One of Motown's leading hopes in the early 80s soul scene, and for good reason too! These guys have a wonderfully well-rounded approach – great on ballads and even more compelling on groovers – a balance here that puts them proudly in the company of contemporaries like Maze or Slave, with a sound that's sometimes right in the middle of both. Titles include "Don't Take My Love Away", "There'll Never Be", "I Wanna Be Closer", "Best Beat In Town", "I Call Your Name", "You & I", and "My Friend In the Sky". CD

A seminal bit of seventies soul from Switch, and a record that really helped set the tone for countless others to come in the 80s – no surprise, given that the group's got members from both the DeBarge and Ingram families! There's a warmth here that few others can match – an earnest, honest quality that never gets lost, even amidst the well-crafted instrumentation and tight production of the record – almost an updated legacy of the early 70s east coast scene, but never polished up too much at all! There's some wonderful harmonies that work perfectly on both the upbeat and mellower numbers – warming things up beautifully on titles that include "It's So Real", "I Wanna Be With You", "I Wanna Be Closer", "You Pulled A Switch", and "There'll Never Be". CD

Quite possibly the best album ever from Ohio funky soul combo Switch – and certainly proof that the hope of Motown in the 80s was in ensemble group funk! This second album holds up really well, and thanks to some sweet production by Bobby DeBarge and Jermaine Jackson, the record's got a warm soulful groove that hooks on the popular styles at the end of the 70s, but which keeps the group fresh and point to possibilies for the new decade. We really wish more singers and groups followed suit in the early part of the 80s! Titles include "Calling On All Girls", "I Call Your Name", "You're The One For Me", and "Go On Doin What You Feel". CD

A sweet sweet groover from Switch – post-Motown, but still sounding great – and if anything, maybe finding a whole new groove in the process! The quintet have all the warm modes of their best previous tunes – a touch of funk at times, but a vibe that's even stronger on tunes that have an open, mellow flow – that smooth-stepping groove that seems to really work perfectly with their vocals, and which gives this album a motherlode of old school jams! Forget the dated cover image, because this one's pretty classic all the way – with cuts that include "Switch It Baby", "It's All Up To You", "I'm So Satisfied", "Treason", "Keeping Secrets", and "Forever My Love". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the last records Switch recorded before Philip Ingram went solo, and the rest of the guys broke off into DeBarge – and an album with some surprisingly sweet soul moments! The funky side of Switch is still stringly in place, but this record has some great little ballads ballads too – with the band singing in a solid harmony style that's right upfront in the mix, unencumbered by the harder instrumentation of the funkier numbers, showcasing a soulful side that almost reminds us of the mid 70s east coast indie scene! Titles include "Love Over & Over Again", "All I Need Is You", "You & I", "Without You In My Life", and "Just Imagine". CD

One of the last records Switch recorded before Philip Ingram went solo, and the rest of the guys broke off into DeBarge – and an album with some surprisingly sweet soul moments! The funky side of Switch is still stringly in place, but this record has some great little ballads ballads too – with the band singing in a solid harmony style that's right upfront in the mix, unencumbered by the harder instrumentation of the funkier numbers, showcasing a soulful side that almost reminds us of the mid 70s east coast indie scene! Titles include "Love Over & Over Again", "All I Need Is You", "You & I", "Without You In My Life", and "Just Imagine". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the deepest work we've heard from Ken Vandermark in awhile – and that's saying a lot, given the overall greatness of most of his recordings! The set's the 4th from Vandermark's Territory Band ensemble – a larger group that allows Ken to explore grander concepts of composition and arrangement – working here in a mode that draws from the energy of his smaller group sessions, yet in a way that has a much sharper focus on the roles of the individual players. Ken's ideas are expressed beautifully in the album's 6 long original compositions – each shaded with different themes, tones, and colors, executed wonderfully by an international lineup that includes Vandermark, Fredrik Ljungkvist, and Dave Rempis on saxes; Paul Lytton and Paal Nilssen-Love on percussion; Jeb Bishop on trombone, Axel Dorner on trumpets, Kent Kessler on bass, Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello, Jim Baker on piano, and Lasse Marhaug on electronics. Titles include "Local Works", "Vertical 8", "Reverse Two", "Killing Floor", and "Franja". CD

