Not the Warwick LP of the same name featuring Curtis Fuller & Pepper Adams, but as the back cover says "A special Riverside sampler featuring the work of a dozen top jazz drummers". There's 14 tracks here, all drum solos lifted from various Riverside sessions, by drummers Max Roach, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Kenny Clarke, Luis Hayes, Jimmy Cobb, Charlie Persip, Elvin Jones, Art Taylor, Albert Heath, Billy Higgins and Ben Riley. LP, Vinyl record album

Gilles Peterson helped compile this early BGP selection of rare soul jazz cuts from the Prestige/Fantasy vaults, with the kind of organ and tenor groovers that moved the UK club scene in the 80's. Cuts include "Return of the Prodigal Son" by Byrdie Green, "Mom & Dad" by Charles Earland, "322 Wow" by Johnny Lytle, "Up to Date" by Johnny Hammond Smith, and "The Light" by Gene Ammons. All in the pocket, all soul jazz, all with a nice 60's feel. LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful chapter in the career of Ray Charles – and a key album in helping raise his respect level a notch or two in the early 60s! We might argue with the mathematics in the title – or at least joke that Ray was using equations as titles years before Anthony Braxton – but you can't contest the fact that this one's a classic treat, and a legendary attempt to class up Ray's bluesy style for the masses. Quincy Jones and Ralph Burns handled the arrangements, and given that the record was issued by ABC a few years before they brought Ray into a country mode, it's interesting to think what might have happened had his career continued this way. There's only a small number of vocal tracks on the record, and most of the rest feature Ray at the organ, grooving away very nicely! Titles include "One Mint Julep", "Moanin", "I've Got News For You", "Mister C", and "Stompin Room Only". CD adds 3 bonus tracks from the album Genius Hits The Road. CD

We might argue with the mathematics in the title – or at least joke that Ray was using equations as titles years before Anthony Braxton – but you can't contest the fact that this one's a classic treat, and a legendary attempt to class up Ray's bluesy style for the masses. Quincy Jones and Ralph Burns handled the arrangements, and given that the record was issued by ABC a few years before they brought Ray into a country mode, it's interesting to think what might have happened had his career continued this way. There's only a small number of vocal tracks on the record, and most of the rest feature Ray at the organ, grooving away very nicely! Titles include "One Mint Julep", "Moanin", "I've Got News For You", "Mister C", and "Stompin Room Only". CD

One of the greatest Freddie Hubbard compilations you could ever hope to find – a perfectly-selected batch of tracks that brings together some of his most soulful numbers! The scope of the material is wide – as the set features tunes from Freddie's years on Atlantic, Columbia, CTI, and Pablo – but the tracks are united by a gently soulful approach that was truly Freddie's own – a really unique approach to trumpet work that emerged after his early sides on Blue Note. As usual, the Soul Brother posse have had their ears working overtime to pick only the best of the best – and the album's an all-classic batch of tracks that includes "Return Of The Prodigal Son", "Soul Turnaround", "Gittin Down", "Latina", "Red Clay", "Povo", "Keep Your Soul Together", "People Make The World Go Round", "Liquid Love", "Gibraltar", and "Little Sunflower". 18 tracks on 2 CDs! CD

A great little CD – not only for the very nice price, but for the fact that the double-length set brings together two albums' worth of work that Carmen McRae recorded for the Groove Merchant label in the early 70s! The style here is strongly jazzy, but with a firm dose of soul too – all in a mode that follows nicely from Carmen's late 60s sessions for Atlantic Records, but with a sound that's almost even more focused and in the pocket. The band is largeish, but the rhythms are tight – and even the mellower tunes seem to have a nice sort of lilt at the bottom, one that goes great with the way that Carmen spaces out her vocals on the set. Players include Joe Pass on guitar, Larry Bunker on vibes, Zoot Sims on tenor, and Dick Shreve on piano – and the CD features 19 tracks that include "Hey John", "Inside A Silent Tear", "The Right To Love", "You & I", "Sunshine Of My Life", "The Good Life", "It Takes A Whole Lot Of Human Feeling", "Livin", "Masquerade", "You're Mine You", and "There Will Come A Time". CD

A wonderfully genre-hopping collection – put together by Toru Hashimoto, the man behind such incredible Japanese series as the Free Soul, Cafe Apres Midi, and Suburbia compilations for many different labels! Toru really lives up to his legend here, and mixes music from different scenes and styles, but in a way that not only makes total sense – but also seems to have the tracks resonate even more strongly in the company of each other – moving from soul to bossa, jazz, vocal, and even hip hop cuts! Titles include "It's You" by Joyce Cooking, "I've Got You Under My Skin" by G9 Group, "Persian Love" by Holger Czukay, "Never Did I Stop Loving You" by Alice Clark, "What Else Can I Say" by Ingram, "Another Day" by Precise Hero, "NYC Tonight (version voc shintaro Sakamoto)" by Dump, "Beautiful Love" by Myron & the Works with Meshell Ndegeocello and Robert Glasper, "Just The Way You Are" by Meta Roos & Nippe Sylwens Band, "Little Girl Lost" by Penny Goodwin, "Hunk Of Heaven" by Lemuria, "Why Don't We Fall In Love" by John Valenti, "Love Oh Love" by Vince Andrews, "You've Got To Have Freedom" by Pharoah Sanders, and "In All The Wrong Places" by Kero One. LP, Vinyl record album

A wealth of wonderful jazz tunes – all of them unreleased, and all of them pulled from the sound library of German producer Hans Wewerka – the man who's given us some other great collections of grooves over the years! Although Hans didn't produce commercially-available recordings, he did have as great of an ear as any other jazz producers of his time – on either side of the Atlantic – and the cuts here are a unique blend of American modes from labels like Prestige or Verve, with some of the hippest styles showing up on the European scene of the 60s – particularly those that would show up on unique crossbreeding recordings between local musicians and American players working overseas. Some of the cuts are quite short, but all are plenty groove-heavy – some in a funky way, others in more of a mod 60s sort of style. Titles include "Soul Ong" by Rolf Wilhelm, "Blow In" by Joe Haider, "Jupiter Beat" by Bill Grah, "Beat Power" by Joe Haider, "Soulin" by Olaf Kuebler, "Hard Work" by Wolfgang Thoma, "Smeralda" by Eugen Thomass, "In The Very Last Moment" by Olaf Kuebler, "Black Widow" by Ted Evans, and "Madison Square 2" by Eugen Illin. CD

