A relatively small slice of the long and storied career of tenorist Archie Shepp – but a great one too, and a set of records that marks some of Shepp's more spiritual modes at the time! The package might well be worth it alone for the classic Sea Of Faces – a great little set from Archie Shepp – one of his strongest of the 70s, and a real return to the kind of spiritual jamming he was doing at the end of his time with Impulse Records! The album's well-known for it's great track "Song For Mozambique" – a spare and righteous number that features Bunny Fox singing in a sweet spiritual mode, while Charles Greenlee and Shepp recite chants over the jamming grooves of the band. Fox also sings on the mellow and soulful "I Know Bout The Life", and the Shepp group picks up a straight but hard mode on Cal Massey's great track "Lookin For Someone To Love". The extended jammer "Hipnosis" takes up all of side one – and it's a great little groover that builds nicely with a comping rhythm, yet which gives the band some nice room to solo in an exploratory fashion. Down Home New York is an overlooked killer from Archie Shepp – a set that almost recalls some of the spiritual moments of his later Impulse work, and which definitely has him moving past some of the straighter sounds of this period in his career! Things are never too outside or free, but there's a balance with straightness that's really great – so that when the rhythms are gentle, Archie might really take off in an edgey solo – or when the grooves have more force, he might hang inside with a soulful core energy, holding the whole group together. There's some great use of electric bass on the date – played by Saheb Sarbib – and other players include Charles McGhee on trumpet, Ken Warner on piano, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums. Players vocalize a bit at times – in an older Shepp way – and titles include "Down Home New York", "May 16th", "Down Home New York", "Straight Street", and "The 4th World". Little Red Moon features some nicely spiritual currents too – with a group that includes Enrico Rava on trumpet – on titles that include "Naima", "Impromptu", "Whisper Not", and "Little Red Moon". California Meeting is a live set from the west coast – featuring some very long tracks with George Cables on piano, Herbie Lewis on bass, and Eddie Marshall on drums – plus bluesman Royal Blue on one track too. All four albums come in a box, in tiny recor-style sleeves! CD

A tremendous look at one of the coolest jazz labels of all time – and one that has an especially strong focus on the more spiritual side of its music! The paired Black Saint and Soul Note labels came along from the Italian scene right at a time when so many other American companies were shutting their doors – former spiritual jazz powerhouses like Strata East, Impulse, and Black Jazz were moving beyond the music, or disappearing entirely – which made the role of Black Saint/Soul Note such a crucial one! The company came into the game at a time of boundless creativity in American jazz – and really captured a post-Coltrane generation that was brimming over with fire and new ideas, but just needed a place to find expression – which it did at the label, who recorded dozens of albums in the space of less than a decade, nearly all of which have gone onto become classics over the years. And while there's a side of the label that's much more free jazz and avant garde, the cuts here reflect a Black Saint/Soul Note that's just slightly inside – tunes that are still freewheeling, but also have a rhythmic core – and the kinds of open, soaring solos that were first inspired in the 60s generation of Coltrane and Shepp. The choice of cuts is great – similar to the others in the If Music series – and titles include "Mr Seven" by M'Booom, "Joycie Girl" by Don Pullen with Sam Rivers, "Il Giro Del Giorno In 80 Mondi" by Enrico Rava, "Oasis" by Hamiet Bluiett, "Confessin" by John Stubblefield, "Joobubie" by George Adams & Dannie Richmond, "Verde Que Eu Te Quero Ver" by Rava String Band, "Down Home In New York" by Archie Shepp, "BK" by Air, and "The Nagual Julian" by Billy Bang Sextet. LP, Vinyl record album

A wealth of great music from pianist Paul Bley – all of it recorded for the Soul Note label, where Bley really got a chance to explore some ideas that might not have appeared in other venues! Some of the work here follows on the seminal Bley sides for ECM in the 70s – either solo material, or work that has Paul paired up with a key contemporary – such as drummer Paul Motian or bassist Gary Peacock. Both other work features bigger groups – one a quartet with guitarist John Scofield, the other a combo with John Abercrombie on guitar, Red Mitchell on bass, and Barry Altschul on drums. One real treasure is a trio date with the great Jimmy Giuffre on clarinet and Steve Swallow on bass – and another trio outing features Tony Oxley on drums and Furio Di Castri on bass. There's plenty more surprises within – and the package features 9 full albums, all with original artwork – records that include Sonor, Tango Palace, Hot, Notes, Mindset, Live At Sweet Basil, Memoirs, Conversations With A Goose, and Chaos. CD

