A really beautiful performance from Oscar Peterson – and one that feels more sensitive and lyrical than some of his better-known live dates from the time – with long, beautiful work from Peterson on the keys, matched by equally sublime sounds from the bass of Ray Brown and drums of Ed Thigpen – the last of whom really has a magical touch on the set! The concert was recorded by German radio with wonderful sound – and took place at The Glocke, a setting very strongly preferred by Herbert Von Karajan, which is maybe why the group sounds so special here – almost as if they're enjoying the room so much, they've crafted a different sound for the moment. Titles include "Where Do I Go From Here", "The Golden Striker", "I Could Have Danced All Night", "The Girls From Cadiz", "My Funny Valentine", and "Blues For Big Scotia". CD

A heck of a step forward for Gregory Porter – and we're stunned to say that, because he's already had so many great steps forward in his career! Gregory's already been a hell of a singer for years – we've loved him since the very first note he ever recorded – but with a record like this, he continues to rise into the stratosphere of a rare few singers who can transcend both their roots and their genres – with the kind of trans-generational music that will have folks listening to this set for decades – and around the world, in so many different ways! The All Rise in the title is very fitting – as this is definitely a set to lift up the world – with titles that include "Mr Holland", "Concorde", "Dad Gone Thing", "Revival", "Merchants Of Paradise", "Long List Of Troubles", "Everything You Touch Is Gold", "Merry Go Round", "Thank You", and "Phoenix". CD

A never-issued set from this legendary soul quartet – a live recording done when the Staple Singers were working in Africa as part of a tour sponsored by the State Department – which has the group in front of a very enthusiastic audience for this smoking live performance! Many of the cuts are from earlier years in the group's catalog, and also include a few surprising tracks we're not sure they ever recorded in the studio – which makes the whole thing maybe feel more like a Stax-era recording, or as if they'd left behind a full set of work for the Wattstax concert! Titles include "Let's Do It Again", "Respect Yourself", "A House Is Not A Home", "Touch A Hand Make A Friend", "Will The Circle Be Unbroken", "Come Go With Me", "Ease On Down The Road", "Why Am I Treated So Bad", and "He's Alright". CD

Go out of the world with The Three Sounds on this sweet little set for Blue Note – as the trio are at their early best, and working with a care of craft that you won't find on other 60s albums for labels like Verve or Mercury! The mighty Gene Harris is in the lead on piano, moving between a great blend of lyrical and more soul-based styles – given great accompaniment from Bill Dowdy on drums and Andy Simpkins on bass – the latter of whom is an overlooked genius, with this round tone and solid touch that really holds the group together! Titles are a nice mix of exotic standards and gutbuckety originals – and tunes include "My Silent Love", "Just In Time", "Out Of this World", "Out Of the Past", "Sanctified Sue", and "Girl Of My Dreams". LP, Vinyl record album

Go out of the world with The Three Sounds on this sweet little set for Blue Note – as the trio are at their early best, and working with a care of craft that you won't find on other 60s albums for labels like Verve or Mercury! The mighty Gene Harris is in the lead on piano, moving between a great blend of lyrical and more soul-based styles – given great accompaniment from Bill Dowdy on drums and Andy Simpkins on bass – the latter of whom is an overlooked genius, with this round tone and solid touch that really holds the group together! Titles are a nice mix of exotic standards and gutbuckety originals – and tunes include "My Silent Love", "Just In Time", "Out Of this World", "Out Of the Past", "Sanctified Sue", and "Girl Of My Dreams". CD

A Philly soul legend finally gets his time in the spotlight – as drummer Earl Young played on countless classic sessions back in the day, but rarely even got his name in the liner notes! That lack of recognition is corrected here – in a great package that puts Young's face on the cover, details his genius on the drums in the notes, and then presents a motherlode of killer soul tunes from the late 60s through the 70s! Young's maybe best known for his work at Sigma Sound Studios, and on famous sessions for the Philadelphia International label – but here, he's heard on an even wider range of cuts – including late 60s Northern Soul numbers, and great album work by artists you might not normally associate with Philly. Titles include "Storm Warning" by The Volcanos, "Silly Silly Fool" by Dusty Springfield, "Hit & Run" by Loleatta Holloway, "I Just Can't Say Goodbye" by Philly Devotions, "Please Give Me One More Chance" by Clyde McPhatter, "Do The Hand Jive" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "Penguin At The Big Apple/Zing" by The Trammps, "I Can't Fight Your Love" by The Modulations, "Touch & Go (12" mix)" by Ecstasy Passion & Pain, "I Like To Live The Love" by BB King, "I'm Doin Fine Now" by New York City, "Ain't Got The Love Of One Girl" by The Ambassadors, "Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind" by The Spinners, "Do It Again" by Charles Mann, and "Be Truthful To Me" by Billy Paul. CD

A massive assortment of tracks that go way past the familiar – not a collection of standard classics from Blue Note, Impulse, or Prestige – and instead a whole host of jazzy groovers that we'd never have discovered otherwise! This volume of the series does a great job mixing in contemporary cuts with rare nuggets from years past – in ways that never make you notice the passage of years, as almost all of this work is rooted in a solid blend of tight rhythms and inventive improvisation – heavy on acoustic instrumentation, but with occasional electric moments too! Imagine the kind of groove that Gilles Peterson used to turn us onto years back, when he was spinning rare jazz records, and you'll get the vibe here – served up on titles that include "I Face East" by Mary Greer Mudiku, "Mende" by Jacques Schwarz Bart, "Mother Of The Future" by Venus Dodson, "Wanting Touch (inst)" by Juju, "Mambo De Papi" by El Caballo Y Su Orquesta, "Ponteio" by Miho Nobuzane, "Samba De La Cruz" by Tres Men, and "I'll Bet You Thought I'd Never Find You" by Lifetime. LP, Vinyl record album

It's been a decade since the last entry in this really wonderful series – and it's clear that there's been plenty going on in the Detroit scene as well – a continuation of that old school underground that has the spirit of classic soul alive and well in the Motor City! These cuts are contemporary, but they recall the heyday of indie label 45s that were issued in the shadow of Motown – really top-shelf work that soars with a spirit that shows that in Detroit, classic soul is alive and well – even after decades of other sounds from the city! Some cuts here have a 70s vibe, some a bit of an 80s soul touch, but they're all unified through a sense of personal care and commitment to old school modes – on titles that include "Anytime You Need Love" and "So Close" by Jose Hamilton, "Singing That Song Once Again" by The Carmichael Movement, "Portuguese Love" by Ping Spells, "I Won't Let You Go" by Faschone, "More Than A Notion" by Jammie Nelson, "Sweet Summer Evenings" and "This Time Love's For Real" by JazShop, and the cuts "He's Mine", "I Get Emotional", "Give It What Cha Got", and "Bring On The Night" by The Funk Factor. CD