A 3 disc set of jams that shows the Soul Jazz label's about more than just dope, deep reissues! All the numbers included here have been released by Soul Jazz as 12"s, with many non album cuts, aimed straight at today's dancefloors, not to mention car stereos and personal players, pure pleasure for your own private party! The labels strong sense of history collides with today's finest productions, as modern post punk beats collide with dub step, stripped down reggaeton, electro disco and Baile funk for an eclectic mix of non-stop niceness that never sounds like it's covering too many bases and flows beautifully from start to finish! Even though only the third disc is labeled as a mix, all three CDs are edited continuously for non-stop play, with a total of 25 tracks, including "Misty Winter" by Digital Mystikz, "Opal Rush" by Capracara, "Magnetic City" by Kode 9, "Satellites" by Subway, "Pass The Red Stripe" by Skream, "A Historia Da Garcia" by Tetine, "We Got It Like That" by Secondo, "Insane" by ESG, "In Search Of Slowly" by Soul 223 and "Aphrotalk" by JBP. CD

Way more than just a typical collection of rare funk and soul – as the selections here not only meet the stunningly high standards of the BGP label – but they've also been sampled in more recent years for hip hop records and other contemporary recordings! Essentially, you've got the best of both worlds – vintage funk from the late 60s and early 70s – brought together in a great collection – and work that's gone onto form the blueprint for contemporary urban sounds as well – which means you'll probably recognize some or part of most of these songs from their use in more contemporary recordings. Nearly every cut's been sampled at least more than once – and titles include "Blind Alley" by The Emotions, "Chick A Boom" by Pazant Brothers, "Eva" by Jean Jacques Perry, "Walk Tall" by Cannonball Adderley, "Baby Let Me Take You In My Arms" by Detroit Emeralds, "Bouncy Lady" by Pleasure, "Tramp" by Lowell Fulson, "Take Yo Praise" by Camille Yarbrough, "Thinking Single" by The Counts, "Different Strokes" by Syl Johnson, "Ike's Mood" by Isaac Hayes, "What A Man" by Linda Lynell, and "Smokey Joe's La La" by Googie Rene. Funky funky! LP, Vinyl record album

More funky breaks than Evel Knevel after the Snake River Canyon jump! The groove hounds at BGP records were set loose on the Ace catalog – which includes holdings from Atlantic, Stax, Volt, Westbound, and other funky classic labels – and they managed to come up with a killer batch of funky cuts, even though this is their 3rd dip into the crates! If anything, perhaps they dipped even deeper this time – especially as some of the once-trusted sources for breaks, like the famous Ultimate Breaks & Beats series, are now disappearing from the market. Titles include "Soul Pad" by The Coasters, "I Walk On Gilded Splinters" by Johnny Jenkins, "T Plays It Cool" by Marvin Gaye, "Nappy Dugout" by Funkadelic, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by Jimmy Ponder, "Get Out Of My Life Woman" by The Mad Lads, "The Rose" by 50 Foot Hose, "Holy Ghost" by The Bar Kays, "No Strings Attached" by The Mad Lads, "After Laughter Comes Tears" by Wendy Rene, "River's Invitation" by Freddie Robinson, "This House Is Smokin" by BT Express, "Music Man (parts 1 & 2)" by Pleasure Web, and "I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over" by David Porter. CD

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Music from Ray Barretto, Esther Phillips, Fuse One, Stanley Turrentine, Astrud Gilberto, George Benson, Idris Muhammad, Hank Crawford, Johnny Hammond, Seawind, Milt Jackson, and more - 18 songs in all. CD

A really wonderful title for this excellent little collection – as the package is overflowing with tremendous work from artists who've really held onto their soulful strengths over the years! Some of the artists are older ones, others are part of the Neo Soul underground of the past decade or two – and together, the tracks are united in a wonderfully positive, wonderfully upbeat groove – of the sort that reminds us why we love soul music in the first place! Titles include "When You Feel What Love Has" by Lenny Fontana with D-Train, "Get Your Head Out The Phone (funky dance mix)" by Bill Curtis & Friends with The Fatback Band, "Whatever It Takes" by Angela Johnson, "Open Sesame" by Beggar & Co, "Don't Hide Your Wings" by Eric Roberson, "Ordinary Day (Scratch Professor retwist" by Omar, "In The Open Space" by Vladimir Cetkar, "Beta Waves" by Nu-Era, "Round & Round (old school mix)" by The Pasadenas, "Don't Go (Shane D's solar club mix)" by DJ Skip with Shalamar, "Heaven (Frankie Valentine rmx)" by MODE with Leroy Burgess, and "Show Me Love (Yam Who rework)" by Incognito with Carleen Anderson. CD

Get ready for the get down with a fab batch of fresh funk, island style! Soul Jazz serves up a heavy batch of heat that smokes like a tasty batch of jerk chicken on a pillow of coco bread! Most of these cuts ooze spicy juices at a nice laid back, sun-drenched tempo instead of the choppier more hectic stateside funk you're probably used to, but they groove no less hard. You'll recognize some classic reggae rhythms as well as deep and heavy covers of American funk pulsing underneath the Dee Jays and soulful vocalists on these great cuts, and there's no shortage of top notch instrumental versions, either! 18 sweet jams in all, including "Get It Together" by Earl Brown, "Brown Baby" by Derrick Harriott, "I Love The Way You Love" by the Chosen Few, "Silent Force" by Cedric Im Brooks, "Dunce Cap" by Herman & The Aquarians, "Give Me Some More" by the Studio Sound, "Jam #1" by Winston Wright & The Upsetters, "Rhodesia" by The Rebels and 'Tricked" by Ansel & The Meditations. CD

Fantastic! This set features reggae and rocksteady versions of American soul and funk tracks from the late 60s and early 70s – quite fitting, considering how much of Jamaican reggae began as an attempt to copy American hits for the local market. The set may well be the best-ever in the essential series of compilations by Soul Jazz Records – and like the others, it features some of the best cuts ever recorded for the Studio One catalog. There's a total of 18 cuts in all – and tracks include "Soulful Strut" by Sound Dimension, "Still Water" by Jerry Jones, "Express Yourself" by Leroy Sibbles, "Message From A Black Man" by The Heptones, "The First Cut Is The Deepest" by Norma Fraser, "Deeper & Deeper" by Jackie Mitoo, "I Don't Want To Be Right" by Alton Ellis, "No One Can Stop Us" by Willie Williams, "Queen Of The Minstrals" by The Eternals, "Don't Break Your Promise" by The Chosen Few, and "Is It Because I'm Black" by Senior Soul. LP, Vinyl record album

