... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

Rare material from the Apollo label, recorded in Harlem with vocalists Willie Bryant and Doc Pomus. Features Taft Jordan on trumpet, Leonard Feather on piano, and Tab Smith on alto. CD

One of Jimmy Smith's biggest albums of the 60s – and a classic Verve pairing of his lean Hammond organ solos with the fuller, hard-swinging arrangements of Oliver Nelson! Nelson is working here at the height of his powers – backing Smith with a large group, but in a way that only seems to free him up to solo even more – pushing the tunes with an undeniable power from the all-star band, as Jimmy takes off on flights of soulful fancy over the top! Side two features some more stripped-down solo work – in the manner of Jimmy's later Blue Note sides – and the set includes the hit single "Walk On The Wild Side", plus the tracks "Bashin", "Step Right Up", and "Beggar For The Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible live set by Dr. Lonnie Smith – recorded during his 75th birthday celebration at NYC's Jazz Standard! It's mostly in a trio setting with Jonathan Kreisberg on guitar and Johnathan Blake on drums, working through raucous and intimate moments with equal skill. We saw Lonnie play not too long before this impeccable set was recorded, so believe us when we tell you, the next best thing to seeing him do his inimitable thing in person – even as late in the game as his 75th year – is right here! He wastes no time pulling us in with a great take on Wayne Shorter's "Juju", which feels SO good with Lonnie's electric keys, along with some great space for Kreisberg to shine, and the set has some wonderful mellower moments, too. Includes a killer cover of Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover", Smith's own "Alhambra" and "All In My Mind", plus "Devika", "On A Misty Night"and "Up Jumped Spring". LP, Vinyl record album

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 thing 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". CD

The greatest album ever by the Fall? We're always tempted to say so – because there's something here so perfect, so focused, it's hard to think of a better album to illustrate the genius of Mark E Smith! The rhythms are weirder, the lyrics more poetic, and the guitars a bit more razor sharp than before – yet the record's also not going as easily for the catchy hooks and clever turns of phrase that would take a bit of steam out of the whole Fall sound in years to come. Darkness, but delivered with a smirk – and a record that still brings us limitless joy today! Titles include "Joker Hysterical Face", "Hard Life In The Country", "Marquis Cha Cha", "Room To Live", "Papal Visit", and "Solicitor In Studio". 2LP version also features bonus material – live tracks recorded in 1982 and 1983, with versions of "Room To Live", "Words Of Expectation", "Hard Life In The Country", "Joker Hysterical Face", "Town Called Crappy/Solicitor In The Studio", and "Detective Instinct". LP, Vinyl record album

Notable sidemen include Ed McClary on drums, Duncan James on guitar, Smith Dobson on piano and more. LP, Vinyl record album

The first full length set we've heard from Shannon Harris & his Urbanicity fellow travelers – and it's a great one – blending classic spiritual jazz, Afro roots & Brazilian influences, and spacey soul for a unique, hypnotic groove! Harris blends live instrumentation with cosmic mood and production touches wonderfully – crafted with soulful vocals, bass, guitar and other strings, sax, flute, vibes and a host of earthy percussion touches – with a bit of a smoothed out groove that glides along and pulls you right in! Unpredictable from one cut to the next, except for it all being uniformly excellent! Guests include Brian Wesley Smith, Christopher McBride, Jube, Natalie Oliveri & Chicago Butucada, Alia Ammar, Cinery Achebe, Nosarnus and others. Shannon is the writer, composer, producer, percussionist and the maestro at the center of it a sprawling, yet insistent vibe. Titles include "Atem Ra", "Desperado/El Montuno (The 2nd Rising)", "Viva A Vida Como De Nao Hauvesse Amanha", "Leroy B-Boy", "Kinetic Energy", "Afrika", "Spirits Of The Black Experience", "States Of Receptivity". CD

50s compilation of mid to late 30s recordings by Mezzrow and Newton's bands. Notable sidemen include Bud Freeman, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Al Casey, James Johnson, and Cozy Cole. LP, Vinyl record album

George Russell performs with his New York Big Band and Swedish Radio Jazz Orchestra. Notable personnel include Stanley Cowell, Waren Smith, Babafumi Akunyon, Terumasa Hino, Ricky Ford, Sabu Martinez, Rune Gustafsson, Arne Domnerus, Bernt Rosengren, Sven Larsson, and Bengt Edvarsson. LP, Vinyl record album

