes, Original Mirrors, The Press Gang, Moderates, Egypt For Now, Those Naughty Lumps, Flock Of Seagulls, Freeze Frame, Echo & The Bunnymen, and many more! CD

A searing set of west coast psych from a very mysterious group – served up here on a record that was done as a bit of exploitation vinyl at the time, but which has gone on to achieve legendary status over the years! The set's got a raw, ragged energy right from the start – every bit as great as most of the work by labelmates The Seeds – with a similar sense of urgency and intensity that goes way beyond most garagey work of the time! Production is stark and simple, but really makes the best use of the fuzz in the mix – on titles that include "The Trip", "Love Special Delivery", "Talk Talk", "Journey's End", "Blood Beat", "Trip Maker" and "Pictures & Designs" – plus a really wild version of the New Orleans soul classic "Fortune Teller". LP, Vinyl record album

A great counterpart to the legendary self-titled album from July – material recorded in a private setting, to predate that psych masterpiece – but every bit as stunning overall! The quality of this work goes way beyond its origins as demo material – as the sound is wonderful, the musical ideas very rich, and overall psychedelic conception is amazing! There's no overindulgence, but also no easy pop psych modes either – and it's really incredible how much these guys can pack into a short song – from unusual guitar lines, to freewheeling rhythms, and trippy ideas in the lyrics. Many numbers have a sweet groove underneath, and are slightly freakbeatish – but there's also a much more unique feel to the record as well. Tracks include "Dandelion Seeds", "You Missed It All", "My Clown", "Friendly Man", "I See", "The Girl In The Cafe", and "Move On Sweet Flower". CD