Tony Allen never lets us down – and even though he recorded this set well into the first decade of his "comeback" years, an album like this still has the same sort of fresh, urgent feel that got him noticed again by a whole new generation of fans! There's definitely lots of Allen's roots with Fela in the music – the kind of Afrobeat grooves that Tony first helped invent back in the 70s – but as with some of his other recent records, there's also a strong willingness to play with tradition, too – mixing in unusual sounds and patterns that really keep things interesting, and which show why Allen's probably been the best ambassador of Afrobeat styles in the 21st Century! Vocals are by Allen and a few other singers over the course of the set – and the band's a super-tight combo with some especially great keyboards from Claude Dibongue. Titles include "Secret Agent", "Ijo", "Switch", "Celebrate", "Ayenlo", "Pariwo", "Nina Lowo", "Atuwaba", and "Alutere". LP, Vinyl record album

That's a Fender Rhodes on the cover, and there's lots of it on the record too – played by Frans Elsen with a wonderful sound, in a range of different settings – all heard here on rare tracks from the 70s that were never commercially issued at the time! Frans has a fantastic sound on the keys – an approach that's more in the European use of the Rhodes than some of the American recordings of the time – maybe the style you'd hear from Michael Naura, or some of the players on MPS – with a great focus on tone, a nicely spacious quality, and a strong ear for the other sidemen on the dates! The lineup here shifts throughout – there's initially four tracks with a septet that includes Piet Noordijk on alto, Eddie Engels on trumpet, and Wim Overgaauw on guitar – then more with Ferdinand Povel joining the group on tenor and flute, and a few others that switch bassist Victor Kaihatu for Rob Langereis, who's on the first four numbers. These tracks were mostly done for radio, and sound fantastic – with titles that include "Otta", "Skabu", "Ringebu", "Harpefoss", "Ah Mooh", "Mordor", and "Whirligig". CD

That's a Fender Rhodes on the cover, and there's lots of it on the record too – played by Frans Elsen with a wonderful sound, in a range of different settings – all heard here on rare tracks from the 70s that were never commercially issued at the time! Frans has a fantastic sound on the keys – an approach that's more in the European use of the Rhodes than some of the American recordings of the time – maybe the style you'd hear from Michael Naura, or some of the players on MPS – with a great focus on tone, a nicely spacious quality, and a strong ear for the other sidemen on the dates! The lineup here shifts throughout – there's initially four tracks with a septet that includes Piet Noordijk on alto, Eddie Engels on trumpet, and Wim Overgaauw on guitar – then more with Ferdinand Povel joining the group on tenor and flute, and a few others that switch bassist Victor Kaihatu for Rob Langereis, who's on the first four numbers. These tracks were mostly done for radio, and sound fantastic – with titles that include "Otta", "Skabu", "Ringebu", "Harpefoss", "Ah Mooh", "Mordor", and "Whirligig". LP, Vinyl record album

A crucial piece of aluminum that you'll treasure for years! This 45 adapter may be tiny, but it provides a key function when you're out spinning in clubs – as it easily allows you to slide 45s on and off a conventional turntable, thanks to its unique cone-shaped top! The adapter fits on the spindle of any regular turntable (even those old-fashioned ones with the drop-type in the middle) – and its size and design make it a lot easier to switch 45s back and forth than most other adapters on the market! Plus, this super-heavy aluminum version will always stay in place – and it's a solid piece of metal that can double as an extra weight in your hand when getting into an after-set brawl! Misc

A crucial piece of plastic that you'll treasure for years! This 45 adapter may be tiny, but it provides a key function when you're out spinning in clubs – as it easily allows you to slide 45s on and off a conventional turntable, thanks to its unique cone-shaped top! The adapter fits on the spindle of any regular turntable (even those old-fashioned ones with the drop-type in the middle) – and its size and design make it a lot easier to switch 45s back and forth than most other adapters on the market! Misc