Tenor sax and bass clarinet player's excellent series of Octet efforts for Black Saint in the 80s – a run of brilliant albums with lineups featuring Henry Threadgill, Olu Dara, Butch Morris, George Lewis, Anthony Davis, Bobby Bradford, Hugh Ragin, James Spaulding and other great players – 5 albums in a CD box set in the Complete Remastered Recordings On Black Saint & Soul Note series! It includes the Ming album from 1980, Home from '82, Murray's Steps (released in '83), New Life from '87 and Hope Scope from '91 – each in a cardboard sleeve with the original album art and each remastered. CD

Plenty of sass, and plenty of soul – a great mix of modes from the mighty Lou Donaldson – who's still pretty darn funky here, but in a way that's different than his small combo records from a few years before! The set has Lou expanding his sound a bit from the harder funk of Blue Note dates from a few years before – working with arranger George Butler, who gives the record a cool electric vibe – almost like some hip early 70s soundtrack, but with Lou Donaldson alto solos over the top! Great proof of that is Donaldson's classic take on the "Sanford & Son Theme" – done here in a way that stretches out a lot more than the original – and other nice funky tracks include "Inner Space", "City Country City", "Pillow Talk", and "Sassy Soul Strut". CD

Pure genius from Lou Donaldson – proof that his voice on the alto sax was one of the freshest in the post-Charlie Parker years! Lou's blowing here with a lively intensity that's clearly inspired by Parker, but which diverges from it quite a bit – taking a similar blend of inspiration and rediscovery that Jackie McLean was using on his Blue Note sessions of the time, but going in a much more soul-based direction than Jackie ever did. The group on the set's great too – with Donaldson's frequent accompanist Herman Foster on piano, always a treat on any set – plus Peck Morrison on bass, Dave Bailey on drums, and Ray Barretto kicking up a nice little groove on conga! Titles include "Herman's Mambo", "Peck Time", "Groove Junction", and "Grits & Gravy". CD

One of the key classics from the hardbop years of Blue Note – the kind of album that really set the label apart from the rest at the time! Soul Station is a deceptively simple album that has tenor giant Hank Mobley playing standards and originals in a quartet with Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Blakey on drums– a spare and simple group, but one with a direct energy that's really amazing – in a way that makes for some of Mobley's best solos on record! The tracks here are all relatively basic in construction, but this territory allows all players to really relax and open up – especially Mobley, who really dominates the proceedings with some well-blown lines on tenor. Blakey's work is great too – nicely restrained, and the date marks one of his last sessions ever as a sideman. Titles include "Soul Station", "Split Feelin's", "Dig Dis", and "This I Dig Of You". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the key classics from the hardbop years of Blue Note – the kind of album that really set the label apart from the rest at the time! Soul Station is a deceptively simple album that has tenor giant Hank Mobley playing standards and originals in a quartet with Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Blakey on drums– a spare and simple group, but one with a direct energy that's really amazing – in a way that makes for some of Mobley's best solos on record! The tracks here are all relatively basic in construction, but this territory allows all players to really relax and open up – especially Mobley, who really dominates the proceedings with some well-blown lines on tenor. Blakey's work is great too – nicely restrained, and the date marks one of his last sessions ever as a sideman. Titles include "Soul Station", "Split Feelin's", "Dig Dis", and "This I Dig Of You". CD