The final volume in this fantastic collection of rare female soul from the 60s – and one that's maybe even better than the earlier entries in the series! The tracks here are totally great, and totally well-chosen – not big girl group hits of the time, but instead a treasure trove of under-appreciated singles on labels that include Excello, Dionne, Cameo/Parkway, Fairmount, Musicor, and other indies of the time – mix with a few 60s gems that weren't even issued back in the day! As always with Ace/Kent, the track list is superb – completely wonderful music that we never would have discovered otherwise – track after track of new discoveries for our ears, all presented with fantastic sound, very detailed notes, and enough tracks to make the whole thing a hell of a deal for the price. Many of these cuts have much more of a deep soul vibe than the lighter style you might be expecting for 60s female soul – and titles include "This Heart Is Haunted" by Kelly Garrett, "Hot Spot" by The Bronzettes, "Top Twenty" by The Delicates, "He's My Hero" by The Avons, "It's The Loving Season" by The Vareeations, "Just A Little Touch Of Your Love" by Saundra Franklin, "Sir Galahad" by The Elites, "That's How It Goes" by Jackie & Gayle, "That Guy Of Mine" by The Sherrys, "Everybody South Street" by The Taffys, "I Would If I Could" by The Sweet Three, "That Kind Of Love" by Diana King, "Nothing Can Go Wrong" by The Beas, and "False Alarm" by Tari Stevens. CD

Pressure Sounds does it again, with another fine collection of mighty, mighty dub! A much needed Blackbeard retrospective collecting 16 hard to get cuts from British dubmeister Dennis Bovell, rare dubs and instrumentals, plus a couple of outstanding vocal tracks from the man at the epicenter of the British reggae scene. Focusing on Bovell's early work, this collection brings some of his heaviest productions out for the first time since their original release in the mid-seventies, all propelled by his chubby bass playing and rounded out by his deft touch on the console. 16 tracks in all: "The Grunwick Affair", "Harmoniser Dub", "Dominion Dub", "Rowing (12" version)", "Zombie Zones", "Zion Dub", "Higher Ranking", "Ranking High", "Scientific", "Shi-cago", "None Jah Jah Children (Melodica version)", "Uganda Crisis", "Ah Fi Wi Dis", "Entebbe", "Blood Ah Go Run" and "Dub'er". As always, a wonderful package, with new liner notes and photos! LP, Vinyl record album

The third album from The Cars, and a set that nicely focuses more on some of the sharper, new wave elements in the group's sound – maybe more of a confident return to the quirky modes that got them going in the first place, once they were solidly at the forefront of the American mainstream! The keyboards and basslines often take more of a lead on the tunes, with the guitar lines nicely compressed in the rhythms – and titles include the hit "Touch & Go" – plus "Down Boys", "Misfit Kids", "Up & Down", "You Wear Those Eyes", "Running To You", "Gimme Some Slack", "Don't Tell Me No", "Getting Through", and "Panorama". CD

A triple header from the team of Stanley Clarke & George Duke – three albums together in a single set! First up is Clarke/Duke Project 1 – a mighty collaboration between Stanley Clarke & George Duke – working here in a pairing that refueled both of their careers for the 80s! In previous years, both Clarke and Duke had a penchant for really stretching out in complex, experimental modes – but here, they're playing in a relatively stripped-down and focused way – hitting some of the more soul-inspired sides of fusion at the time, although still without the slick or commercial feel of the rising GRP generation. Guitars figure heavily on a number of tracks, and vocals do too – sometimes in ways that are slightly too sweet and almost cloying. Tracks include "Wild Dog", "Louie Louie", "Sweet Baby", "I Just Want To Love You", "Winners", "Let's Get Started", and "Touch & Go". Clarke Duke Project 2 is a second set from the Clarke Duke Project – and arguably even more soulful than the first! The tunes here are still rooted in jazz, but strongly move into crossover soul territory too – with vocals from both Stanley Clarke and George Duke – and grooves that really make the best of their respective talents on bass and keyboards! The overall style's perhaps a bit more like Clarke's Columbia work than Duke's – bottom-up funky at many points, but never in clunky or overdone ways – balanced with the nice sort of polish you'd expect from either leader. Titles include "Heroes", "Try Me Baby", "Every Reason To Smile", "Atlanta", "The Good Times", "You're Gonna Lose It", and "Put It On The Line". Last up is the 1990 album Clarke/Duke Project 3 – a set that still has the pair working together in a near-seamless mode, on titles that include "Quiet Time", "Lady", "Finger Prints", "Always", "Oh Oh", "Pit Bulls", "No Place To Hide", and "Somebody Else". CD

Hard to miss with The Crusaders at this point – and the album's one of their stone classics from the 70s – just the kind of soulful fusion that few other groups could touch! The core trio of Joe Sample's keyboards, Wilton Felder's saxes, and Stix Hooper's drums is augmented by the guitar of Billy Rogers and bass of Robert Popwell – both players who slide in warmly to the grooves, yet still help the combo keep that lean, funky sound they first forged after dropping the first word from their Jazz Crusaders name. Things are never slick at all, and the use of vocals and larger instrumentation is yet to come – leaving the album a tight, right, outta sight groover all the way through! Titles include "Fairy Tales", "Merry Go Round", "Cosmic Reign", "Snowflake", "Covert Action", and "Bayou Bottoms". LP, Vinyl record album

50 brings the leaders of the '07 record sales marathon to Curtis – including Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke and Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls – plus G-Unit standbys Young Buck & Tony Yayo, and his longtime champions Dr Dre & Eminem. Titles include "My Gun Go Off", "I'll Still Kill" feat Akon, "Come & Go" feat Dr Dre, "Ayo Technology" feat Justin Timberlake, "Movin' On Up", "Straight To The Bank", "Amusement Park", "Fully Loaded Clip", "Follow My Lead" feat Robin Thicke, "Peep Show" feat Eminem, "All Of Me" feat Mary J Blige, "Touch The Sky" with Tony Yayo and more. CD

Possibly a bit campy, but not without some nice moments! The record's kind of a combination of Barry White, bossa nova, and loungey electronica – tied together with a stupid premise, but done quite nicely from a musical perspective. There's plenty of great elements of 70s soundtrackery in the mix – and the album's a mellow-grooving one that's got plenty of excellent keyboards amidst funky washes of sound. Titles include "Bed Sheet Shuffle", "First Base Bossa", "Exit 747", "Go Down Dixie", "Sombre Hombre", and "One Night Samba". CD