The tenor of Stan Getz meets the baritone sax of Gerry Mulligan – and then they switch things around for half of the record, as Stan picks up the baritone and Mulligan takes on tenor! Gerry always seems to open up whole new sides of his playing when sharing the leader spotlight with another star – and here, in the company of Getz, he hits a shimmering, sparkling sound that's really great, and filled with feeling. Stan's wonderful too – very much in his best mid 50s Verve period – working in a groove that's deep and laidback, with a strong undercurrent of warmth – thanks to familiar rhythm backing from the trio of Lou Levy on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Stan Levey on drums. Titles include "Anything Goes", "Ballad", and "That Old Feeling". CD

The tenor of Stan Getz meets the baritone sax of Gerry Mulligan – and then they switch things around for half of the record, as Stan picks up the baritone and Mulligan takes on tenor! Gerry always seems to open up whole new sides of his playing when sharing the leader spotlight with another star – and here, in the company of Getz, he hits a shimmering, sparkling sound that's really great, and filled with feeling. Stan's wonderful too – very much in his best mid 50s Verve period – working in a groove that's deep and laidback, with a strong undercurrent of warmth – thanks to familiar rhythm backing from the trio of Lou Levy on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Stan Levey on drums. Titles include "Anything Goes", "Ballad", and "That Old Feeling". CD

The tenor of Stan Getz meets the baritone sax of Gerry Mulligan – and then they switch things around for half of the record, as Stan picks up the baritone and Mulligan takes on tenor! Gerry always seems to open up whole new sides of his playing when sharing the leader spotlight with another star – and here, in the company of Getz, he hits a shimmering, sparkling sound that's really great, and filled with feeling. Stan's wonderful too – very much in his best mid 50s Verve period – working in a groove that's deep and laidback, with a strong undercurrent of warmth – thanks to familiar rhythm backing from the trio of Lou Levy on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Stan Levey on drums. Titles include "Anything Goes", "Ballad", and "That Old Feeling". LP, Vinyl record album

The only solo album ever recorded by Maurice White – an upbeat and soulful set that's right up there with his best 80s work in Earth Wind & Fire! Like that group at the time, White's hitting a rhythmic side that's more electronic at points – letting beats and keyboard bits stand in for the previously-acoustic drums and percussion – yet all in a way that still retains that great EWF style of soul! Things are tight, but never too slick or commercial – and although the songs are catchy, they're never nearly as cloying as some of the other mainstream soul from the time. There's some surprisingly sweet moments that really show a new side of Maurice's talents, and titles include "Switch On Your Radio", "Stand By Me", "Sea Of Glass", "I Need You", "Invitation", "Lady Is Love", "The Sleeping Flame", and "Children Of Afrika". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible companion to the book Enjoy The Experience – and like that volume, a set that's filled with gems from the obscure sides of the American recording industry – vanity and privately pressed records that are plenty darn groovy, and pretty darn funky in all the right spots! The book is a painstakingly researched collection – and this soundtrack is just as carefully put together – with a great range of styles – heavily steeped in freaky funk, upbeat boogie, acid folk, offbeat psych, and trippy jazz! The range of sounds is really wonderful – with a feel that's somewhere between a Trunk Records or Finders Keepers compilation – and titles include "Intro (Excerpt)" by The Muzzy Band, "Spacing Out" by The Invaders, Diska Limba Man" by Medico Doktor Vibes, "Music Slave" by Jade, "White Panther" by Arcesia, "Never Come Back" by Boa, "ESP Switch" by Michael Farneti, "6.4 = Makeout" by Gary Wilson, "Just To Say Goodbye" by Russ Saul, "Cadillac Woman" by Stephen David Heitkotter, "Piledriver" by Dennis The Fox, "Old Time Feeling" by Circuit Rider, and "666" by Ray Torske. CD