DJ Muro's got plenty cooking in his sweet Soul Kitchen – a killer batch of rare grooves from the vaults of Blue Note and Capitol Records – all mixed together in one massive, all-official collection! The set's a perfect example of why we trust Muro with grooves more than just about anyone else – because even in familiar territory, he finds a way of unlocking more in the tracks than we might have expected – and given the scope of this set, he's also stepping out into plenty of unfamiliar territory too! The mix is very soul-based – and there's loads of warm, jazzy, modern soul numbers that beautifully revive a Capitol Rare spirit – mixed carefully by Muro in ways that don't break down the tunes that much, but really manage to get to their essence quickly. Titles include "Inside Your Love" by Leon Ware, "Sunshine" by Nancy Wilson, "Koko & Lee Roe" by Gene Harris, "Can't Hide Love" by Carmen McRae, "I've Got You On My Mind" by Jorge Dalto, "Feel Like Makin Love" by Shirley Bassey, "Stop Running Away From Love" by Bobby Lyle, "Loving You Gets Better With Time" by Lea Roberts, "Let Me Love You Where It Hurts" by Future Flight, "Reaching For The Sky" by Peabo Bryson, "With You" by Perry & Sanlin, and "Lover To Lover" by Maxi. CD

Tracks include "Slow Drag", "Mustang", "Jellyroll", "Books Bossa", "West Of Pecos", "The Weasil", "The Dude", and "Blackjack" – 9 tracks in all. CD

One of the few Blue Note albums with a bossa groove – and a great one too! The record features soulful tenor star Ike Quebec blowing in front of Brazilian-styled rhythms laid out by a combo that includes Kenny Burrell on guitar, and a duo of Latin percussionists! Willie Bobo plays drums on the session, and the cuts have a short groovy feel, with a sax-heavy lead, in a similar style to Stan Getz's bossa work on Verve – but much more soulful overall, and with a nicely rougher feel on the rhythms. Really great stuff, and with titles that include "Loie", "Goin Home", "Favela", "Blue Samba", and "Shu Shu". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the strangest albums ever recorded for Blue Note – and one of the coolest, too! Duke Pearson recorded this set in 1969 – during the middle of his last productive period of activity, at a time when he was doing some tremendous genre-crossing jazz that really broke from his earlier styles. The set's got Duke on acoustic piano and celeste – backed by a rhythm section that includes Bob Cranshaw on bass and Mickey Roker on drums, plus Airto on percussion! The sound's more open, more free than you'd expect for a Christmas album – extremely soulful overall, in a mode that makes for some great readings of "Sleigh Ride", "Wassail Song", "Go Tell It On The Mountain", "Jingle Bells", and "Little Drummer Boy". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the strangest albums ever recorded for Blue Note – and one of the coolest, too! Duke Pearson recorded this set in 1969 – during the middle of his last productive period of activity, at a time when he was doing some tremendous genre-crossing jazz that really broke from his earlier styles. The set's got Duke on acoustic piano and celeste – backed by a rhythm section that includes Bob Cranshaw on bass and Mickey Roker on drums, plus Airto on percussion! The sound's more open, more free than you'd expect for a Christmas album – extremely soulful overall, in a mode that makes for some great readings of "Sleigh Ride", "Wassail Song", "Go Tell It On The Mountain", "Jingle Bells", and "Little Drummer Boy". CD

One of the key classics from the hardbop years of Blue Note – the kind of album that really set the label apart from the rest at the time! Soul Station is a deceptively simple album that has tenor giant Hank Mobley playing standards and originals in a quartet with Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Blakey on drums– a spare and simple group, but one with a direct energy that's really amazing – in a way that makes for some of Mobley's best solos on record! The tracks here are all relatively basic in construction, but this territory allows all players to really relax and open up – especially Mobley, who really dominates the proceedings with some well-blown lines on tenor. Blakey's work is great too – nicely restrained, and the date marks one of his last sessions ever as a sideman. Titles include "Soul Station", "Split Feelin's", "Dig Dis", and "This I Dig Of You". CD

A live recording with Borah Bergman on piano and Oliver Lake on alto and soprano sax. CD

Paul Bley on piano and Gary Peacock on bass. CD

Groundbreaking material from Bill Dixon – some of his best-remembered recordings of the later years, and a seminal set that showed that his talents were every bit as sharp as they were when he first emerged on the scene in the 60s! The work here has a very compositional feel – one that's still never too serious, and which allows more than enough space for jazz-based expression – especially on the trumpet and piano lines that step out with a singular feel amidst some of the darker tones of the ensemble. Players include Dixon on trumpet and piano, Arthur Brooks and Stephen Haynes on trumpet, Stephen Horenstein on tenor and baritone sax, Alan Silva on bass, and Freddie Waits on drums. Titles include "Summer Song/One/Morning", "Summer Song/Two/Evening", "Firenze" and the lengthy "For Cecil Taylor – Almost Anacrusis/Conversation/New Slow Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