Upbeat soul from Sergio Mendes – but a record that's still got a Brazilian heart beating underneath! The sound of the set is very much in the best mainstream soul modes of the time – never too electric overall, but put together with a nicely warm groove that continues the legacy of R&B-influenced music that Sergio first started in the 70s. Vocals are by a variety of singers – including Gracinha Leporace, Carol Rogers, Leza Miller, Geoff Lieb, and others – and just when you think the whole thing's more LA than Rio, Sergio has a nice way of throwing in a slight Brazilian touch to remind you of his roots. Titles include "My Summer Love", "Carnaval", "Never Let You Go", "Voodoo", "Si Senor", and "Life In The Movies". LP, Vinyl record album

Mid 60s magic from a record label that only lasted a few short years – yet one that's gone on to have as much prominence for real soul collectors as the music of Atlantic and Motown! Loma Records was a small offshoot of Warner Brothers on the west coast – yet one that worked far from the hit territory of its parent company, and instead captured all these wonderful groups and singers who might never have gotten exposure otherwise – a few of whom would go on to record later for bigger labels, but most of whom lost the chance for fame once Loma closed its doors! The quality of the music here is incredible – really top-shelf productions, at a level that rivals some of the best Detroit studios of the time, mixed with some of the cool class of Chicago soul as well – served up in a style that works equally well for vocal groups and solo singers. And while Loma recorded some deep soul cuts during this period, this set focuses on the more upbeat numbers – as you'd guess from the "Northern" in the title – served up in a collection that not only features rare singles, but also a few unissued tracks too! CD set features 25 tracks in all – and include "Mean It Baby" by Carl Hall, "You Can't Outsmart A Woman" by Kell Osborne, "I'm Getting Weaker" by The Soul Shakers, "My Heart Needs A Break" by Linda Jones, "Bright Lights" by Delilah Kennebreuw, "Runnin Around" by Tony Amaro & The Chariots, "Baby Don't Look Down" by Billy Storm, "The Big Jerk (part 1)" by Clyde & Teh Blue Jays, "Better Think Of What You're Losing" by Tommy Starr, "The Man With The Golden Touch" by Charles Thomas, "Got A Thing Goin" by The Invincibles, "It's Your Love That I Need" by The Marvellos, "Just A Little Longer" by The Enchanters, "I'll Find A Way" by Bobby Reed, "Go For Yourself" by Larry Lester, "See The Silver Moon" by The Apollas, "Lies" by Bobby Freeman, and "If You Should See Her" by Ben Aiken. CD

Amazing soul from one of the greats of the 60s! This album was one of the first that Jerry cut for Mercury – where he'd begun working with the young team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff to completely rework the earlier sound he'd forged at Vee Jay Records. The album's still got Jerry singing in his wonderfully rich deep voice – hence the "iceman" in the title – but the songs have a bit more of a groove to them, with a soaring soul style that really lifts Jerry up, and pushes him onto a whole new generation of soul fans. The best proof of this are the hits "Hey Western Union Man" and "Never Give You Up" – but the whole album's great, and like most of Jerry's LPs, it's got many wonderful tunes hiding underneath the hits. Titles include "How Can I Get In Touch With You", "Can't Forget About You Baby", "Are You Happy", and "Go Away Find Yourself" – as well as other hits like "Lost" and "Only The Strong Survive". LP, Vinyl record album

Sarah Dash's first album as a solo act – after important early work in Labelle – and a pretty classy set of club tunes that benefits heavily from arrangements by Leon Pendarvis! Pendarvis gives the record the full and flowing feel of his best work from the time – disco, to be sure, on most cuts – but also with some broader arrangements that help take Sarah into some soulful territory on the mellow tunes – some surprisingly great numbers that help her push past the usual disco diva modes of the time! Titles include "Sinner Man", "You", "Candy From Your Baby", "Touch & Go", "Look But Don't Touch", "Do It For Love", and "Charge". LP, Vinyl record album

A bossa nova spectacular – two great albums, and bonus tracks too! First up is Muito A Vontade – a landmark bit of bossa – one of the first albums ever recorded by Joao Donato, the Brazilian pianist whose styles would go onto influence many in the coming years – and the US issue of the the 1962 Polygram album Muito A Vontade! Joao's got an incredibly fluid touch on the keys – gentle but jazzy, filled with lots of warm and soulful overtones that were sometimes missing from other, cooler bossa piano players. And on top of all of that, he's got a real flair for composition – and pens some wonderful tunes for the session, like the classics "Sambou Sambou", "Tema Teimoso", "Jodel", and "Vamos Nessa". Killer stuff all around, and with the great Milton Banana on drums, Sebastian Neto on bass and Amaury Rodrigues on percussion. Great early work from Donato – and the US issue of the 1962 album Muito A Vontade. Next is Bossa Nova Carnival – one of the first true moments of genius on record from the legendary vibist Dave Pike – a sublime set of bossa nova numbers, all written by the bossa pianist Joao Donato! Joao doesn't actually play on the record, but his compositions here are enough – as they help Pike find a new sense of space and pulse in his music – rhythms that really unlock his vibes towards their grooviest ends for the first time ever on record. Most numbers are heavily modal – a great mix with the bossa setting – and the album also features key work from Clark Terry on flugelhorn, Kenny Burrell on guitar, and Chris White on bass – whose loping lines really help shape the overall sound of the record. Also features lots of nice percussion – and titles include "Ginha", "Samba Lero", "Sono", "Carnival Samba", "Sausalito", and "Melvalita". CD also features three early bonus tracks – "Eu Quero Um Samba", "Minha Saudade", and "Mambinho". CD

A fantastic album by one of the best southern gospel groups of the postwar years – the mighty Fairfield Four, presented here in a very unadorned setting that really lets their vocals shine in all their glory! The quartet hail from Nashville, and have roots that go back far before they recorded this early 60s album for the Old Town label – an imprint who are probably best known for their doo wop work, which might be why they do such a great job of showcasing the group's stunning harmonies and amazing vocal interplay! There's just a touch of guitar or bass on most tracks – and the way the voices interact is incredible – topping the best 60s soul groups, and really tracing a line that shows how groups like this later influenced the mainstream. The whole album is fantastic – and titles include "John Saw The Number", "Every Knee Has Got To Bow", "The Bells Are Tolling", "At The Gates Of The City", "In The Old Time Way", and "Hide Me In Thy Bosom". CD