An incredible companion to the book Enjoy The Experience – and like that volume, a set that's filled with gems from the obscure sides of the American recording industry – vanity and privately pressed records that are plenty darn groovy, and pretty darn funky in all the right spots! The book is a painstakingly researched collection – and this soundtrack is just as carefully put together – with a great range of styles – heavily steeped in freaky funk, upbeat boogie, acid folk, offbeat psych, and trippy jazz! The range of sounds is really wonderful – with a feel that's somewhere between a Trunk Records or Finders Keepers compilation – and titles include "Intro (Excerpt)" by The Muzzy Band, "Spacing Out" by The Invaders, Diska Limba Man" by Medico Doktor Vibes, "Music Slave" by Jade, "White Panther" by Arcesia, "Never Come Back" by Boa, "ESP Switch" by Michael Farneti, "6.4 = Makeout" by Gary Wilson, "Just To Say Goodbye" by Russ Saul, "Cadillac Woman" by Stephen David Heitkotter, "Piledriver" by Dennis The Fox, "Old Time Feeling" by Circuit Rider, and "666" by Ray Torske. LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty great little collection, and one that's got maybe an even more sophisticated sound than you'd guess from the title! The jazz is all South African, but it's also not that earliest version that was still tied more to local instrumental pop modes – and instead really has the artists already taking off in soulful, sophisticated styles of their own – really changing things up in terms of rhythms and very advanced solo modes! Titles include "Gafsa" and "Eclipse At Dawn" by Dollar Brand, "Mabomvana" by John Mehegan, "Switch" by Chris McGregor & The Castle Lager Band, "Chopi Chopsticks" by Gideon Nxumalo, "Uku Jonga Phambili" by Jazz Epistles, and "Ngola Kurila" by Miriam Makeba. LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful collection of work from Swan Records – the legendary Philly indie who was one of the city's first great sources of rock, pop, and soul – presented here in a special focus on female artists who recorded for the label! The package has some very well-chosen cuts – as a number of these were issued only as promo singles, which makes the whole thing essential even if you've got other Swan work in your collection – and even better as an introduction to girl singers and groups who were first beginning to forge the Philly sound! Titles include "Ladies Choice" by Patty Saturday, "Laughin" by Ginger Davis & The Snaps, "My Special Boy" by Kathy Lynn & The Playboys, "I'd Rather Fight Than Switch" by The Tomboys, "Where Is Johnny Now" by The Sapphires, "Nothin Much Tom Cat" by Ruth & Sherry, "He's Mine" by The Swans, "Hang It Up" by Joy Dawn, "Gonna Find The Right Boy" by Audrey Slo, "When He Comes Along" by The McKinleys, and the unissued cut "Bongos On The Beach" by The Three Degrees. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest collections to ever bear the name of Lux and Ivy in the title – a really great genre-busting collection of odd, offbeat, and unusual tracks from the vintage 45 underground – very much served up in the mix of modes the duo explored in The Cramps! There's a real love of the 7" single that informs the collection – that special sense of surprise and anticipation when dropping the needle on a vintage 45 – delivered nicely here as the package steps through a whopping 50 tracks over the course of 2CDs! Titles include "Kiss Me Goodnight" by Tony Castle, "I'm Gonna Murder My Baby" by Pat Hare, "The Chinese Rock N Roll" by The Flock Rocker, Annie Miss Fanny" by Mel Dorsey, "Story Of Susie" by Billy Woods with Kim Fowley, "Frustration" by The Zanies, "Too Big For Her Bikini" by Gerry Granahan, "Fallout Filly" by Chris Cerf & The Harvard Lampoon Tabernacle Choir, "No More" by The Uptones, "Tarzan" by Artie Wilson, "Zimba Lulu" by The Rays, "You Tarzan Me Jane" by Glenn Willings, "Choo Choo Train" by Ritchie Hart, "Little Lil" by Mel Dorsey & the Heartbeats, "Fallout" by Aston Martin & The Moon Discs, "Kalani Honey" by John Paul Jones, "The Switch" by Slim Marbles, "Miss Froggie" by Warren Smith, and lots lots more! CD