Quite possibly the most compelling of Jimmy Forrest's early 60s albums for Prestige Records – thanks to some really full backdrops from the mighty Oliver Nelson! Although a few of the tracks on the album have the same small combo soul jazz mode as Forrest's other Prestige sides, a number of other tunes feature larger backings by Nelson – arranged in that trademark hard-swinging 60s sound that few others could duplicate at the time. Nelson and King Curtis play a bit of tenor on one number with Jimmy – and other players include Chris Woods, Seldon Powell, Mundell Lowe, Ray Barretto, and Calvin Newborn – but as always with Forrest, Jimmy's raspy tenor sound is the real star of the set – blowing with an edge that's always great, and a style that should have made him huge! Tracks include "Soul Street", "I Love You", "Experiment In Terror", "Soft Summer Breeze", and "That's All". LP, Vinyl record album

Not disco hits or the overplayed classics you may know from too many weddings – but a wonderfully deep selection of underground cuts that shows that there's still plenty of rare gems to discover from the 70s club scene! The set's put together by the man who wrote the book on rare disco mixes (literally!) – and he's got a great ear for the kinds of cuts that still sound incredibly fresh all these many years later – work that may well have been so ahead of its time, it's taken the passage of decades to finally give it its due! Most of these tracks strip down to the best elements of underground disco – the kinds of basslines, rhythm parts, and funky instrumentation that still leaves us breathless over the years – and as usual, Soul Jazz have done a bang-up job with the whole package too. Titles on this part 1 of the vinyl version include "Pay The Price" by Stevo, "Groove On Down" by Dunn Pearson Jr, "Micro Wave Boogie" by Skip Jackson & The Natural Experience, "Come Inside" by Shades Of Love, "Rock A Freak" by Needa, "Disco Strut" by Creme De Coco", and "What Can I Do To Make You Dance" by Anita Maldondo. LP, Vinyl record album

A really cool collection – one that's maybe best summed up by the word "ecstatic" in the title – as the package presents a blend of work from artists who easily skirt both the spiritual and secular side of soulful music, united together with a very joyous, uplifting vibe in their sound! This isn't classic gospel from the years when you might hear a guitar or organ behind a small group of harmonizing vocals – and instead, much of this work was created at a time when soul music had already been going strong for years – and while gospel might have initially helped in the formation of soul, it's clear that things are also moving the other direction in these tracks – as many of these artists borrow from the power of righteous soul styles, and use it to inflect their joyous message with a great new energy! Titles include "Everything Is Gonna Be Alright" by Keith Barrow, "Is There Anybody Here" by The Alvin Darling Ensemble, "Trouble's Brewin" by The Meditation Singers, "Satisfied" by Andre Crouch & The Disciples, "Let Your Feet Down Easy" by Dorothy Norwood, "If You Believe Your God Is Dead" by Swan Silvertones, "The Upper Way" by The Violinaires, "Elijah" by Roscoe Robinson, "Till I've Got This Feelin Of Love" by Dyson's Faces, and "Nothing Can Stop Me Now" by Destiny. CD

A much-needed look at the funky Miami scene of the late 60s and early 70s – the new powerhouse of southern soul, after the slowdown in the scenes in Memphis and Muscle Shoals! The Miami sound was harder, tighter, rawer, and faster than that of other southern outlets – based around a really strong ability to pick up a little riff, cook it up nicely, and create the perfect backdrop for sock-soul vocals. By the mid 70s, Miami was topping the charts with disco tunes that sprung out of this energy – but the tracks on this set are all heavy-hitters from the pre-disco years – kickass funky tunes that burn like a box full of rare funky 45s! The set's overflowing with gems – and titles include "You Got To Be A Man" by Helene Smith, "Cramp Your Style" by All The People, "Funky Cat" by James Knight & The Butler, "90% Of Me Is You" by Gwen McCrae, "Funky Me" by Timmy Thomas, "Funkadelic Sound" by Little Beaver, "Spanish Flyer" by Frank Williams & The Rocketeers, "Do It To Me One More Time" by Joey Gilmore, "A Woman Will Do Wrong" by Helene Smith, "You Got To Be A Man" by Frank Williams & The Rocketeers, "Fantasy World" by James Knight & The Butlers, "Cadillac Annie" by Clarence Reid, "Somebody Done Took My Baby & Gone" by Frank Williams & The Rocketeers, "I Get Lifted" by George McCrae, and "Don't Make The Good Girls Go Bad" by Della Humphrey. CD

A much-needed look at the funky Miami scene of the late 60s and early 70s – the new powerhouse of southern soul, after the slowdown in the scenes in Memphis and Muscle Shoals! The Miami sound was harder, tighter, rawer, and faster than that of other southern outlets – based around a really strong ability to pick up a little riff, cook it up nicely, and create the perfect backdrop for sock-soul vocals. By the mid 70s, Miami was topping the charts with disco tunes that sprung out of this energy – but the tracks on this set are all heavy-hitters from the pre-disco years – kickass funky tunes that burn like a box full of rare funky 45s! The set's overflowing with gems – and titles include "You Got To Be A Man" by Helene Smith, "Cramp Your Style" by All The People, "Funky Cat" by James Knight & The Butler, "90% Of Me Is You" by Gwen McCrae, "Funky Me" by Timmy Thomas, "Funkadelic Sound" by Little Beaver, "Spanish Flyer" by Frank Williams & The Rocketeers, "Do It To Me One More Time" by Joey Gilmore, "A Woman Will Do Wrong" by Helene Smith, "You Got To Be A Man" by Frank Williams & The Rocketeers, "Fantasy World" by James Knight & The Butlers, "Cadillac Annie" by Clarence Reid, "Somebody Done Took My Baby & Gone" by Frank Williams & The Rocketeers, "I Get Lifted" by George McCrae, and "Don't Make The Good Girls Go Bad" by Della Humphrey. LP, Vinyl record album

A stellar batch of funk and soul tracks from the Philly scene – mostly late 60s/early 70s numbers lifted from the catalog of Jamie/Guyden Records and related imprints, like the famous funky 45 imprint, Phil-LA of Soul. The set's got some great singles that haven't been reissued before, plus others that are great tracks, but which have been a bit buried under full releases by the individual artists. And as usual, the folks at Soul Jazz have done a great job of putting the package together – exceeding the production values of most other funky compilations on the market! Titles include "Sure Didn't Take Long" by Bunny & Cindy, "United" by Music Makers, "Take It Easy Soul Brother" by Corner Boys & Friends, "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" by Brothers Of Hope, "Waitin For The Rain" by The Fantastic Johnny C, "The Horse" by Cliff Nobles & Co, "I Likes To Do It" by Peoples Choice, "Chained & Bound" by Afreda Brockington, "O Wow" by Panic Buttons, "You Gotta Come A Little Closer" by Soul Brothers Six, and "Lost The Will To Live" by John Ellison. CD