Jennifer Lara's a hell of a singer – maybe not the biggest name on the Jamaican scene at the time of the recording, but a vocalist who can easily go head to head with some of the hipper American soul vocalists of the time! Jennifer's got this way of sounding righteous and laidback at the same time – this subtle power that's almost like our favorites from the New Jersey/Philly scenes of the early 70s, with maybe a slight touch of deeper energy that echoes work of of some of the more progressive spiritual jazz singers too. The whole thing is as much of a soul album as it is a reggae outing – and titles include "A Change Is Gonna Come", "A Woman", "Loving You", "Consider Me", "Close To You", "Hurt So Good", "Ain't No Love", and "Love & Harmony". Great pressing – newly remastered, with bonus tracks that include "I Am In Love (session mix one)", "Turn Turn Turn (take 1)", and "Consider Me (alt mix)". LP, Vinyl record album

Soaring soul from Stephanie Mills – one of the lady's all-time hits, and for good reason too! The album really gives Stephanie's great voice a lot of focus – an upbeat, uptempo groove that sets her firmly on the dancefloor, but always with a touch of class – and a lot more depth than some of the easy come/easy go disco divas of her day! Thanks here is clearly due to the team of Reggie Lucas and Mtume – who strike strongly with the album as one of their key early productions – the sort of work that really helped push mainstream soul a bit further at the end of the 70s, and set some new tones for a lot of growth in the next decade. The keyboards on the record are almost as nice as the vocals – played by Hubert Eaves and Harry Whitaker with a nice degree of sensitivity – hardly the stronger keyboard voice of the early 80s soul scene, and often with a dose of jazziness that's really appreciated. Titles include "What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin'", "Deeper Inside Your Love", "Feel The Fire", "Put Your Body In It", "Starlight", and "Don't Stop Dancin". LP, Vinyl record album

Soaring soul from Stephanie Mills – one of the lady's all-time hits, and for good reason too! The album really gives Stephanie's great voice a lot of focus – an upbeat, uptempo groove that sets her firmly on the dancefloor, but always with a touch of class – and a lot more depth than some of the easy come/easy go disco divas of her day! Thanks here is clearly due to the team of Reggie Lucas and Mtume – who strike strongly with the album as one of their key early productions – the sort of work that really helped push mainstream soul a bit further at the end of the 70s, and set some new tones for a lot of growth in the next decade. The keyboards on the record are almost as nice as the vocals – played by Hubert Eaves and Harry Whitaker with a nice degree of sensitivity – hardly the stronger keyboard voice of the early 80s soul scene, and often with a dose of jazziness that's really appreciated. Titles include "What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin'", "Deeper Inside Your Love", "Feel The Fire", "Put Your Body In It", "Starlight", and "Don't Stop Dancin". CD

An extraordinary document of Mobley's earliest recordings for the Blue Note label! This box collects some of Mobley's hardest to find recordings and comprises of the LPs Hank Mobley Quartet, Hank Mobley Sextet, Hank Mobley & His All Stars, Hank Mobley Quintet, Hank, Hank Mobley, Curtain Call, Poppin' and Peckin' Time! Whew! If you know any of those albums, you know this is one whopping batch of hard bop that showcases the tenorist's soul jazz roots beautifully. The sidemen hear read like a who's who of the east coast scene of the 50s, with Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan, Milt Jackson, Art Farmer, John Jenkins, Sonny Clark, Kenny Dorham, Pepper Adams, Paul Chambers, Wynton Kelly and Philly Joe Jones all making appearances. There's a total of 56 tracks spread out over 6 discs, including titles like "Hank's Prank", 'Walkin' The Fence", "Just Coolin'", "Touch & Go", "Double Whammy", "Barrel Of Funk", "Lower Stratosphere", "Mobley's Musings", "Funk In Deep Freeze", "Wham & They're Off", "Startin' From Scratch", "Hi Groove, Low Feedback", "Double Exposure", "Don't Get Too Hip", "Poppin'", "East Of Brooklyn", "High & Flighty" and "Peckin' Time". CD

One of the most well-crafted Diana Ross records of the 80s – thanks to heavy production work from Gary Katz, who's best known for his classic run with Steely Dan! The music has a depth that goes past some of the more crossover modes of Diana's earlier records – warmer touches of jazz on keyboards at a few points, and a way of hitting a musical flow that really makes Ross sound even more sophisticated and mature! Ray Parker Jr also adds in a few poppier moments, but we can really hear Katz's touch on the album overall – smooth, but never slick – on a run of tracks that includes "Pieces Of Ice", "You Do It", "Love Will Make It Right", "Up Front", "Let's Go Up", "That's How You Start Over", and "Girls". LP, Vinyl record album

A very rare evening indeed – a sweet little live set recorded by Nina Simone during her soulful height at RCA – but issued years after that time, and only briefly on a small indie label! The setting here is wonderful – a small combo in the background with the great Weldon Irvine on Hammond, playing these soulful lines that are mighty lean and plenty powerful – spurred on by rhythms from Al Shackman on guitar, Gene Perla on bass, and Don Alias on drums! The record also features two female backup singers on a few cuts – giving the album an almost Sweet Inspirations like touch at moments – but overall, the feel is straight hip Nina – that unique blend of soul, folk, and jazz that pushed things to the next level at the end of the 60s! Includes the great original "Revolution", plus the track "The Other Woman", "In The Morning", "Ain't Go No/I Got Life", "Save Me", and "To Love Somebody". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet remakes of cuts by this hip Japanese group – titles tha tinclude "Words Of Love (reloved by Jazzanova)", "Beauty & The Beast (SBT supernova mix)", "Touch & Go (KM filtered piano dub)", "Hope (Kyoto Jazz Massive rmx)", "Rio (Todd's Rio rework)", "You & I Together (SBT space groove mix)", and "Andei Andei (long distance call from Brasil rmx)". CD

Once again, Talib Kweli delivers the goods, with thoughtful rhymes over tight, snappin' beats, and more than just a touch of soul to keep things nice! Guest appearances from Bilal, Black Thought, Mos Def, the Cocoa Brovaz, Pharoah Monche and Mos Def alongside production by the Soulquarians, Kanye West, DJ Quik, and Erik Krasno of Soulive (among others. . .) keep this long player fresh from start to finish. 15 tracks in all, including "Get by", "Shock Body", "Waitin For The DJ", "Talk To You", "Guerilla Monsoon Rap", "Put It In The Air", "The Proud" and "Where Do We Go". CD