A monstrous bit of jazz funk from drummer Alphonse Mouzon – spacey tracks in a choppy style that reminds us a bit of some of the best European fusion albums from the period, but with a harder groove overall! Mini Moog and ARP trip out the sound throughout, but the underlying rhythms are nice and heavy. Lee Ritenour's on guitar, and he gets a lot of play on the record – but the main groove is Alphonse's heavy funky snakefoot! Al's drums and percussion are furiously frenetic, and he also plays a lot of keyboards – and other players include Tom Scott on tenor, Dave Grusin on clavinet, Victor Feldman on bongos and congas, and Charles Meeks on bass. A few tracks have vocals – by Marty McCall, Jackie Ward, and Caroline Willis – as well as Alphonse himself and the album's also got two very nice break-oriented tracks – "Snake Walk" and "New York City" – both with nice hard drums! Titles include a number of other good fusion groovers, like "Without A Reason", "Just Like the Sun", "Before You Leave", "Just Like The Sun", and "Mouzon Moves On". CD

Jerry Steinhilber on drums and cymbals, Larry Kohut on bass, Jim Trompeter on piano, and George Garzone on tenor and soprano saxophone. CD

Features percussion from Nana Vasconcelos and piano and accordion from Antonello Salis! LP, Vinyl record album

Glenn Horiuchi on piano, Francis Wong on flute and tenor saxophone, Taiji Miyagawa on bass, and Leon Alexander on vibraphone and drums. CD

A dark quartet side that features the great John Taylor on piano – alongside Furio DiCastri on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums! Taylor really brings out some moody moments alongside Kenny Wheeler's trumpet – and titles include "Phrase One", "Summer Night", "All The More", and "Kind Of Bill". CD

Paul Bley on solo piano. CD

Clifford Brown only recorded a handful of sides for Blue Note – but all of the best ones are included in this excellent album – a full length set that culls together Brown's material from the 10" years, issued as a memorial to his early death in 1956! Side one features Brown with the modernist Gigi Gryce on flute and alto sax – plus Charlie Rouse on tenor, John Lewis on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Art Blakey on drums – a lineup that has a strong sense of soul, balanced with a dose of modernism – on titles that include the classic "Hymn to the Orient" – worth the price of the album alone – plus "Easy Living", "Cherokee", "Wail Bait", and "Minor Mood". Side two features an equally sharp group – with Lou Donaldson on some excellent alto, and the great Elmo Hope on piano – on titles that include "Brownie Speaks", "De Dah", "Cookin", "You Go To My Head", and "Carving The Rock". CD

A posthumous collection of material that Sam recorded for RCA before his untimely death – not really a greatest hits collection, but a lot better than the usual "house cleaning" type of record that gets issued in this sort of situation. 11 tracks in all, including "Blowin' In The Wind", "(Somebody) Ease My Troublin' Mind", "Nobody Knows You When You're Down & Out", "Danny Boy", "The Great Pretender", "Send Me Some Lovin'", "I Ain't Gonna Cheat On You No More", "Falling In Love", "Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do", "Willow Weep For Me" and "Try A Little Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A gospel record, but one that lets you know that there's something different going on from the very first note – which seems to be the kind of sound you'd expect more from a blacksploitation soundtrack than any kind of album cooked up in a church! That difference hangs on throughout the entire set – which might well rank up there with some of the most soulful gospel albums of all time – a distinction that's even more amazing when you flip over the cover, and realize that some of the members of the group were kids! Yet the album has a much deeper sound than any children's chorus records of the time – and maybe could be seen as a gospel equivalent to the famous Latin album by the Harlem Youth Percussion Ensemble – a set that's equally rare in the original, and equally deep in terms of quality. Titles include "Anyway", "Will You Be Ready", "My Soul Says Yes", "Love Is The Answer", "I'm Prayin", "Don't Let Your Heart Be Troubled", and "Standing Looking Over Jordan". CD