One of Walter Bishop's greatest records – an amazing session that's as funky as it is spiritual – and quite different than most of Bishop's other work! The vibe here is wonderful – as Bish plays a host of keyboards, not just piano – and works in the company of other players who include Ronnie Laws on reeds, Gerald Brown on bass, Woody Murray on vibes, and Shakur M Abdulla on percussion – a beautiful mix of cats who help Walter carry off some of his hippest recordings of the time! The use of vibes is especially nice alongside the electric piano – and titles include a great take on Bishop's classic "Soul Village", done here in a nice funky version – plus a version of "Summertime" with Bishop on organ, and the titles "Sweet Rosa", "Those Who Chant", and "N'Dugu's Prayer". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Walter Bishop's greatest records – an amazing session that's as funky as it is spiritual – and quite different than most of Bishop's other work! The vibe here is wonderful – as Bish plays a host of keyboards, not just piano – and works in the company of other players who include Ronnie Laws on reeds, Gerald Brown on bass, Woody Murray on vibes, and Shakur M Abdulla on percussion – a beautiful mix of cats who help Walter carry off some of his hippest recordings of the time! The use of vibes is especially nice alongside the electric piano – and titles include a great take on Bishop's classic "Soul Village", done here in a nice funky version – plus a version of "Summertime" with Bishop on organ, and the titles "Sweet Rosa", "Those Who Chant", and "N'Dugu's Prayer". LP, Vinyl record album

Two rare albums from this great pianist – back to back on a single CD! First up is Jazz Argentino – key work from Ruben Lopez Furst, a wonderful pianist from the Argentine scene of the 60s – heard here on one of his greatest albums ever! Despite the local placement in the title, the set's got a really universal appeal – a quality that easily puts Baby Lopez Furst in the company of Bill Evans, Hampton Hawes, or a rare few imaginative pianists from up north! Furst's sense of color and timing are wonderful – ringing out fluidly, yet always with a sense of surprise that keeps us hanging on each new note – nothing that's ever hokey or heard-before – handled here with a vibrancy that's simply stunning. Many numbers are trio tracks, but the set also features guest trumpet and tenor on two tracks – and titles include "Israel", "Un Abajea Duriente", "Los Viejos", "Al Este Del Sol", "Sometime Ago", and "Cartas De Amor". Next is Jazz En La Universidad – one of the real highlights of the Argentine jazz scene of the 60s – a seminal album from pianist Ruben "Baby" Lopez – easily one of that country's greatest jazz musicians in the decade! Ruben's got a sound that opens up with the lyrical sense of space and tone first introduced by Bill Evans, but he's also more note-full at other moments – playing with a command of the piano that would have made him huge, had he recorded on the American or European scenes of the time! There's a warm balance between his instrument, the bass of Jorge Gonzalez, and drums of Nestor Astratta – one that goes past conventional piano trio modes, and which really reminds us of our favorite Saba/MPS sessions of the period. Titles include "Un Poco Alegre", "Hombre Amaestrado", "En Tu Dulce Modo", "Hermosoa Amor", and "Necesitare Alguien Mas". CD

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A real standout in the early career of trumpeter Freddie Hubbard – a very unique session that has him working with some larger arrangements in the background – blowing these magical solos over the top, while still hitting a great edge with the rest of the musicians as well! There's a sound here that's unlike anything else we can think of – including other big band trumpet dates of the time – partly because the set features a fair bit of arrangements by Wayne Shorter – a very rare side of his talents, but one that's equally as soulful as his sublime small group albums of the time. The record has an undeniable depth right from the start – magical, mystical, and very soulful – with a group that includes Eric Dolphy and Wayne Shorter on saxes, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Cedar Walton on piano, and Reggie Workman on bass. Tracks include "Chocolate Shake", "Thermo", "Clarence's Place", and "Aries". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the albums Great Scott, Scottie, Plays The Duke, Soul Searching, Mucho Mucho, Like Cozy, and Shirey's Sounds. CD

Remarkable! This is the fourth installment in Soul Jazz's exceptional series of reggae. It meets if not surpasses the high standards already set by the earlier volumes, and it expands its scope with the inclusion of dancehall into the mix of dub, rocksteady, and Jamaican soul. Volume four succeeds in presenting a excellent overview of the history of Jamaican music, while at the same time it delivers a set of irresistable tracks of undiscovered gems. Tracks include "Chairman of the Board" by Bongo Herman, "Ring the Alrm Quick" by Tenor Saw & Buju Banton, "Under Me Sensi" by Barrington Levy, "King Tubby's Dub" by King Tubby, "Dreader Than Dread" from Honey Boy Martin, "Cassius Clay" by Dennis Alcapone, "Who's That Lady" by Paris Connection, and U-Roy's "Stick Together". CD

Soul Jazz Records takes on country music – and the result is one of their most compelling collections in years! As you'd guess from the title, there's a definite focus on females here – country singers from the 60s and 70s especially, often presented in unusual tunes that work together perfectly – showing a strong sense of power as the set rolls on, a surprisingly strong feminist bent that most folks might miss in the music! That special focus is what really makes the collection shine – a great ear for tunes we might have missed otherwise, pulled together from the farther reaches of the artists' careers, and given the special Soul Jazz spin in the notes – just to let you know that none of these great qualities were accidental. Titles include "Mr Walker It's All Over" by Billie Jo Spears, "Two Whoops & A Holler" by Jean Shepard, "Tonight My Baby's Coming Home" by Tammy Wynette, "Reunion" by Bobby Gentry, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" by Kitty Wells, "I'll Never Do You Wrong" by Diana Trask, "I've Done A Lot Of Living Since Then" by Jeannie C Riley, "Fancy" by Lynn Anderson, "Saunders Ferry Lane" by Sammi Smith, "A Woman Left Lonely" by Jody Miller, and "He's All I Got" by Norma Jean. CD

Tremendous work from the Spanish scene of the 60s and early 70s – way more than just a batch of obscure jazz cuts, and instead a true testament to this very vibrant musical community! The package brings together some really special tracks from Spanish labels like Edigsa, Ensayo, Hispavox, and others – and really shows that in Spain at the time, there was musical growth that was every bit as strong as in better-known scenes in Germany, France, and Italy – a really rich step forward from American inspiration of the postwar years – into a world of freshly inventive rhythms, really imaginative solos, and some key local touches that really made the music sparkle! Not all players here are of Spanish origin, as the set also shows the key crossroads the scene was offering at the time – a wealth of wonderful hardbop, soul jazz, and modal numbers that include "El Cant Dels Ocells" by Catalonia Jazz Quartet, "Movimiento" by Lou Bennett, "Psique" by Juan Carlos Calderon, "Tema Per Alicia" by Jazz Group, "Asteriscs" by Nits De Jazz Al Jamboree, "Bosnia Calling" by Dusko Goykovich, "Israel" by Modern Jazz Sextet, "Rememberance To Madrid" by Elia Fleta, "Marcha De Los Dioses" by Tino Contreras, and "Laberinto (2nd part)" by Vlady Bas. CD