The third Happy Days compilation of dancefloor soul and funk from late 70s and early 80s Sony-Columbia – with tracks by Jimmy Castor, The Nite-Liters, Idris Muhammad, MFSB, Vicki Sue Robinson, George Duke and more! It's all great stuff, from straight up soaring disco to fusiony jazz, group soul and more. 12 tracks including "Say Leroy" by Jimmy Castor, "Jaws" by Lalo Schifrin, "Come Go With Me" by The Pockets, "House Of The Rising Sun" by Idris Muhammad, "Reach Out" by George Duke, "Daylight" by Vicki Sue Robinson, "Africano" by Earth, Wind & Fire, "Touch Me In The Morning" by MFSB and "Afro-Strut" by The Nite-Liters. CD

Pop, soul, and a whole lot more – all presented here in a set of 12" single mixes that really rocked the dancefloor back in the eighties! Apart from the underground scenes of hip hop and house, the decade also had a great moment where lots of styles criss-crossed in the clubs – and found a way to resonate together, thanks to the mixing power of the 12" single – a format that was arguably at its height during the 80s! This set hearkens back to those glory days – and presents a set of 30 tracks that include "Wishing (ext)" by Flock Of Seagulls, "State Of Shock (dance mix)" by The Jacksons, "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You (special 12" dance mix)" by Miami Sound Machine, "Stop To Love (12" mix)" by Luther Vandross, "Hitmix (official bootleg megamix)" by Alexander O'Neal, "Freeway Of Love (rock mix)" by Aretha Franklin, "Cuddly Toy (ext mix)" by Roachford, "Out Of Touch (club mix)" by Hall & Oates, "Hazy Shade Of Winter (purple haze clean mix)" by The Bangles, "She Bop (special dance mix)" by Cyndi Lauper, "See Those Eyes (dance mix)" by Altered Images, "Life In Tokyo (12" ext)" by Japan, "We Are Detectives" by Thompson Twins, "Fight For Ourselves (ext rmx)" by Spandau Ballet, "Hey Manhattan (JFK rmx)" by Prefab Sprout, "Go Wild In The Country (12" mix)" by Bow Wow Wow, "Eye Of The Tiger (special ext European version)" by Survivor, and "Medicine Show (ext rmx)" by Spandau Ballet. CD

These guys may not be the baddest boys of the industry – they'd have to go a long way to reach that title – but they definitely do a good job of bringing a touch of attitude to the world of harmony soul – blending hip hop inspiration with old school formation, in a style that's similar to DRS and some of their other contemporaries! And sure, their name might make them seem like a bit of a joke, but the record stands nicely next to similar efforts of the time – in part because these guys can really sing when they want, a quality that's kept the record stronger over the years than you might expect. Titles include "Nasty", "Where Will You Go", "Addicted To You", "One Night Of Freedom", "Baby Hold On", "Da Choice Is Yours", and "Ecstasy". CD

Late 60s psyche pop on Atco from Bo Grumpus – a Boston group who only ever cut this one LP that we know of – and it's a groovy one! The sound has kind of tight pop combo groove with catchy melodies – fleshed out into trippier territory with some keys, trumpet, and overall bigger arrangements – some of which was done by Felix Pappalardi, who would go onto to bigger things with Mountain! Titles include "Sparrow Tune", "Think Twice", "Yesterday's Street", "The Breath O'Love", "A Knowing Young Touch", "Ragtimey Love", "Travelin In The Dark", "Brooklyn", "The Moon Will Rise" and "If I Came To You". LP, Vinyl record album

Genius work from Jerry Butler – working here with the early Gamble & Huff team, years before their 70s fame with Philly International, in a smooth soul style that would soon become known as Philly Soul! By the late 60s, Jerry's work with Vee Jay was long ended – the label had come to an end through financial misdealings, but Jerry was still growing as a vocalist, ready for new styles and challenges. Hooking up with Gamble & Huff was pure genius, as the pair were brilliant young producers, working magic with smaller groups – but ready to handle a talent as large as Jerry's with ease. Butler's name and style proved to be a perfect foil for many of their new and sophisticated approaches to soul – and the union instantly yielded some super-huge hits, including "Only The Strong Survive", "Hey Western Union Man", "Never Give You Up", "Lost", and "Moody Woman". All those great tracks are on this set – which combines Butler's first two albums with the Gamble & Huff team (Iceman Cometh and Ice On Ice), and also adds in 3 bonus tracks from other albums (many of which repeated tracks from these two, and are hence not correctly reissued on their own.) The set's a brilliant batch of late 60s soul – with a total of 25 tracks that include (in addition to the numbers named above) "Brand New Me", "Beside You", "No Money Down", "Go Away, Find Yourself", "Been A Long Time", "When You're Alone", "Don't Let Love Hang You Up", and "How Can I Get In Touch With You". CD

Titles include "Shake It Up", "Just What I Needed", "Since You're Gone", "You Might Think", "Good Times Roll", "Drive", "Tonight She Comes", "Let's Go", "Heartbeat City", "My Best Friend's Girl", and "Touch & Go". LP, Vinyl record album

The third album from The Cars, and a set that nicely focuses more on some of the sharper, new wave elements in the group's sound – maybe more of a confident return to the quirky modes that got them going in the first place, once they were solidly at the forefront of the American mainstream! The keyboards and basslines often take more of a lead on the tunes, with the guitar lines nicely compressed in the rhythms – and titles include the hit "Touch & Go" – plus "Down Boys", "Misfit Kids", "Up & Down", "You Wear Those Eyes", "Running To You", "Gimme Some Slack", "Don't Tell Me No", "Getting Through", and "Panorama". LP, Vinyl record album

The debut album from Crabby Appleton – and a set that's got a surprising sort of late psych vibe at times – almost as if the group were hanging on to some of the modes that first got them started, while also stretching out with some of the new sophistication that the 70s had to offer! That psych touch is maybe no surprise, though, given that the group's singer Michael Fennelly was in The Millennium – and works here with some heavier rockers who were in Stonehenge – all in a surprising mix of modes that really keeps things interesting throughout! Titles include the big single "Go Back", plus "Peace By Peace", "To All My Friends", "Some Madness", "Hunger For Love", "Last Night In Your Sleep Fred", "Some Madness", and "The Other Side". LP, Vinyl record album

You might not guess it from the striking image on the cover, but Joy Guidry's a bassoon player and composer, and one who works with a very subtle sonic touch – blending a variety of instruments and sounds into beautifully mesmerizing music that shifts between spare ambient moments and a few bolder spiritual jazz expressions! The album initially feels like some of the best work from the Carlos Nino camp of late – with lots of textures from different musicians and contributors – but a few tracks stand out as very distinct jazz numbers with a wickedly soulful vibe – "Angels" and a take on "Members Don't Get Weary" – both of which have vocals and a completely stunning sound. The balance with the mellower, more introspective numbers is great – and titles also include "Revelations 7:16-17", "Pick & Choose", "I Will Always Miss You", and "It's OK To Let Me Go". CD