Bruce Springsteen famously gave Patti Smith a song to sing back in the 70s, then the Pointer Sisters had a hit with another tune of his – and that began a surprisingly long legacy of female artists picking up on his songs! We're not saying that Bruce is a feminist or anything – but his songs do have a penetrating quality that makes for an easy switch in genders without losing any intensity at all – and his tales of everyday struggles also have a universality that still holds strong, no matter the artist handling the material or the style of the performance! This set follows in the spirit of other titles in the Ace Records "songwriter" series, but with a slightly different twist – as many of the selections here are from more recent years, and show a surprisingly long legacy that begins with Patti Smith and goes right on up to the present. In addition to "Because The Night" by Patti Smith, other tracks include "Night Closing In" by Darlene Love, "Waiting On A Sunny Day by Piny Gir, "I'm On Fire" by Soccer Mommy, "Thunder Road" by Cowboy Junkies, "My Father's House" by Emmylou Harris, "Cover Me" by Thea Gilmore, "Factory" by Lucinda Williams, "State Trooper" by Deana Carter, "Dancing In The Dark" by Lucy Dacus, "Streets Of Philadelphia" by Bettye Lavette, "Johnny 99" by Shovels & Rope, "Fire" by Anna Calvi, "Nebraska" by Aoife O'Donovan, and "Highway 29" by Moa Holmstein. CD

James Hunter at the Daptone Studios – working here with Bosco Mann production, and a sound that's much rawer than before! James has always had one hell of a voice, but this time around he also gets a bit more bite in his music too – a funky undercurrent that's more late 60s soul than some of the earlier sounds of the decade on previous albums – almost representing the same righteous evolution in Hunter's music that so many artists themselves experienced back in the day! The new punch is wonderfully placed – and may well finally get Hunter the kind of exposure he needs – appreciation from the soul underground for his wonderful vocals, and a groove that's got plenty of deep funk and New Orleans soul elements. Titles include "Gold Mine", "Drop On Me", "Minute By Minute", "Chicken Switch", "So They Say", "If I Only Knew", "Look Out", and "Let The Monkey Ride". CD

A crucial piece of aluminum that you'll treasure for years! This 45 adapter may be tiny, but it provides a key function when you're out spinning in clubs – as it easily allows you to slide 45s on and off a conventional turntable, thanks to its unique cone-shaped top! The adapter fits on the spindle of any regular turntable (even those old-fashioned ones with the drop-type in the middle) – and its size and design make it a lot easier to switch 45s back and forth than most other adapters on the market! Plus, this super-heavy aluminum version will always stay in place – and it's a solid piece of metal that can double as an extra weight in your hand when getting into an after-set brawl! Misc

Great sounds recorded in the shadow of Sun Records – raw southern sounds from the early years of rock and roll – all handled by the tiny Big Howdy record label! The music here is a nice mish-mash of the kinds of sounds that broke big away from the cities – rockabilly with plenty of hillbilly in the mix, and often the other way around – and, as with many other indie labels in the hinterlands, the sounds here persisted for much longer than in the mainstream – as the label kept on recording cool combos and singers well into the second half of the 60s! As with other Stomper Time releases, there's a depth here that goes way past the obvious – maybe more than most folks might want, but a real treasure if you dig obscure "billy" sounds as much as us. 33 tracks in all – with titles that include "You Mr Moon & Me" by James McManus, "Switch Blade Sam" by Jeff Daniels, "Who Am I Gonna Believe" by BJ Johnson, "Ticket To Nowhere" by Tommy Tygart, "Flustered Monkey" by Dayward Penny, "Hard Luck" by Billy Blank, "Set Em Up Joe" by Ernie Chaffin, "Why Did You Change Your Mind" by Jimmy Swan, "Shackles & Chains" by BJ Johnson, "Lola Lee" by Jim Foster, and "If I Cry" by Vern Pullens. CD

A classic set of hard rockin R&B from Hank Ballard and the legendar Midnighters – as raw a batch of vocal group tracks you'd be hard pressed to find! The album features plenty of tunes from their "Annie" cycle of songs – including "Work With Me Annie", "Annie Had A Baby", "Annie's Aunt Fanny", and "Henry's Got Flat Feet" – plus gems that include "Sexy Ways", "Get It", "Finger Poppin' Time", "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go", "Let's Go Again", "The Continental Walk", "The Switch-A-Roo", "The Float" and "Keep On Dancing". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most striking albums we've heard in years from Ken Vandermark – an album of solo tracks, recorded in the living room of his home, with a wonderfully introspective and exploratory quality! The album instantly achieves a place in a legacy of solo reed work that includes seminal albums by Evan Parker and Steve Lacy – and the set features Vandermark blowing on baritone, tenor, clarinet, and bass clarinet. The set features 13 titles recorded in the living room, plus 5 more recorded live in the studio (how's that for a switch?) – with titles that include "Panels", "So Is This", "Lines", "Resistance", "Horizontal Weight", "Beck & Fall", and "Leaves". CD