Features Steve Coleman on alto, Greg Osby on soprano and alto, Bob Hurst on bass, Tani Tabbal on drums, and Marvin Smitty Smith on drums and percussion – plus guitar from David Gilmore. CD

A soaring solo moment for Lamont Johnson – the bassist whose work was a big part of the Brainstorm ensemble at their start – and who really makes some great magic here on his own! It's clear from the set that Johnson was one of the more spiritual members of Brainstorm – as the approach here, while still heavy on funk and soul, also has some deeper touches too – core ideas from Johnson that are expanded strongly by arranger Jerry Peters, whose direction of the project stands as one of his best studio moments of the time! The team of Peters and Johnson really come up with a set that pushes past the usual grooves of the time – with some elements that recall the jazzier spiritual elements from folks like Eddie Russ or Lonnie Liston Smith, mixed with more of the focus on the groove that Johnson's bass brought to Brainstorm. There's lots of great guests on the record, too – including Norma Jean Bell on saxes, Renae Williams on vocals, Ronnie Foster on keyboards, Lee Ritenour on guitar, and Randall Jacobs on the mighty cool Roland Space Echoplex guitar. Titles include "Sister Fine", "Hey Girl", "Music Of The Sun", "This Must Be Heaven", and "Yours Truly Discreetly". LP, Vinyl record album

Another great step forward for the legendary John Mayall – proof that he was never just content to copy American blues modes, and always willing to bring something new to the table! Although steeped in sounds from the delta on up to Chicago, the record's also got a hipper, almost trippier feel at times too – long-winding interplay between the guitar and organ, and some slow-building rhythms that shake off blues stereotypes, and mark Mayall as having an equal ear for forward-thinking 60s rockers. The group here is great – with Mick Taylor on guitar, Henry Lowther on cornet, Chris Mercer on tenor, and Dick Heckstall-Smith on tenor and soprano sax – all playing in a freely creative mode that stands the test of time surprisingly well Titles include "I'm A Stranger", "Harley Quits", "Killing Time", "Sandy", "She's Too Young", and "No Reply". CD

The historic first meeting of Vivian Jackson (aka Yabby You) and King Tubby – originally released on the Prophet label in 1976. Inspired by the book of Revelation, even without the lyrics on these instrumental dubs, the apocalyptic themes resound through the echoing horn lines and organ stabs. Like much of the Blood & Fire catalog, an absolute essential, cut by Aston "Family Man" Barrett, Robbie Shalespeare, Earl "Chinna" Smith, Tommy McCook & Vin Gordon. The tracks include "Conquering Dub", "Anti-Christ Rock", "Beware Of God", "Robber Rock", "Zion Is Here", "Hungering Dub", and "Creations & Versions". CD

A fantastic run of records – music that firmly established John Prine as one of the most inventive singer/songwriters of the 70s! Prine rose up out of the Chicago folk scene of the 60s – but he soon became something different than just a folk or country singer – even though he was admired strongly by both worlds of music. Instead, John's songs took on this new sense of wit and bite learned from folk, but delivered in a style that was maybe less preachy – but also not as rural as the vibe of country tunesmiths who were changing things up at the time. There's definitely echoes of the work of Kris Kristofferson or Shel Silverstein in Prine's words – but the execution is completely his own, and transforms wonderfully over the course of these records – at a level that shows just how much the singer was able to keep ahead of the pack, and keep his contributions relevant over the years. The box features the full albums John Prine, Diamonds In The Rough, Sweet Revenge, Common Sense, Bruised Orange, Pink Cadillac, and Storm Windows – in LP replica sleeves, with new notes, and poster inserts too. CD