Rare work from female pianist Jutta Hipp – an artist who's probably known to most for her Blue Note sessions of the 50s, but who's heard here on some German recordings from younger years! Most of the material is live, but well-recorded – and even at this point, Hipp's touch on the piano is sublime – very fluid, yet focused and hard-swinging too – at a level that made her one of the best hardbop pianists on the European scene of the postwar years. Other players on these tracks include Hans Koller on tenor on four tracks, Joki Freund on tenor on two more – plus a bit of guitar from Atilla Zoller and some trombone from Albert Mangelsdorff. Titles include "Serpentinen", "You Go To My Head", "Sound Koller", "Daily Double", "Gone With The Wind", "Erroll's Bounce", "Blues After Hours", and "What Is This Thing Called Love". CD

A tight little album from Tamiko Jones – one of the most enigmatic singers to come out of the south, stepping proud here in a sound that's almost in the Hotlanta vein! Tamiko's working with an assortment of Muscle Shoals musicians on the set – and the style of the album is a mixture of southern and modern soul modes – handled with a warm finish that reminds us of Gwen McCrae's best late 70s work, especially that on her Melody Of Life album, or some of the best work from Loleatta Holloway's pre-club years! There's a nice groove to the best cuts – one that works perfectly with Tamiko's surprisingly deep vocals – and tracks include "Oh How I Love You", "Long Way To Go", "Creepin'", "Chili Dog", "Touch Me Baby", "Read Me Right", and "Let Me In Your Life". LP, Vinyl record album

A darkness tinged departure for Kanye West – his electro hip hop soul tome 808s & Heartbreak! Kanye's albums are always newsworthy, but this one divides opinions as sharply as any major release of 2008. That said, we'll go on the record with some real love for this sometimes confounding, often brilliant batch of tracks. Kanye is mostly singing on this one, and brazenly flaunting the Auto-Tune vocal fad to a point in which he's basically daring you to hate on him for it – but the deep, dark and confessional storytelling and mostly downbeat tone of the songs offsets the arch trendiness almost completely. It's an interesting dichotomy, but it it works, giving some fairly morose songs a needed light touch. Ultimately, this is a brave record for Kanye recorded in a year that must have been truly wrenching for him emotionally – and it's not the kind of set that most people are going to love the first time they hear it. It took us a couple spins to soak it in, but we'll call it a success! Tracks include "Say You Will", "Welcome To Heartbreak", "Heartless", "Amazing", the hit "Love Lockdown", "Street Lights", "Coldest Winter" and more. CD

A masterpiece by Warne Marsh – and proof that there was always a committed modernist lurking behind some of his more straightforward playing! The session has sort of a post-Tristano underground west coast feel (if we can make up such a heavy handed term!), and it features a piano-less quartet with Marsh on tenor, Gary Foster on alto, Dave Parlato on bass, and Terry Tirabasso on drums. Foster's playing at this point in his career is wonderful, with lots of crispy icy tones that remind us of the best Konitz recordings of the mid 50s. Tracks are long and introspective, and titles include Tristano's "Lennies Pennies" and "317 E 32nd", Konitz's "Subconscious-Lee", and the original improvisation "Touch & Go". LP, Vinyl record album

A real hardbop treasure from Hank Mobley – one of the hardest to find albums from the legendary Blue Note 1500 series, and a title that's hardly ever been reissued over the yers! The session is a monstrous meeting of Mobley with two of the great young trumpet talents of the late 50's – Lee Morgan and Donald Byrd – really blowing in this open-ended way, but with a lot more focus than you'd find on a record that was just strictly a blowing session too! There's only 4 tracks, and all of them are great, long drawn-out hard bop classics. Horace Silver's on piano, so you know it's got a great groove – and the rest of the group features Paul Chambers on bass and Charlie Persip on drums. Titles include "Double Whammy", "Barrel Of Funk", "Touch & Go", and "Mobleymania". LP, Vinyl record album

Oh No once again delivers on the conceptual front – an allstar hip hop project built on Dolemite samples – produced and arranged by Oh No and featuring a stellar guest roster with Erick Sermon, MF Doom, Evidence, Alchemist, Big Pooh, Frank Nitt, Roc C, Guilty Simpson, Jose James, Phife Dawg and more! Rudy Ray Moore and his Dolemite are a vital part of underground hip hop' DNA, so to Oh No's credit, he doesn't go for most obvious fodder or weigh it all too heavily with movie dialogue or the most memorable soundtrack bits. Like the best hip hop ever made, Oh No crafts personal, unique and original music out of samples, and this record belongs to him and his guests! Includes "Real Serious" with Evidence & Alchemist, "The Guns" feat Guilty Simpson & MED, "Time" feat Roc C & Chino XL, "Hallucinations" feat Prozack Turner, "Ohnomite Jazz", "Touch It" feat Frank Nitt, "Dues N Donts" feat Jose James & Phife Dawg, "Runnin The Show" feat Erick Sermon. CD features 2 bonus tracks: "Life Games" feat LMNO and "Overload" feat Wildchild. CD

Sampha's a singer who's always hard to peg, but one who grabs you right away – with a voice that's one of the most unique, distinct, and powerful in contemporary soul music – and which deserves to be heard in all its brilliance on a record like this! We're not sure how to describe what we like so much – there's a raspiness at times that make his lyrics almost feel conversational and up-close, and a touch of a London accent that makes familiar words a bit more meaningful, and maybe a slight sense of warmth amidst it all – an indication that Sampha's never too full of himself, even though you might guess that from his image on the cover! Production and instrumentation is nicely understated – really letting the voice flow over the keys and other elements – on titles that include "Spirit 2.0", "Wave Therapy", "Only", "Rose Tint", "Inclination Compass", "Stereo Colour Cloud", "Jonathan L Seagull", "Satellite Business", "Time Piece", "Only", and "Can't Go Back". CD