A gospel record, but one that lets you know that there's something different going on from the very first note – which seems to be the kind of sound you'd expect more from a blacksploitation soundtrack than any kind of album cooked up in a church! That difference hangs on throughout the entire set – which might well rank up there with some of the most soulful gospel albums of all time – a distinction that's even more amazing when you flip over the cover, and realize that some of the members of the group were kids! Yet the album has a much deeper sound than any children's chorus records of the time – and maybe could be seen as a gospel equivalent to the famous Latin album by the Harlem Youth Percussion Ensemble – a set that's equally rare in the original, and equally deep in terms of quality. Titles include "Anyway", "Will You Be Ready", "My Soul Says Yes", "Love Is The Answer", "I'm Prayin", "Don't Let Your Heart Be Troubled", and "Standing Looking Over Jordan". LP, Vinyl record album

Lean, righteous blowing from the legendary Frank Foster – one of a handful of extremely hip sessions he cut in the 60s under his own name! The album's the only record Foster ever did for Blue Note – and we dare say it's even better than his previous 60s work on Prestige and Impulse – with a quality that's even darker, even deeper, even more advanced from his earlier years with Basie. There's a rolling, joyous groove to many numbers – that late 60s take on soul jazz that made for so many great tracks on albums by Hank Mobley or Lee Morgan near the end of the decade. Foster keeps things tight, but he's also got an expansive vision too – an edge in the horns that points the way towards some of the chances he'd take in the 70s, but which is still wrapped around a leanly leaping soul jazz groove! Foster wrote 5 of the 6 tracks on the album, and he's working here with a sextet that includes Garnett Brown on trombone, Marvin Stamm on trumpet, and Richard Wyands on piano, who brings in some offbeat notes and colors throughout. Rhythm is by the excellent team of Bob Cranshaw on bass and Mickey Roker on drums – and titles include "Seventh Avenue Bill", "Stammpede", "Little Miss No Nose", "Manhattan Fever", and "Loneliness". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible record from funky drummer Idris Muhammad! Idris is probably known for his funky break work on Blue Note and Prestige records sessions of the late 60s and early 70s – but by the time of this 1974 album, he was really expanding his style, hitting a laidback groove that went way beyond the simple drum break, into a world of complicated fills and riffs that forever changed the face of funk. The best example of this is the album's standout groove – the massive cut "Loran's Dance", which has a mellow jazzy vibe that you'll recognize from its popular use as a sample cut over the years (by the Beastie Boys, DJ Shadow, and others.) All cuts are long and mellow, and other titles include "Power Of Soul", "Saddest Thing" and "Piece of Mind". CD

An obscure session by John Patton, and a great one too! The set was recorded sometime between the end of Patton's successful run at Blue Note, and before he was rediscovered, and brought back out into the light by John Zorn and other younger players who appreciated his skill. The style of the album's great – in a mode that really recalls the farther-reaching organ work of Pattons' later Blue Note years, not exactly as modern as players like Larry Young, but clearly inspired by a freedom that was coming into use of the organ at the time. The group's an all-star one, too – with Grachan Moncur making a rare organ jazz appearance, Melvin Sparks on guitar, Grant Reed on tenor, and drummer Alvin Queen (who's label the set was recorded for), laying down some dexterous rhythms that remind us a bit of Hugh Walker's work on some of Patton's best Blue Notes. Includes a great reading of Dusko Goykovich's "Soul Connection", plus versions of Moncur's "Space Station" and "The Coaster". And oddly, this one turns up less than most of Pattons' albums from the 60s! LP, Vinyl record album

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

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Although Grant Green has been getting a lot of attention lately for his heavy-duty funk work of the late 60s, it's the subtly beautiful work of the early 60's that first caught our attention years ago. From the start of his young career, Green was an amazing player who had developed a unique single-note approach to soloing that was positively riveting. And while his appearances on other Blue Note albums were filled with a heavy soul jazz sound that had Green playing next to organ and tenor, material like this gives you a perfect chance to hear how well he could swing a group on his own, with little other accompaniment than a tight rhythm section, and some soulful piano from Sonny Clark. None of this material was issued at the time. Includes material that appeared on the later albums Gooden's Corner, Oleo, Born To Be Blue, and Nigeria – plus tracks from The World Of Jazz Guitar, and Blue & Sentimental by Ike Quebec. CD