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Oliver Lake on alto saxophone, Donal Fox on piano, Kenyatta Beasley on trumpet, Belden Bullock on contrabass, Neil Clarke on congas, Eileen Folson on cello, Maxine Roach on viola, and Ashley Horne, Regina Carter, and Sandra Billingslea on violin. CD

Acid rocky moogy stuff! The record's one of those "let's do a lot of pop covers on the moog" – and it features moogy updates of 60's tunes like "Get Back", "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "Feelin' Groovy", "Yummy Yummy Yummy", and "Time of the Season", which sounds the best of all the tracks. Russ Barnard put the whole thing together, and it's got a very groovy sound! LP, Vinyl record album

Moog, fuzz, and farfisa have never sounded so great together – and although these guys drank deep of the well of 60s pop magic before making this modern-day classic – they also come off sounding pretty darn original on their own! When this gem of a record first hit the world, it was as if all of us were hearing music from the cosmos for years, but could never find a way to make it part of our everyday lives. Then along come Tim Gane, Laetitia Sadier, and crew – and completely change the world for the better! An album that no home should be without – with titles that include "Contact", "Super-Electric", "Doubt", "Brittle", "Au Grand Jour", "The Way Will Be Opening", and "Changer". LP, Vinyl record album

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The world of moogy music first exploded back in the late 60s – when artists like Bruce Haack, Perry-Kingsley, and others were making all these wonderfully weird records that featured heavy analogue electronics and other playful elements! By the 80s, most of that music had gone away – some migrating to the world of new age, others turning more mainstream – yet up in Eugene, Oregon, there was a small scene that continued the electronic experiments of years past – work that sounded very different than most of the darker cold wave and industrial sounds that were popping up at other points on the globe. This collection offers up a long-overdue look at that scene – and features work from a collective of artists who really continue some of the hippest traditions of the genre – from the early records that Bruce Haack made with Miss Nelson, to some of the weird Mort Garson productions, even to some of the more wigged-out French psych/electronics of the 70s. Some of these tracks have vocals, some are instrumental – and they're all nicely "switched on" – providing a great bridge between the world of Walter Carlos and the Stereolab generation to come. Titles include "Energy" by Kim Carter, "Other Playgrounds" by Peter Kardas, "The Seven Rays" by David Stout, "Finale From A Walk Down Serenity Lane" by Joel Horowitz, "Self Regulation 2" by Carl Juarez, "The Ride" by Talve, "New Snow" by Peter Nothnagle, and "Patterns" by Suse Millemann. CD

Classic early album of electronic music that features some nice pieces by Walter Carlos – "Dialogues For Piano & 2 Loudspeakers" and "Variations For Flute & Electronic Sound" – both recorded in the years before he switched on Bach, and long before he changed to Wendy. Other works include "Le Tombeau D'Edgar Poe", based on a poem by Mellarme; "Vocalise" by Tzvi Avni, which features a Berio-esque juxtaposition of voice and electronics; and "Study No 1" by Andres Lewin-Richter, an attempt to achieve tonal instrumental qualities from electronic sources. LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked group from the Chicago scene of the early century – a group made up of very familiar names from the world of free improvisation in the city, but coming together here with a slightly different vibe! The real difference is the use of electric elements at times – both electronics from Fred Lonberg-Holm and Nate McBride, plus acoustic bass from McBride, who switches between that instrument and acoustic! The electronics are sometimes used in an abstract way to fill in space, and not dominate the sound – which then lets the tenor and clarinet work of Ken Vandermark snake out in some really cool ways, while Tim Daisy is also sometimes a bit more rhythmic than usual on drums. Titles include "Multi Chrome", "MES", "Straw", "Theater Piece", and "Lens". CD