An incredibly righteous bit of soul – one of the few albums ever cut by 70s mellow soul genius Larry Saunders, and an amazing tribute to Angela Davis! Larry's got a fantastic voice – one that we'd rank right up there with Donny Hathaway or Marvin Gaye, and which is recorded here with sublimely spare arrangements that have a slight southern soul touch, but which are more in the east coast indie mode in which he often worked. There's other artists in the mix, too – a few others brought together by August Moon/Mr Wiggles for the project – singing and playing some amazing work that makes the whole thing a lost righteous soul treasure. The whole album's amazing – almost like finding a part 2 to What's Going On, or listening into what Otis Redding might have sounded like, had he made it to the 70s. Titles include Saunders singing "Free Angela", "This World", and "Where Did Peace Go" – and other cuts include "Nobody Knows" by Dickie Wonder, "I Can Be" by Brother Love, "Old Uncle Tom Is Dead" by Nitroglycerine, "Baby Can't You See" by Tyrone Thomas, and "Geraldine Jones" by Soul Encyclopedia. Great new version – with a hefty booklet of notes! CD

Five very different albums from the great Wayne Shorter – all from a time when he was really taking off with his music! Night Dreamer is one of the greatest Wayne Shorter albums for Blue Note, and one of our favorite jazz albums ever! The record is a masterpiece of lyrical delight – soul jazz mixed with slight touches of experimentalism – but still warm, swinging, and personal enough to captivate even the most novice jazz listener. A players are at the top of their game – and in addition to Shorter's tenor, the group features Lee Morgan on trumpet, McCoy Tyner on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. The tracks unfold in lyrical, modal beauty in a really wonderful way that was barely ever duplicated again – and titles include "Night Dreamer", "Oriental Folk Song", "Virgo", "Charcoal Blues", "Armageddon", and "Black Nile". Soothsayer is a great Wayne Shorter session from the mid 60s – recorded then, but not issued until 1979, for some incredibly unexplained reason – especially given the strength of the set! The group is distinctly modern, and features Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, James Spaulding on alto, and McCoy Tyner on piano – all of who were committed to heavily pushing the boundaries of their playing at the time. Added to the mix is the youthful Tony Williams on drums, fresh from work with Miles Davis, and playing with an incredibly free hand on the kit – plus the great Ron Carter on bass. The resulting mix of tracks is a beautiful example of how these mid-60s Blue Note sessions could keep firmly in touch with modern developments in jazz, yet never lapse into the kind of sloppiness that could sometimes ruin sets like these on other labels – always with a keen sense of timing and rhythm, and a sharpness that made Blue Note's "new" newer-sounding than most. Titles include "Lost", "Angola", "The Big Push", and an amazing jazz take on Sibelius' "Valse Triste"! Etcetera has a very sharp-edged quartet sound – a bit modern and edgey at times, with sharp tenor lines from Shorter, piano from Herbie Hancock, bass from Cecil McBee, and drums from Joe Chambers. Wayne recorded the date in 1965, but the material wasn't issued by Blue Note until 15 years later – a delay that somehow made the whole thing even more of a gem, especially at a time when Shorter wasn't blowing this strongly on record. Tracks include four originals "Toy Tune", "Penelope", "Etcetera", and "Barracudas" – plus the Gil Evans number "Barracudas (General Assembly)". Adams Apple is an incredible album – one of our favorite Blue Notes ever! Despite the fact that the album's a spare quartet session, the record is one of Wayne Shorter's richest – and features his gutsy young tenor soloing insanely with a rhythmically intense combo that includes Herbie Hancock on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums – a wonderfully free-thinking rhythm trio! Workman's bass is especially strong, and it underpins the cuts with a throbbing pulse that takes them past any simple hardbop conventions. Every cut's a winner – and this is one album we reach for time and time again over the years! Titles include "Adam's Apple", "El Gaucho", "Footprints", and "Teru". Schizophrenia is a session from the late 60s that has Wayne Shorter pushing into a searching, spiritual groove, but one that's still filled with all the taught electricity of his earlier recordings on Blue Note! Shorter's accompanied by youthful modernists like James Spaulding on alto, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums – plus the mighty Curtis Fuller on trombone, whose instrument here proves to be the same key extra ingredient that it was on the best Art Blakey sextet sessions of the 60s. There's a tight, soulful feel here that's sublime – an Adams Apple sort of groove, but a bit fuller – and titles include the classic "Tom Thumb", plus "Playground", "Schizoprhenia", "Kryptonite", "Miyako", and "Go". CD

Not sure exactly why Zoot's got some Gemini wishes in the title – but the album's a great date, one of his later pairings with pianist Jimmy Rowles – a beautiful partner for the laidback tone that Sims adopted at this stage in his career! The album's got an understated eloquence that comes through right away – as Rowles sets the tunes up beautifully for Zoot's well-blown tenor – keeping things fresh, but with a timeless quality too – and getting a bit of gentle rhythmic support from Frank Tate on bass and Akira Tana on drums. Sims plays soprano sax on "The Fish Horn" – and other titles include "I Wish I Were Twins", "Changes", "The Touch Of Your Lips", "Come Closer To Me", and "You Go Your Way". CD

One of those great rare gospel albums from the modern soul generation – a time when the music had some of its strongest secular styles in the grooves – so much so, you might be hard-pressed to imagine these guys singing in a church! In fact, most of these tracks would be right at home in the clubs – as Soul Liberation have this upbeat modern soul approach that's wonderfully groovy – and which is made even better by their righteous lyrics – which often soft-pedal the religious message, but still use its current to give the music a strong sense of spirit – which is then matched by the equally uplifting sense of groove! Titles include "Send Me", "Heavenly Places", "Put On The Whole Armor", "Who Are You", "It Won't Go Away", and "Touch Me Again". CD

The second fantastic album from Chicago saxophonist Clarence Wheeler and his hard-hitting Enforcers combo – a group who were one of the brightest lights in soul jazz at the start of the 70s, really helping to keep the genre fresh and exciting! The groove here is in the tenor/organ mode first popularized in the 60s – but the overall sound is a lot more expansive, and filled with unusual time changes, complicated rhythms, and inventive solo work that go way beyond more familiar albums of this nature on Prestige or Blue Note! Sonny Burke is the organist in the group, and he's got a touch on the keys that's a lot like Jack McDuff at his best – filled with great sounds and unusual notes that always keep things interesting. Added to that is trumpet from Sonny Covington, guitar from Eric Gale, and tenor from Wheeler – all vamping and grooving in an amazing way! There's a bit of the Charles Earland sound from the same period going on here – and like Earland, the group have a great way of keeping things slightly funky, even when mellow! Titles include a great version of "Broasted or Fried", Charles Earland's "Mighty Burner", Jack McDuff's "The Heebie Jeebie Dance", plus "We've Only Just Begun" and "The Love I've Been Looking For". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked gem from Chris Connor – a French session cut with arranger Michel Colombier, and a real standout from the rest of her recordings! There's a maturity here that's really great – a sound that's every bit as sad and sexy as Connor's work for Atlantic Records, but more sophisticated too – nicely measured in emotion, with maybe a Julie London touch at times, especially in the way the recording style brings out a bit of breathiness in Chris' vocals. Backings have a nice mix of guitar and strings, which creates a different feel than some of Connor's more jazz-based records – gentle and sexy, but never sleepy. Titles include "Meantime", "Johnny", "Chances Are", "I Love My Man", "Hum Drum Blues", and "I Could Go On Singing". LP, Vinyl record album