A huge legacy of Detroit soul – all from the masterful hands of onetime Motown maestro Jack Ashford and his Just Productions team! Ashford's had his hands in countless great records over the years – early work with Motown, key Detroit Pied Piper Productions material, and all these excellent cuts from later years – done by Jack in a mix of Northern Soul styles, and some even funkier modes for the 70s! Almost all these tracks only got released on tiny little labels, mostly as singles – and the set also includes a few never-heard tunes from the Ashford vaults – although overall, most of this music is still pretty darn obscure. Yet that never stops it from being great – as, similar to Detroit contemporary Dave Hamilton, Ashford was always working at a top level – and always found a way to bring his A-game to the table, even if he wasn't going for a hit. LP version features the vinyl debut of a few tracks – and titles include "Payback's A Drag" by The Smith Brothers, "I'll Fly To Your Open Arms" by The Family Brick, "Sweet Baby" by Al Gardner, "I'm Gone" by Eddie Parker, "The Story Of My Life" by Billy Sha-Rae, "There Can Be A Better Way" by The Smith Brothers, "Don't Leave Me Baby" by Ray Gant & The Arabian Knights, "Stay Here With Me" by Sandra Richardson, "I Need Your Love" by The Stylists, and "Let Me Take Care Of Your Heart" by Jack Ashford himself. LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

Notable sidemen include Ronnie Bedford. LP, Vinyl record album

A record that's a bit of an anomaly, given that it was created in the time of Covid – as the Gorillaz work here with a whole host of guest stars – in the kind of musical party that most local authorities would shut down! Yet given the virtual nature of the group – the core of Damon Albarn and Remi Kabaka – the approach is a great one for the very unusual year of 2020 – as they open the creative door to contributions from Beck, Schoolboy Q, Robert Smith, Elton John, Peter Hook, Fatoumata Diawara, St Vincent, Slowthai, Leee John, and others. The record is accompanied by the kind of graphics that have helped cement the mixed imaginary image of the band – and titles include "Strange Timez", "The Valley Of The Pagans", "The Lost Chord", "Momentary Bliss", "Dead Butterflies", "Friday 13th", and "Chalk Tablet Towers". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that's a bit of an anomaly, given that it was created in the time of Covid – as the Gorillaz work here with a whole host of guest stars – in the kind of musical party that most local authorities would shut down! Yet given the virtual nature of the group – the core of Damon Albarn and Remi Kabaka – the approach is a great one for the very unusual year of 2020 – as they open the creative door to contributions from Beck, Schoolboy Q, Robert Smith, Elton John, Peter Hook, Fatoumata Diawara, St Vincent, Slowthai, Leee John, and others. The record is accompanied by the kind of graphics that have helped cement the mixed imaginary image of the band – and titles include "Strange Timez", "The Valley Of The Pagans", "The Lost Chord", "Momentary Bliss", "Dead Butterflies", "Friday 13th", and "Chalk Tablet Towers". Deluxe edition features bonus contributions from Tony Allen, Jpegmafia, Skepta, Goldlink, Joan As Policewoman, Moonchild Sanelly, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. CD

A record that's a bit of an anomaly, given that it was created in the time of Covid – as the Gorillaz work here with a whole host of guest stars – in the kind of musical party that most local authorities would shut down! Yet given the virtual nature of the group – the core of Damon Albarn and Remi Kabaka – the approach is a great one for the very unusual year of 2020 – as they open the creative door to contributions from Beck, Schoolboy Q, Robert Smith, Elton John, Peter Hook, Fatoumata Diawara, St Vincent, Slowthai, Leee John, and others. The record is accompanied by the kind of graphics that have helped cement the mixed imaginary image of the band – and titles include "Strange Timez", "The Valley Of The Pagans", "The Lost Chord", "Momentary Bliss", "Dead Butterflies", "Friday 13th", and "Chalk Tablet Towers". Deluxe edition features bonus contributions from Tony Allen, Jpegmafia, Skepta, Goldlink, Joan As Policewoman, Moonchild Sanelly, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra – and comes in a very cool hardcover book-style cover, with bonus artwork! LP, Vinyl record album

A record that's a bit of an anomaly, given that it was created in the time of Covid – as the Gorillaz work here with a whole host of guest stars – in the kind of musical party that most local authorities would shut down! Yet given the virtual nature of the group – the core of Damon Albarn and Remi Kabaka – the approach is a great one for the very unusual year of 2020 – as they open the creative door to contributions from Beck, Schoolboy Q, Robert Smith, Elton John, Peter Hook, Fatoumata Diawara, St Vincent, Slowthai, Leee John, and others. The record is accompanied by the kind of graphics that have helped cement the mixed imaginary image of the band – and titles include "Strange Timez", "The Valley Of The Pagans", "The Lost Chord", "Momentary Bliss", "Dead Butterflies", "Friday 13th", and "Chalk Tablet Towers". CD