Very nice 2LP set that collects some of Herbie's best 60s work for Blue Note – and which moves past the hits to feature some nice gems from hard to find albums. This work is a beautiful mix of tight soul jazz and freer modal playing – and nearly every track's a perfect example of why Herbie was such a genius in his early years. Titles include "Succotash", "King Cobra", "Goodbye To Childhood", "Riot", "Maiden Voyage", "Watermelon Man", "I Have A Dream", "He Who Lives In Fear", and "Blind Man, Blind Man". LP, Vinyl record album

An oft-overlooked 70s gem from Hammond legend Jimmy Smith – very different than some of his 60s work for Verve! The album's got a smooth complicated sound – with very long tracks that open up, stretch out, and groove in a much more sophisticated way than some of Jimmy's 60s work for Verve. The approach is almost similar to Jack McDuff's complicated Blue Note albums, especially Moon Rapping, as Jimmy's working here with Thad Jones on long tracks that have lots of time changes, rhythm shifts, and mood twists that really give them a dark dark edge. Titles include "Blap", "And I Love You So", and the extended "Portuguese Soul" suite, which is really tremendous! LP, Vinyl record album

Funky jazz and a touch of soul – all pulled from the short-lived but legendary Mainstream Records – home to a whole host of hip artists in the early half of the 70s! Mainstream picked things up from Impulse, Prestige, and other soulful labels of the 60s – allowing jazz musicians to stretch out with a new sense of expression, but often in ways that hit a mighty nice groove – kind of a 70s update of the soul jazz modes of the generation before, but with a few spiritual jazz touches too! You'll know a few names here from older Blue Note recordings, and they've got an updated 70s vibe, and are matched with some hip younger talents too – all in a great array of grooves that's superbly selected throughout. Titles include "Inner City Blues" by Sarah Vaughan, "M'Bassa" by Lamont Johnson, "Last Tango In Paris" by Blue Mitchell, "Betcha Can't Guess My Sign" by Prophecy, "Family Affair" by Dave Burrell, "Right Off" by John White, "Betty's Bossa" by Johnny Coles, "Little Heart Of Pieces" by Barry Miles, "Quiet Afternoon" by Buddy Terry, "Matrix" by Mike Longo, and "It's The Right Thing" by Pete Yellin. CD

Funky jazz and a touch of soul – all pulled from the short-lived but legendary Mainstream Records – home to a whole host of hip artists in the early half of the 70s! Mainstream picked things up from Impulse, Prestige, and other soulful labels of the 60s – allowing jazz musicians to stretch out with a new sense of expression, but often in ways that hit a mighty nice groove – kind of a 70s update of the soul jazz modes of the generation before, but with a few spiritual jazz touches too! You'll know a few names here from older Blue Note recordings, and they've got an updated 70s vibe, and are matched with some hip younger talents too – all in a great array of grooves that's superbly selected throughout. Titles include "Inner City Blues" by Sarah Vaughan, "M'Bassa" by Lamont Johnson, "Last Tango In Paris" by Blue Mitchell, "Betcha Can't Guess My Sign" by Prophecy, "Family Affair" by Dave Burrell, "Right Off" by John White, "Betty's Bossa" by Johnny Coles, "Little Heart Of Pieces" by Barry Miles, "Quiet Afternoon" by Buddy Terry, "Matrix" by Mike Longo, and "It's The Right Thing" by Pete Yellin. LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing work by The Delfonics – their first 2 albums, back to back on a single CD! La La Means I Love You is a landmark album in harmony soul – one of those records that pushed the genre to a whole new level! The Delfonics emerge fully formed here as one of the most compelling groups of their time – a tremendous trio with a really unique approach to soul music – one that's heartfelt and heartbreaking, but never too sweet to be cloying or poppy – definitely just the right groove to keep things hip while also cracking the charts! The album's their first full collaboration with legendary producer Thom Bell – and it's got a sound that's summed up perfectly in the quintessential cut "La La Means I Love You" – and which is followed through beautifully on a batch of tracks that includes "Losing You", "Can You Remember", "You're Gone", "I'm Sorry", and "Break Your Promise". Sound Of Sexy Soul is an equally groundbreaking album of vocal group soul – right from the first note! The record kicks off with the sublime "Ready Or Not, Here I Come" – which starts with fierce stepping strings that are actually funky, then soars into some of the best harmonies the group ever put to record, superbly arranged by the great Thom Bell, who also wrote the track. As the album progresses, the sound expands further to encompass many elements that would become the blueprint for vocal groups over the next few years – like twangy electric sitar, cascading orchestrations, and pinched lead vocals that take a lot more chances than most group singers had been taking for years! There's still a bit of a 60s soul sound to some of the cuts, but the album's a watershed – not only for Thom Bell and the group, but for harmony soul as well! Titles include "Ready Or Not Here I Come", "My New Love", "Loving Him", "With These Hands", "Somebody Loves You", and "Everytime I See My Baby". CD also features the bonus track "You Got Yours & I'll Get Mine". CD