Fantastic! This set features reggae and rocksteady versions of American soul and funk tracks from the late 60s and early 70s – quite fitting, considering how much of Jamaican reggae began as an attempt to copy American hits for the local market. The set may well be the best-ever in the essential series of compilations by Soul Jazz Records – and like the others, it features some of the best cuts ever recorded for the Studio One catalog. There's a total of 18 cuts in all – and tracks include "Soulful Strut" by Sound Dimension, "Still Water" by Jerry Jones, "Express Yourself" by Leroy Sibbles, "Message From A Black Man" by The Heptones, "The First Cut Is The Deepest" by Norma Fraser, "Deeper & Deeper" by Jackie Mitoo, "I Don't Want To Be Right" by Alton Ellis, "No One Can Stop Us" by Willie Williams, "Queen Of The Minstrals" by The Eternals, "Don't Break Your Promise" by The Chosen Few, and "Is It Because I'm Black" by Senior Soul. CD

An excellent group that really lives up to their name – a very soulful quintet, with a groove that's right up there with the best hardbop of the late 50s and early 60s! The ensemble's led by Dutch pianist Cees Slinger, but it features some especially strong work from the hornmen – tenorist Simon Rigter and trumpeter Ruud Bruels, who've got a great way of coming together on the start of the tunes – stating their case with a nice degree of power, then breaking out with really searching, soulful solos – beautifully blown material that we'd rank right up there with any of our favorite older classics. The set list is great too – filled with well-chosen tunes that give the album the solidity of a Blue Note date from the 60s – titles that include "Barbara", "Happy Times", "When We Were One", "The Last Score", "Friday Night At The Cadillac Club", "Song For The Early Worm", and "Silent Majority". CD

The cover image should give you a great idea of what you're in for here – rare soul from the funky 45 underground of the late 60s/early 70s generation – presented in a wonderful selection of hand-picked cuts! Most of these numbers were recently reissued as limited run 7" singles by Acid Jazz and partner label Miles Away – but those singles, already expensive at the time, are mostly out of print and fetching money as if they were vintage releases – which makes this full-length set as much of a economic treasure as it is a musical one – a chance to enjoy these gems without breaking the bank! Titles include "Family Tree" by Family Tree with Sharon Brown, "We Got Good Lovin" by The Fantastics, "Time Is Long" by Rick Hickman, "Dancing Close" by Rita Joyce, "When You Lose Your Groove" by The Tom Emmanuel & Ron Experience, "Thank You Lord" by Lamont Butler, "Two Can Make It Together" by Tony & Tandy with Fleur De Lys, "This is The Beginning" by Leon's Creation, "Gonna Find A True Love" by Patterson Twins, and "One More Chance Lord" by Delores Fuller. CD

A fantastic book of images from the early 80s hip hop scene in New York – put together by a photographer who was right on the scene for a number of key years – and snapped hundreds of images of performers, clubs, street scenes, graffiti artists, and all the other forces that made hip hop happen! The book's a bit like the classic Back In The Days by Jamel Shabazz, but it also goes even further – as Bramly managed to capture a heck of a lot of key DJs and rappers, and also includes comments and memories from many of them too – snippets of text that are every bit as essential as the images – although the images are more than enough on their own! Bramly's got a great eye – both for a key moment, and composition within the frame – and the book is stuffed with images throughout, both color and black and white – in a hefty softcover volume that's over 300 pages in length. Book

A high school record, but also one of the first hip hop singles to come out of Chicago! Given that in the early 80s, Chi-town was still focusing mostly on soul (and soon, house), the Windy City was way behind New York in terms of hip hop production – and most early rap efforts came out as novelty tunes by local personalities. But this little gem has a surprising level of quality – simple old school backings at best, copping a Sugarhill groove from the start – but some nicely scripted lyrics from a number of Carver High School seniors, presented in a way that's a bit more staid than the usual east coast single – but still quite nice! The flipside has a mellower cut – a cool "Senior Song" that's done like some laidback 80s R&B ballad, but with a more youthful vocal approach. 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of the hippest sets ever issued during the roots reggae wave of the 70s – and one of the most spiritual, too! The album's got a very special acoustic vibe at the core – earthy drumming that goes back to a pan-African tradition, these beautiful acoustic basslines that link the music strongly with underground jazz, and even some wicked sax and reed passages that make that link even stronger – especially when tied to the more message-oriented lyrics of the vocals! The album's hardly a straight roots album – and instead goes deep into the more spiritual side of Rastafari, with a personal, acoustic style that's instantly captivating – and which also has strong appeal to fans of other global sounds, and 70s spiritual jazz as well. A stunning classic – with tracks that include "Lock Stock & Barrel", "Selam Nna Wadada", "Tales Of Mozambique", "Let Freedom Reign", "Nigerian Reggae" and "Run One Mile". Features two bonus tracks too – "Rasta Reggae" and "Samia". CD

A beautiful book on the dancehall scene in Jamaica – one that's done in a different style than some of the other Soul Jazz books – which are often focused more on album cover art! This book's got a very different approach – and is more an art book with photos of the dancehall scene in Jamaica, as well as lots of detailed information – including a history of Jamaican dance culture, bios of artists, and more information. Beth Lesser has already given us other great writings on reggae, and she really knows her stuff – and her care here is apparent, and a great complement to the hundreds of photos included within! And don't worry, there's still some pictures of records – but the book also offers up a lot lot more. Over 200 pages, oversize, and full color throughout – and this new edition also includes a fresh introduction from Duro Olowu, and more material than the original volume! Book

A definite breakout from Louisa Mark – a set of smooth-stepping rhythms with plenty of Jamaican elements in the mix – yet served up in a warm London vibe that's plenty soulful too! The mix of modes is great – and makes the record a lovers' rock classic right from the get-go – and a great evolution of 70s reggae into some soulful styles for the 80s! Producer Clem Bushay does a great job with the music – keeping things tight, yet never in a way that's commercial at all – just compressed enough to let Louisa's vocals really sparkle in the lead. There's a heartbreaking quality to most tunes – an element that really furthers the soul music aspect of the record – and titles include "Reunited", "People In Love", "6 Six Street", "Even Though You're Gone", "Baby Simone", and "He Used To Be My Man". Also features bonus tracks – "Gone Out" by Louisa Mark with Bushranger, "Step It Brother Clem" by Trinity, and "Natty Go Dey Voluntarily" by Jah Son. CD