The debut album by a guitarist who might well go into the realm of the classics – as he plays here with a sense of care and balance of tone that's very much his own – handling a hollow-body electric with a sound that's simply stunning from the very first note! Hugo Lippi isn't one of those "too clean" guitarists from the vintage years – as he loves to get some richer sounds out of the guitar, while also never rasping the strings or pushing distortion at all either – always playing with a sense of clarity that's great, while also touching on the complexity of acoustic players with an effortless touch! Lippi handles his instrument with the skills of Baden Powell or Paco DeLucia – although he sounds nothing like either of them – while also using the electric side of the instrument to effortlessly create amazing colors throughout. Titles include "A Child Is Born", "Reflections In B", "Land Of Hope & Glory", "Girl", "La Ballade De Johnny Jane", "Be Yourself", "Choros No 1/Bossa Antigua", and a surprising medley of "Wuthering Heights/Babooshka". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that marks a very different chapter in the career of Bill Nelson than his initial rise to fame at the head of Be Bop Deluxe – a set that offers up a leaner take on the 70s styles of Nelson's music, and a sound that's decidedly aimed much more at the new wave generation! Bill was always a bit ahead of the pack in terms of production and instrumentation – and he definitely puts that work to use here, by retuning an earlier aesthetic in ways that are definitely at the forefront of UK electronic pop! Vocals are often processed, keyboards and guitars intertwine nicely, and titles include "Don't Touch Me I'm Electric", "Stop Go Stop", "Furniture Music", "Revolt Into Style", "The Atom Age", and "A Better Home In The Phantom Zone". 2CD version features the remastered album, a new stereo mix, and bonus tracks that include "Acquitted By Mirrors" and "Wonder Toys That Last Forever", in both mixes – plus "My Light", a previously unreleased track from the sessions – and Red Noise session tracks "Ideal Homes", "Instantly Yours", and "Disposable". CD

A wicked soul set from Output/Input – a project spearheaded by Melvin Lee Davis, who worked behind Chaka Khan for years – experience that definitely shows in the warmth and richness of this set! The record's got a great classic/contemporary vibe, one that almost takes us back to the sound of Incognito in their glory days – but with a spin that's nicely different too – maybe more soul at the core than jazz funk, as Davis opens the door to vocals from a range of different singers – Antonio McLendon on most of the core cuts, but also work from O'Bryan, Audrey Wheeler, and Brent Carter too. Titles include "Don't Be Scared", "Doin Alright", "Time Of Our Lives", "I'm In Love", "Really No Chance", "Love Of Another Guy", "Here We Go Again", and "True Love" – plus the CD bonus track "Every Time You Touch Me". CD

A wicked soul set from Output/Input – a project spearheaded by Melvin Lee Davis, who worked behind Chaka Khan for years – experience that definitely shows in the warmth and richness of this set! The record's got a great classic/contemporary vibe, one that almost takes us back to the sound of Incognito in their glory days – but with a spin that's nicely different too – maybe more soul at the core than jazz funk, as Davis opens the door to vocals from a range of different singers – Antonio McLendon on most of the core cuts, but also work from O'Bryan, Audrey Wheeler, and Brent Carter too. Titles include "Don't Be Scared", "Doin Alright", "Time Of Our Lives", "I'm In Love", "Really No Chance", "Love Of Another Guy", "Here We Go Again", and "True Love" – plus the CD bonus track "Every Time You Touch Me". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few albums ever recorded by 50s vocalist Ann Richards – best known for her work with Stan Kenton in the post-June Christy days, stepping out very nicely here in a small group session! Ann's definitely got a touch of the June in her approach – but she's also a bit warmer, and slightly more lusty, and sings here with good backing that includes guitar by Barney Kessel, playing in that spare moody way he used with Julie London on her Liberty sides. Titles include "An Occasional Man", "There's A Lull In My Life", "You Go To My Head", "And That's All", "Bewitched", and "How Do I Look In Blue". CD

A standout set from Shorty – tightly arranged numbers performed by a quartet that includes Jimmy Giuffre, Pete Jolly, Curtis Counce, and Shelly Manne – all working with Shorty in perfect west coast form! Despite the length of the tunes, the overall feel is similar to Rogers' excellent Wherever The Five Winds Blow album for RCA – and makes the record a great set, done without any gimmicks or tricks – and enough of the modern touch still left from Rogers' first few years on record. Titles include "Martians Go Home", "Trickleydidlier", "Not Really The Blues", and "Michele's Meditation". LP, Vinyl record album

Sampha's a singer who's always hard to peg, but one who grabs you right away – with a voice that's one of the most unique, distinct, and powerful in contemporary soul music – and which deserves to be heard in all its brilliance on a record like this! We're not sure how to describe what we like so much – there's a raspiness at times that make his lyrics almost feel conversational and up-close, and a touch of a London accent that makes familiar words a bit more meaningful, and maybe a slight sense of warmth amidst it all – an indication that Sampha's never too full of himself, even though you might guess that from his image on the cover! Production and instrumentation is nicely understated – really letting the voice flow over the keys and other elements – on titles that include "Spirit 2.0", "Wave Therapy", "Only", "Rose Tint", "Inclination Compass", "Stereo Colour Cloud", "Jonathan L Seagull", "Satellite Business", "Time Piece", "Only", and "Can't Go Back". LP, Vinyl record album

The warm sound of the Sea & Cake gets a just a touch more guitar based on their lucky 7th album – with a bit more of a kick in the drums and bite to the strings in spots – a subtle but definite change from the one of the most consistent indie pop crews ever This time out, longtime producer/drummer John McEntire stays behind the drums and other percussion and lets producer Brian Paulson man the booth – which may, or may not be the reason for the slightly punchier vibe, but it works. This is still very much the Sea & Cake we've loved since the get go – there's no mistaking Sam Prekop's vocals – but there's an anthemic turn or two applied to their mannered genius. Some reviewers give them flak for supposedly repeating themselves, but those folks need to listen more closely. Titles include "Up On Crutches", "Too Strong", "Crossing Line", "Coconut", "Exact To Me", "Lightning", "Introducing", "Left On" and "Transparent". LP, Vinyl record album