We're not sure what "soul-stream" is as a genre – but given the strength of this record, we'd be more than willing to grant it onto Curtis Fuller all by himself! The record's a gem that's even more obscure than Fuller's already-rare dates for Blue Note at the end of the 50s – a crack set done for the Warwick label, and one that features an all-star group who've got a great blend of modern edges and soulful rhythms. Alongside Fuller's trombone, other players include Yusef Lateef on tenor and flute, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Walter Bishop on piano, Buddy Catlett on bass, and Stu Martin on drums – making a rare early appearance here. Titles include "If I Were A Bell", "Do I Love You", "Chantized", "Flutie", "The Court", and "Mr L". LP, Vinyl record album

Milt Jackson joins the Monty Alexander Trio – bringing a new level of sound to the group that had already been winning our hearts with their 70s work on MPS! The style here is easygoing and soulful – that flowing Alexander groove that reached its zenith in the 70s – and Milt seems to be very much at home in the setting, lightly kicking in some slightly sharper edges to the tracks. The record's a wonderfully well-rounded set – with a sound that's great even in the mellower moments – and titles include "Soul Fusion", "Bossa Nova Do Marilla", "3000 Miles Ago", "Yano", "Once I Loved", and "Isn't She Lovely". LP, Vinyl record album

The fantastic final album from Sharon Jones – a wonderfully deep talent who was taken from us all too soon! The set's maybe the ultimate setting for Sharon's incredible voice – as it features both her longtime core combo, the Dap-Kings – as well as additional backings from the Bushwick Philharmonic – a small ensemble of strings who really help elevate the music to classic status! If you're worried that the strings might soften the sound, the very first note of the record will put your mind at rest – as will the heavy drums that mark just about every track, and keep things hard and funky throughout. If anyone ever doubted that the Daptone label was our modern equivalent of Stax Records or Atlantic, this will certainly be the set to change their mind – and will also stand forever as a bittersweet reminder of all the greatness that Sharon Jones gave us over the years. Titles include "Searching For A New Day", "Rumors", "Matter Of Time", "Sail On", "Just Give Me Your Time", "Come & Be A Winner", "Call On God", and "These Tears". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible run of albums for Prestige and Blue Note – all in one nice package! CD

Hard, heavy, and funky jazz – a wealth of great numbers pulled from the Blue Note catalog, plus a few tasty soul tunes thrown into the mix to liven things up! Many of these tunes will be standard fare to the average crate-digger – but that doesn't stop the set from being an excellent package of grooves overall, featuring some late 60s/early 70s jazz gems that are quickly dropping out of the reissue catalogs! Titles include "Groovin For Mr G" by Groove Holmes, "The Beat Goes On" by Buddy Rich, "Walking In My Sleep" by Monk Higgins, "Zulu" by Gene Harris, "It's Your Thing" by The Jazz Crusaders, "Wack Wack" by Buddy Rich, "Trouble" by Stanley Turrentine, "Walk Tall" by Howard Roberts, "Listen Here" by Gene Harris, "Ummh (edit)" by Bobby Hutcherson, "Windy C" by 100% Pure Poison, "Move Your Hand" by Lonnie Smith, and "Back In Stride" by Maze. 16 tracks on 3 LPs – with the LP bonus cut "The Emperor" by Donald Byrd! LP, Vinyl record album