An amazing record, and one of the most spiritual, righteous sets to ever come from Jamaica in the 70s – and that's saying a heck of a lot, given that scene at the time! The vibe here is really rootsy, and almost more spiritual jazz than reggae – with lots of spare percussion from Count Ossie and crew, under spoken passages by Brother Samuel Clayton and Ras Jose – all set to these spare but powerful arrangements from Cedric Im Brooks, who plays some great tenor and flute on the record too! Brooks' performance gives some jazzy currents to the music, and ties it to American underground work of the time – but the message in the vocals is very Jamaican overall, exactly what you'd expect from the "mystic revelation of Rastafari"! Titles include "Bongo Man", "Mabrat", "Four Hundred Years", "Groundation", "Oh Carolina", "Ethiopian Serenade", and "Way Back Home". LP, Vinyl record album

An underground soul jazz classic – massive grooves from drummer Steve Reid, and exactly the kind of set that's gotten him so much attention in recent years! There's a mixture of freedom and tightness here that's really wonderful – some of the looser elements of the loft jazz generation, mixed with an inherent sense of rhythm that always set Reid's records apart from the rest – a groove that comes not just from his own pulsations on the drum kit, but also from the elliptical basslines of Richard Williams on electric and Luis Angel Falcon on acoustic, and the mixed organ and piano lines of keyboardist Les Walker. Joe Rigby brings some really sharp-edged sax work to the record, alongside the trumpet of Ahmed Abdullah, who really sounds wonderful here – bringing a spirituality to the album that's clearly borrowed from his time with Sun Ra. The album includes the great groover "Lions of Judah" – which has a very Ra-like quality – plus other great cuts "Long Time Black", "Sixth House", "Nova", and "Free Spirits Unknown". CD

A landmark bit of indie funk from the 70s – one of the few records cut by Detroit keyboardist Eddie Russ, and easily the best! The album features Russ going to town on electric piano – working with a hip combo called The Mixed Bag, which features some wicked work on flute and soprano sax by Larry Nozero – and a vibe that's a lot more laidback than standard funk, or even more mainstream jazz funk too – a sweet open groove that's mighty nice all the way through! The album's really a showcase for Nozero and Russ' solos – trading back and forth effortlessly over long tunes that roll along in a sweet electric-tinged groove – long vamping rhythms that really seem to drive both players onto new heights. Titles include Russ' classic "The Lope Song", a great version of "Hill Where The Lord Hides", and the tracks "Shamading", "Watergate Blues", and "All But Blind". LP, Vinyl record album

Proof that Brazil's the place for some of the hardest-hitting and most genre-crossing grooves today – thanks to the sound of groups like Tetine and some of their contemporaries! The album's got a wicked blend of familiar favela grooves and artier new wave moments – almost a Sao Paulo equivalent to the kind of street/club/art crossover sets coming out of New York in the early 80s! Most numbers are heavy on beats and basslines, but also carry complicated elements on keyboards and sound samples – used somewhat sparely and coldly, but warmed up from the bottom with a good dose of booty-shaking elements. Although contemporary, Tetine's music sits surprisingly well next to the Soul Jazz label's explorations of older new wave scenes from the US, UK, and Brazil – making the imprint a great place to launch a set like this! Titles include "Eu To Aberta", "I Go To The Doctor", "You're The One", "Everything Must Die", "Men In Uniform", "Entertainment No 249", "What A Gift To Get", and Russian Roulette. CD also features the bonus track "I Go To The Doctor (CSS rmx)". CD

Images of the Caribbean in many styles – from the striking color image on the front, to vintage black and white shots throughout the book – all at a level that really illuminates the criss-crossing cultures of the island scene! The book's got a wonderfully sharp sensibility – as it mixes images of vacation paradise with rural poverty, American tourists with ongoing slavery, local ritual with political overthrow – all in a series of wonderfully well-chosen photographs! The book was put together by Stuart Baker – who's done so many other great books and records for Soul Jazz – and text is by Paul Gilroy, author of There Ain't No Black In The Union Jack. Book is hardcover, super-heavy, LP-sized, and full of glossy pages! Book

A batch of dubstep and future dub grooves – a rare set of contemporary recordings from the reissue heavy Soul Jazz label! Box Of Dub features new and exclusive tracks from Scuba, Digital Mystikz, Skream, King Midas Sound and more – modern electronic dubby tracks the draw from the influences of the original dub masters in a very true way – and even more from the South London sounds spawned of drum & bass, grime, and all kinds of splintering beats and heavily atmospheric sounds. Titles include "I Wait" by Digital Mystikz, "The Light" by Sub Version feat Paul St Hilaire, "Sub Island" and "Irie" by Skream, "Dread Cowboy" by Tayo Meets Acid Rockers Uptown, "Subaqueous" and Respirator" by Scuba, "Magnetic City" by Code 9, "Surround Me" by King Midas Sound and more. CD

If this is the sound of the future, then strap us into that time machine and start the countdown! A second volume of popping dub, skittering rhythms, crisp beats and sic-fi atmospherics from the top notch selectors at Soul Jazz, delivering yesterday's, today's and tomorrow's sounds right now in fine style! 12 stripped down dubs to step to all night long or provide the soundtrack to your late night drives through Babylon, including "Every Next Day" by Ramadanman, "Wickedness" by Cult Of The 13th Hour, "Tamil Dub" by King Soly, "Stung" by Kode 9, "Thief In Da Night" and "Third One" by Digital Mystikz, "Soul-Jah Boogie" by Sub Version, "Too Much Sushi" and "Sublemonal" by Skream, and "Chamber Dub" by Pinch. CD

A true revolution in Cuban music – not the familiar cha cha and pachanga modes of the pre-Castro years, but instead the huge wave of fresh styles and combinations that sprung up in the years to come! The tracks here aren't the kind of Cuban sounds that are locked in time by the all-star representations of the scene that circle widely – and instead, this music represents the younger, more experimental side of the scene – continually creating new styles and hybrids during the 70s and 80s, even at a time when most of the records weren't making it out to the world at large! Make no mistake, there's certainly elements of older Afro Latin rhythms, and Latin jazz instrumentation – but those are blended with new approaches to rhythm, instrumentation, and the overall role of the musicians and singers – on tracks that will really open up your ears. Gilles Peterson helped put the package together for Soul Jazz – and the whole thing's got the same hybrid hallmarks as his more recent recording forays in Havana – with cuts that include "Cancion Con Todos" by Grupo De Experimentacion Sonora Del Icaic, "Hast Las Cuantas" by Grupo Monumental, "Luna Wanestain" by Emiliano Salvador, "Te Quiero Porque Te Quiero" by Pablo Milanes, "Un Lamento Heco Cancion" by Los Reyes 73, "Dacapo" by Raul Gomez, "La Patica" by Paquito D'Rivera, "Rompe Cocorioco" by Juan Pablo Torres, "Mi Ritmo Caliente" by Juan Formell & Los Van Van, "Chequere Son" by Grupo Irakere, "El Son Del Campeon" by Conjunto Rubavana, and "Con Cadencia Y Con Dulzura" by Las D'Aida. CD

