That's "Dytomite", not "dynamite" – and don't ask us what it means, either! But we can tell you that the set's a great bit of highlife, recorded with a lean, breezy feel – a bit more heft than just the duo pictured on the cover – with criss-crossing guitars, really wonderful rhythms, and dipping basslines that provide this bubbling sense of energy that really sends home the groove! One track has this cool moogy sound that's very unique, and the rest sparkle with a great sense of warmth that's only expanded with the vocal interplay in the lead. Titles include "Amanfoo", "Nya Asem Hwe", "Anomakoro", "Obaa Mansa", and "Meye Meho Ayie". LP, Vinyl record album

That's "Dytomite", not "dynamite" – and don't ask us what it means, either! But we can tell you that the set's a great bit of highlife, recorded with a lean, breezy feel – a bit more heft than just the duo pictured on the cover – with criss-crossing guitars, really wonderful rhythms, and dipping basslines that provide this bubbling sense of energy that really sends home the groove! One track has this cool moogy sound that's very unique, and the rest sparkle with a great sense of warmth that's only expanded with the vocal interplay in the lead. Titles include "Amanfoo", "Nya Asem Hwe", "Anomakoro", "Obaa Mansa", and "Meye Meho Ayie". CD

The first-ever album from the legendary Hi-Lo's – a landmark indie debut that went onto transform the sound of vocal harmony in the 20th century! The record's got a subtle brilliance that's hard to catch at first – a way of putting together the tunes that's often only slightly different than some of the group's contemporaries, but which already shows the rich talents that leader Gene Puerling would bring to later vocal experiments with Singers Unlimited in the 70s. As with most of the group's famous records, backings here are by Frank Comstock – perfectly poised on the gentle tunes, and nicely jazzy on the more swinging ones! Titles include "June in January", "Little White Lies", "I Don't Want to Cry Anymore", "She's Funny that Way", "Whatever Lola Wants", "Island of Desire", "You Brought a New Kind Of Love", "Fools Rush In", "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Where Are You", and "You Can't Hardly Get Them No More". CD

A fascinating look at musical modes in London during the big years of postwar immigration – a time when former residents of the crumbling British Empire were flooding to London for jobs and a better way of life – often bringing along a huge amount of cultural experience in the process! This set follows wonderfully in the spirit of previous volumes of the series – bringing together a range of different sonic styles that were originally recorded in London as 78rpm singles – where a new wave of Caribbean and West African immigrants were fusing older styles with a newly modern sensibility, and often a fair bit of jazz as well! The set list is wonderful – a great array of well-chosen material – and titles include "Wa Sise" by Willie Payne & The Starlite Tempos, "The Emperor Of Africa" by The Mighty Terror, "Royal Wedding" by The Lion, "Modern Telephone" by Dai Dai Simba, "Sons & Daughters Of Africa" by Lord Beginner, "Caroline" by Trinidad Steel Band, "Ema Foju Ana Woku" by West African Rhythm Brothers, "Kana Kana" by Billy Sholanke, "Boul Ve Se" by Calypso Rhythm Kings, and "My Handy Man" by Marie Bryant. LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

32 tracks from artists such as the Heartbeats, the Desires, the Monotones, the Pastels, the Elegants, Jackie & the Starlites, The Avons, the Beltones, the Legends, Shep & the Limelites and more. CD

With selections by Joey Dee & The Starliters, The Shirelles, Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford, The Sensations, Shelley Fabares, Gene Chandler, Barbara Lynn, Dion, James Darren, Brian Hyland, and Little Eva. LP, Vinyl record album

Includes 24 tracks from the Bluejays, Belltones, Original Red Caps, Johnny & Joe, the Quintones, Ann Ford, the Uniques, Starlites, Ascots, Eddie Williams, and the Five Royals. CD

With selections by Pearl & The Deltars, The Topps, The Charts, The Channels, The Du Mauriers, The Du-Droppers, The Federals, The Logics, The Empires, The Scarlets, The Skylarks, The Sequins, and Jackie & The Starlites. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most obscure Trojan Records collections of the 70s – maybe in part because it looks more like an airline promotional album than it does a collection of rare reggae nuggets! Yet the set is definitely the latter – a Trojan LP that brings together earlier singles recorded by Alvin GG Ranglin at a time when he was a key tastemaker on the Kingston scene – work that's right in the cusp of rocksteady/early reggae work, from a time when Ranglin was really at the top of his game! Tracks include a mix of vocal and instrumentals, solo singers and groups – with titles that include "Joan" by The Tidals, "Marie Song" by Fitz Major, "Sitting On The Sidewalk" by Ansil Linkers, "I Need Your Love" by Gregory Isaacs, "The Same Folks" by Rainy Davis, "Atlantic One" by Ansel Collins, "Hurricane Fifi" by GG Allstars, "Musical Coma" by Ranking Magnum, "Sensuous Woman" by The Maytones, and "Open Up Your Door" by Freddie McKay. This great 2CD set adds in 32 bonus tracks, most on CD for the first time ever – with work from The Starlites, GG Allstars, Keith & Dennis, Meditations, U Roy, Maytones, Vince Powell, Glen Washington, Elpedo & The Marveltones, Austin Campbell, and others – all served up with the usual high quality Doctor Bird notes and production! CD

Includes tracks by the Five Satins, the Spaniels, the Flamingos, the El Dorados, Jackie & The Starlites, the Idols and more. CD

Music from the Desires, the Heartbeats, the Monotones, Jackie & the Starlites, the Avons, Shep & the Limelites, the Elegants, the Pastels, the Sparks, the Legends & more. CD