Grant Green's last session as a leader – and although the tracks are a bit slicker than earlier work, the album's still pretty darn nice. The tracks are long in a CTI-type funky jazz mode, with arrangements by Mario Sprouse, and a nice little Latin feel to some of the best numbers. Green's solo ability is still quite good – and on the more uptempo tunes, he solos with that versatility and amazing dexterity that you'd find on his best earlier sessions. Other tracks have him in a mellower, more chromatic and Wes Montgomery-inspired mode – and titles include "Empanada", "Three Times A Day", "Nighttime In The Switching Yard", "Easy", and "Wave". CD

We love saxophonist David Murray in many settings, but one of our favorites is often a more stripped-down mode – which, with the right approach, lets Murray really open up and show us some of the more rhythmic sides of his playing! That's definitely the case here, as Murray blows tenor and bass clarinet with Brad Jones on bass and Hamid Drake on drums – both great players for such a session, especially Drake – who seems to bring as much melody to his drum work as David brings rhythm to his horns! The whole thing's a great reminder of how wonderful Murray can still be when he's got the right showcase – and the set's filled with long original titles that include "Necktar", "Anita Et Annita", "Rainbows For Julia", "Switchin In The Kitchen", "Am Gone Get Some", and "Seriana Promethea". CD

An early moment of genius from Warren Zevon – the kind of record that really set his talents part from the singer/songwriter generation that came before – and made Zevon a key part of a new era of much darker songsmiths! Zevon manages to weave in all these strange moody elements while still delivering songs that are tuneful – often with studio talent that goes back to an earlier generation of LA polish, but which manages to have a bit more edge here in Warren's company. The lasting highlight of the record is probably the oft-played "Werewolves Of London" – but the whole thig is filled with gems – titles that include "Accidentally Like A Martyr", "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner", "Nighttime In The Switching Yard", "Tenderness On The Block", "Veracruz", and "Lawyers Guns & Money". LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Katrina & The Waves, Tears For Fears, Men At Work, Dream Academy, Charlie Sexton, Gary Myrick, Strawberry Switchblade, Animotion, Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Scritti Politti, OMD, Arcadia, Paul Hardcastle, Bronski Beat, Belouis Some, and Lords Of The New Church. CD

Fantastic sounds for fans of funk and rock alike – music from the freaky, fuzzy 70s scene in Zambia – a place where styles effortlessly criss-crossed to really produce something new and unique! The work here is often heavy on fuzz guitars, but also has some wickedly soulful basslines and drums – so that although the tunes can be psych-styled, they're also pretty darn funky too – often at a level that's a bit like the Nigerian Afro Funk of the time, but much grittier and more righteous! The quality of the music and scene is explored in depth in the package – which includes a very detailed booklet of notes and photos – all to support the selection of music, which may well be the hippest so far from the Now Again label – and that's really saying a lot, if you know their other titles! Tracks include "Funky Lady" by Teddy Chisi, "Fast" by Salty Dog, "Rain & Sunshine" by Crossbones, "I Don't Know" by Born Free, "Fwe Bena Zambia" by Five Revolutions, "Who's That Guy" by Ricky Banda, "Changa Namwele" by Machine Gunners, "Poverty" by Cosmos Zani, "Dzikolino Ni Zambia" by Keith Mlevhu, "Running" by Blackfoot, and "Everyday Has Got A New Dream" by Dr Footswitch. CD

Ella Fitzgerald recorded one of her most successful albums in Berlin – a smoking live set that gave the world her take on "Mack The Knife" – and this set marks a fantastic second chapter to that record – unreleased tapes that appear here for the first time ever! The concert's from a different year than the previous record, but done in a very similar mode – Ella in front of a very enthusiastic concert crowd, running through upbeat, swinging takes on a variety of classics – all at a moment when both her vocal skills and onstage personality were at an all-time high! The group is just a trio – Paul Smith on piano, Wilfred Middlebrooks on bass, and Stan Levey on drums – but they swing things as hard as an orchestra, and merge with the vocals in a really wonderful way. Titles include a great version of "My Kind Of Boy" – with Ella switching around a lot of the lyrics – plus "C'Est Magnifique", "Good Morning Heartache", "Hallelujah I Love Him So", "Summertime", "Mr Paganini", "Mack The Knife", "Angel Eyes", "Cheek To Cheek", "Clap Hands Here Comes Charlie", "Taking A Chance On Me", and "Jersey Bounce". CD