American grooves go Kingston – as the set features a wonderful assortment of funk and soul classics, all delivered here in reggae-styled versions! The approach is similar to the material featured in the older Reggae Disco collection from Soul Jazz – but the mix of modes here is much more expansive – so that you'll get some cuts that are very heavy in a New York clubby groove, while others are much more Jamaican in approach – and have an American soul tune bending down towards more reggae-oriented territory. As always with Soul Jazz, the choice of cuts is wonderful – and includes "Move On Up" by Devon Russell, "Caught You In A Lie" by Derrick Harriott, "Young Hearts Run Free" by Hortense Ellis, "Wanna Be Startin Somethin" by Ed Watson & Brass Circle, "For The Love Of You" by Bill Campbell, "Flight To Jamaica" by Crashers, "Fool's Paradise" by Valerie Harrison, "Reasons" by Seventh Extension, "Don't Let Love Get You Down" by Pete Campbell & The Sunshine Girls, "In The Rain" by Webby Jay, and "Just A Groove" by Glen Adams Affair. CD

Soul Jazz's groovy ethnographic compilation of "spiritual" musics recorded around the world – from American gospel radio, to Cuban Santeria, to Haitian Voodoo, to Tibetan Buddhism, and a lot more. Spare and moody, with a tribal feel, and great notes inside. Perfect for the groovy liberal armchair traveller – whether you're from Hampstead, Oak Park, or Mill Valley. CD

A really fantastic little collection – a look at the way that sounds from the Caribbean changed over nicely when brought to the UK scene – where immigrants from former British territory really helped to transform the sound of London in the 70s! The music here is served up in a range of different styles – certainly reggae, but with plenty of funk and soul too, mixed with other elements from the islands – all brought into new play together when taken up in the UK! Right from the start, the English artists were starting to put their own spin on things – so the cuts within offer up all these great new directions – maybe even more surprises than you're used to finding on some of the other collections from the Soul Jazz label! The presentation of material is superb, and there's some very detailed notes as well – with cuts that include "No Time For Hello" by Harry Beckett, "Ooh Boy" by Sandra Reid, "Don't Call Us Immigrants" by Tabby Cat Kelly, "RK1" by The Terrorist, "Black Pride" by Brown Sugar, "Don't Let It Go To Your Head" by Black Harmony, "Positive Vibrations" by Pebbles, "Love Money" by Funk Masters, "Ragga Trip" by Ragga Twins, "Be Thankful For What You've Got" by Winston Curtis, "Fug" by Cymande, "Sticks Man" by Black Slate, "Rising To The Top" by Dee Sharp, "Misty Winter" by Digital Mystikz, "Compelled" by Cosmic Irden, and "Still In Love" by Janet Kay & Alton Ellis, and "Java Bass" by Shut Up & Dance. CD

Sun Ra, Parliament, and other soul and jazz acts famously took us into space back in the day – and in the wake of their journeys, countless other artists elected to take the trip too – soaring to the cosmos on a blend of beats, basslines, keyboards, and vocals – all elements that are given an especially electro-tuned vibe in this great second volume of the series! The space age journeys are maybe more akin to the world of Newcleus than Earth Wind & Fire – lots of processing on the vocals, sweet riffing on the keyboards, and basslines that are tightly tied to the rhythms of the grooves – served up here in a way that references sounds of the street, west coast funk, and even earlier hip hop – all brought together in a very well-chosen array of tracks! As always with Soul Jazz, the presentation is as great as the music within – a set list that includes "More Ounce Rap" by Bobby Deemo, "Master Groove (inst)" by Chance, "Shine Your Light" by The Grainers, "Get Right" by Mid City Crew, "Summer Times" by Frank James & Shadow, "Year 2001 Boogie" by Rich Cason & The Galactic Orchestra, "Smurf Trek" by Chapter Three, "Let's Ride" by Junei, "Breakdance" by Command Performance, and "Computer Pop" by Maggotron. LP, Vinyl record album

A deep look at the electronic music underground in the 60s, 70s, and 80s – not the academic theoreticians who were slaving away in university laboratories, but the more independent, freewheeling talents who were using the initial analogue moment to open up their own boundaries in time and space! The work ranges from unusual 60s instrumentals, through 70s hippie electronics, to some 80s recordings that might have been termed new age by the uninitiated – but which instead, all these years later, stand as some lost moments of cosmic expression! There's few folks we trust to lead us down a musical path as much as the guys at Soul Jazz – and this time, they've definitely taken us in the right direction – with cuts that include "Midnight" by Tim Blake, "Gang (For Rock Industry)" by JB Banfi, "To The Other Side Of The Sky" by Michael Garrison, "By Water" by Stratis, "Improvisation On A Concerto Generator" by Laurie Spiegel, "Starborn Suite (part 1)" by Steven Halpern, "Ceres Motion" by Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Company, "As Above So Below" by Carl Matthews, "In The Beginning" by Michael Stearns, "Ever New" by Beverly Glenn-Copeland, "Variations VII Sur Le Theme Des Bene Gesserit" by Richard Pinhas, and "Ancient Stars" by Kevin Braheny. CD

A deep look at the electronic music underground in the 60s, 70s, and 80s – not the academic theoreticians who were slaving away in university laboratories, but the more independent, freewheeling talents who were using the initial analogue moment to open up their own boundaries in time and space! The work ranges from unusual 60s instrumentals, through 70s hippie electronics, to some 80s recordings that might have been termed new age by the uninitiated – but which instead, all these years later, stand as some lost moments of cosmic expression! There's few folks we trust to lead us down a musical path as much as the guys at Soul Jazz – and this time, they've definitely taken us in the right direction – with cuts that include "Midnight" by Tim Blake, "Gang (For Rock Industry)" by JB Banfi, "To The Other Side Of The Sky" by Michael Garrison, "By Water" by Stratis, "Improvisation On A Concerto Generator" by Laurie Spiegel, "Starborn Suite (part 1)" by Steven Halpern, "Ceres Motion" by Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Company, "As Above So Below" by Carl Matthews, "In The Beginning" by Michael Stearns, "Ever New" by Beverly Glenn-Copeland, "Variations VII Sur Le Theme Des Bene Gesserit" by Richard Pinhas, and "Ancient Stars" by Kevin Braheny. LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool take on the sound of Studio One – a package of late 60s themes from James Bond films and other soundtrack sources! The mix is maybe not that surprising, given the use of Jamaican music early on in the series – as part of the Dr No soundtrack – and maybe that global moment of understanding helped the groups back home in Kingston to reach for the skies with material like this! The whole thing is a fascinating document of two strands of Brit culture in these post-colonial years – with titles that include "James Bond Danger Man" by The Soul Brothers, "Pussy Galore" by Lee Perry & The Wailers, "Mr Flint" by The Soul Brothers, "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" by The Soul Brothers, "Hang Em High" by Jackie Mittoo, "From Russia With Love" by Roland Alphonso & The Studio One Orchestra, "Ball Of Fire" by The Skatalites, and "James Bond Girl" by The Soul Brothers. LP, Vinyl record album