The Flying Mojito Brothers didn't record in the 70s – but they love to take older records from the decade, mix them up, and create something really new in the process – contemporary cuts that are filled with echoes of classic AM Radio – but at a level that's often very much in the background, so that the funk and club touches of the Bros really dominate in the lead! The duo's edits have gotten great attention online, and are presented here in a limited package for DJ work – with titles that include "Do It Again", "Carry On", "Mudbone", "Riders On The Storm", "Tonight's The Night", "Union Man", "Keep On", "Nighttime In The Switching Yard", "Gold Dust Woman", and "Arizona Desert". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of early albums from Tommy Roe – back to back on a single CD! First up is Sheila – the full length debut of Tommy Roe – and a set that already shows his strong ability to put over a catchy tune! The title hit is an unabashed ripoff of the Buddy Holly sound, but the overall record has a lot more going on – with some cool Nashville production handled by Felton Jarvis, and backing vocals at many points by The Jordanaires! The set is the sort that was more likely coming from Cali labels like Liberty or Imperial at the time – and the mix of west coast pop, Nashville twang, and the range of material makes for a really cool package that's full of surprises. Titles include "Piddle De Pat", "Sheila", "Little Hollywood Girl", "Look At Me", "Blue Ghost", "Think About The Good Things", and "There Will Be Better Years". Everybody Likes Tommy Roe is a re-titled version of the album Something For Everybody – issued here under it's UK cover and title. The set's got Tommy Roe furthering that Cali pop style that was showing up in his music from the start – a bit of a surprise for a singer from Atlanta, and still handled here by Nashville producer Felton Jarvis – but with lots of the jaunty guitars and groovy styles that were breaking big out of the LA studios at the time! Titles include "Switchie Witchie Titchie", "Everybody", "Katy Did", "Sensations", "Standing Watch", and "Why Do You Make Me Cry". CD

A really great idea for a collection, and one that traces a really unique moment in time – that explosion of small indie labels on the UK scene during the early years of punk – a moment that opened the door for countless new waves of musical expression for years to come! Sure, the big labels recorded their share of girl rockers in the 70s – but it was up to labels like Rough Trade, Stiff, and many others to fully give under-discovered artists a role in the music – as you'll hear in this collection that starts with the earliest years of UK punk, and moves into some of the bigger names of the indie scene in the decade to come. As with other Cherry Red sets of this nature, the package is almost worth the price alone – a book-styled jacket with pages of notes on each of the artists within – to support a massive 4CD set list with 90 tracks by artists who include Margox, Cocteau Twins, Ova, Dolly Mixture, Amy & The Angels, X Ray Spex, Poison Girls, Androids Of Mu, Lene Lovich, Bright Girls, Toyah, Flatbackers, Lora Logic, Girlschool, The Slits, The Chefs, Au Pairs, Rip Rig & Panic, The Skodas, Darling Buds, Miaow, Primitives, Vaselines, Raincoats, We've Got A Fuzzbox, Strawberry Switchblade, Tracey Ullman, Pink Industry, and many others! CD

Fatback flying like the Phoenix – but hardly rising from the ashes, given that the group's always on top! The sound here is a bit different – slightly leaner than before, but in a good way – with lots of core keyboards from Bill Curtis, who also handles most of the lead vocals – although as with most Fatback sets, there's plenty of sharing on that front with the rest of the group members – a bit of harmony here, a switched lead there – all keeping things nice and fresh! And this time around, there almost seems to be more of a focus on the mellower cuts, which we like a lot – because we've always enjoyed the more laidback numbers tucked in amidst the group's funkier sets – so this album's a real treat, with plenty of mellow and midtempo groovers. Titles include "The Drum Song", "Lover Man", "Call Out My Name", "You've Got That Magic", "Big Brother", "Jump Up Baby Jump Up", and "I Love You So". CD