A set that's way more than just another dip into the legendary catalog of the Studio One label – as there's a well-chosen selection of cuts here that go well past the hits, and really live up to the kind of "classics" promised in the title! It's no secret that Studio One was one of the first and most important studios and labels to rise up on the Kingston scene at the end of the 60s – pioneering impeccable production, tight musicianship, and the kind of soul-drenched vocals that helped Jamaican music rich a much larger global audience – music that's given a fantastic showcase here on titles that include "No Man Is An Island" by Dennis Brown, "Simmer Down" by The Wailers, "I'm Just A Guy" by Alton Ellis, "Rocking Time" by Burning Spear, "Confucious" by Don Drummond, "Rub A Dub Style" by Michigan & Smiley, "Fever" by Horace Andy, "School" by Prince Jazzbo, "Love Me Forever" by Carlton & The Shoes, "Rockfort Rock" by Sound Dimension, "Pretty Looks Isn't All" by The Heptones, and "El Pussycat Ska" by The Skatalites. LP, Vinyl record album

Funky nuggets from one of the greatest reggae labels of all time – a really wonderful collection that gets at some of the more hard-hitting material from Kingston powerhouse Studio One Records! Given the way that Studio One helped bridge the worlds of soul during the years of Jamaican ska and rocksteady, the funk is no surprise – and the package features both remakes of American funky numbers and plenty of homegrown cuts, all served up by some of the giants from the scene at the time. Titles include "Sidewalk Doctor" by Pablove Black, "007" by Soul Brothers, "Love Jah" by Sound Dimension, "Do Your Thing" by Leroy Sibbles, "Idleberg" by Cedric Im Brooks, "African Descendants" by Alton Ellis, "Reggae Feet" by Lloyd Williams, "Hang Em High" by Jackie Mittoo, "Beat Down Babylon" by Prince Frances, "Funky Broadway" by Delroy Wilson, "It's A Shame" by Alton Ellis, "Melting Pot" by Underground Vegetables, "Music Answer" by The Sharks, and a surprising remake of "Shaft" by the unlikely Cedric Im Brooks. CD

Funky nuggets from one of the greatest reggae labels of all time – a really wonderful collection that gets at some of the more hard-hitting material from Kingston powerhouse Studio One Records! Given the way that Studio One helped bridge the worlds of soul during the years of Jamaican ska and rocksteady, the funk is no surprise – and the package features both remakes of American funky numbers and plenty of homegrown cuts, all served up by some of the giants from the scene at the time. Titles include "Sidewalk Doctor" by Pablove Black, "007" by Soul Brothers, "Love Jah" by Sound Dimension, "Do Your Thing" by Leroy Sibbles, "Idleberg" by Cedric Im Brooks, "African Descendants" by Alton Ellis, "Reggae Feet" by Lloyd Williams, "Hang Em High" by Jackie Mittoo, "Beat Down Babylon" by Prince Frances, "Funky Broadway" by Delroy Wilson, "It's A Shame" by Alton Ellis, "Melting Pot" by Underground Vegetables, "Music Answer" by The Sharks, and a surprising remake of "Shaft" by the unlikely Cedric Im Brooks. LP, Vinyl record album

Another blinding compilation of fantastic Studio One material from Soul Jazz! It seems more than redundant to say that at this point, as we're certain you're well aware of the quality of the material collected here, which is just as great as every other set in this long running series. This follow up to the first Studio One Roots set digs up a fiery batch of rootical knowledge, delivered by the cream of the Studio One crop, and includes loads of hard to get numbers, including a few that have been previously unreleased. And as usual, packaging and annotation are first class. 19 numbers in all, including Willie Williams & the Soul Dimension "Jah Righteous Plan", Cedric Im Brooks "Satta" and "Full Time", Ken Boothe & Joe Higgs "A Message Of Old", Devon Russell "Jah Hold The Key", Vin Gordon "Babylon Rock", the Gladiators "Talawah", Prince Lincoln "True Experience", Joseph Hill "Behold The Land", Winston Matthews "Sun IS Shining", Count Ossie & The Zion All Stars "Holy Mount Zion" and Tommy McCook & The Discosonics "Tenor On The Call". LP, Vinyl record album

A really classic look at the legendary catalog of Studio One Records – one that not only offers up a special focus on the female artists who recorded for the label, but also really shows the wide span of sounds that Studio One created over the years! There's work here from the early rocksteady years on up to the birth of the digital age – and most of the cuts have a deeply soulful vibe throughout, with a nice balance between larger message and more personal hopes and dreams on the Kingston scene. Titles include "A Deh Pon Dem" and "King Street" by The Soulettes – an early group with a young Rita Marley – plus "I'm Just A Girl" by Hortense Ellis, "Dream Land" by Della Humprhey, "Give Love Another Try" by Claudette McLean, "I'll Give It To You" by The Tonettes, "You A Fool Boy" by Angela Prince, "War No Right" by Denise Darlington, "Tell Me Now" by Marcia Griffiths, and "Come To Me" by The Jay Tees. CD

A really classic look at the legendary catalog of Studio One Records – one that not only offers up a special focus on the female artists who recorded for the label, but also really shows the wide span of sounds that Studio One created over the years! There's work here from the early rocksteady years on up to the birth of the digital age – and most of the cuts have a deeply soulful vibe throughout, with a nice balance between larger message and more personal hopes and dreams on the Kingston scene. Titles include "A Deh Pon Dem" and "King Street" by The Soulettes – an early group with a young Rita Marley – plus "I'm Just A Girl" by Hortense Ellis, "Dream Land" by Della Humprhey, "Give Love Another Try" by Claudette McLean, "I'll Give It To You" by The Tonettes, "You A Fool Boy" by Angela Prince, "War No Right" by Denise Darlington, "Tell Me Now" by Marcia Griffiths, and "Come To Me" by The Jay Tees. CD