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A rare bossa treasure from the early years of the genre – a wicked session that features instrumentation by Oscar Castro Neves, and vocals by a host of different singers! The set's half vocal, half instrumental – and the latter feature some great sounds from Oscar's combo – a group that plays with a sound that's airy, yet well-arranged – similar to some of the 60s work by Eumir Deodato or Os Gatos, but with less instrumentation overall – which makes for an even cooler sound! There's some great flute in the group, which sounds great next to the acoustic guitar – and the instrumentation for the vocal tracks is equally nice, and still really revolutionary for the time. The album's a beautiful balance between complexity and understatement – truly showing the bossa ethos at its best – and titles include "Patinho Feio" and "Com Voce" by Lais, "Pela Luz Dos Olhos Teus" by Vinicius De Moraes, "Obrigada Meu Bem" by Sylvia Telles, "Tem Do De Mim" by Carlos Lyra, and "Menina Feia" by Lucio Alves – plus "Meditacao", "So Em Teus Bracos", "Bim Bom", and "Chora Tua Tristeza" by Castro Neves and his combo. CD

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A landmark meeting of two Brazilian generations – important songwriter Dorival Caymmi, the man who introduced a new sense of poetry to Brazilian music – and the great Antonio Carlos Jobim, the man who revolutionized the world with his bossa nova arrangements! This set has a nicely lean vibe – the best Elenco Records style, served up with Jobim's sense of space and timing – as a perfect match for the vocals of Caymmi, who maybe sounds his best in this mode! There's lots of jazzy instrumentation on the set too – including great work on flute from Danilio Caymmi and guitar from the young Dori Caymmi – both soon to become big talents on their own. Nana Caymmi sings a bit too (her first on record?) – and titles include "Sem Voce", "Berimbau", "Tristeza De Nos Dois", "Vae De Vez", and "Das Rosas". CD

A fantastic return to form for the great Gene Clark – a record that's right on the money, right from the start – with a focused country rock vibe that might have had him really hit the heights, were it not for all of his other misunderstood genius of the 70s! It's almost like Clark is a different artist here – not commercial, or going for pop hits – as the vibe is much more early 70s roots than its date might imply – there's just a confidence and way of putting over a tune that's tremendous – a quality that really has Gene acting like the kind of lead star he deserved to be for all those years in the shadows! Thomas Jefferson Kaye produced, and is maybe the guy to thank for the strength of the album – and the set includes this stunning version of "In The Pines" that's worth the price of the album alone – plus tracks that include "Home Run King", "Lonely Saturday", "Kansas City Southern", "Give My Love To Marie", "Marylou", "Sister Moon", and "Silent Crusade". CD

An insanely ripping little record – one that comes on with all the raw power of the heaviest work by Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin at the time – even though these guys never hit that sort of fame! The group's a trio with an incredibly deft touch – able to make the simple combination of guitar, bass, and drums explode in wonderfully fresh ways – with some quick-changes that really leave us breathless, and really show off their amazing talents – but never in a way that's overdone at all – as these guys have more of the bottom-end, blues-inspired appeal of Zeppelin during their early years. Vocals are by guitarist John Simms, who's also got a wild way of singing – and titles include "The Rocket Ride", "I'm Comin Home", "Birdcatcher", "My Heaven", "You Mystify", and "Tool Of My Trade". CD

Heady work from Cluster – a record that really helped set the tone for a whole generation of German experimentation! The sound here is incredibly dense – guitar and keyboard parts that are processed heavily, looped back on themselves, and sometimes supported by a bit of electronics – all at a level that's still quite fresh and free – never too jamming, nor too experimental for experiment's sake! There's an intrinsically rhythmic feel to the whole record – a cosmic pulse that ebbs and flows beautifully – and the whole thing still has a lot more of an edge than most of the later work from the team of Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius. The album was co-produced with Conny Plank – and titles include "Plas", "Im Suden", "Fur Dir Katz", "Georgel", "Live In Der Fabrik", and "Nabitte". CD

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A brilliant blast from The Comet Is Coming – their second album on Impulse in less than a year – and it's as exciting as anything they've done so far! Their core vibe of mixing spiritual jazz with electronic experimentation is here in full force, but they take it new directions. While the trio carries the influences from 70s spacey fusion influences and modern London jazz on the other, it always feels fully unique and of their own invention. Part of what's so exciting is they can strip things down to minimalist vibe of melodic sax, spare drums and bubbling electronics to far-reaching jazz funk from one track to the next – this is trio with range! Poet Joshua Idehen delivers a righteous vocal on the opener "All That Matters Is The Moments" that sets the stage for the soaring ride that follows, including "The Softness Of The Present", "The Afterlife", "Lifeforce Part I", "Lifeforce Part II" and "The Seven Planetary Heavens". CD

One of Chick Corea's first true moments of genius – a record that has the pianist stepping out into more experimental territory, after doing years of 60s material in a more soul jazz and Latin-styled mode! The tracks have a great sense of arrangement, but also balance that with really well-crafted solos that get nice and free – played by a lineup that includes Woody Shaw on trumpet, Benny Maupin and Hubert Laws on reeds, and Jack DeJohnette on drums – really opening up to Corea's fresh sense of rhythm! The whole thing's great – and titles include the long tracks "Is", "Jamala", "This", and "It". CD

A sweet little set from Chick Corea – one that's got a bit of a Return To Forever vibe at times, but maybe taken down into tighter territory overall – which makes for pure jazz funk greatness throughout! Some tunes have a nice sense of groove – the choppy fusion of RTF, but more focused, and providing a great bump at the bottom for Chick to solo over the top – on Fender Rhodes, clavinet, and piano – with help from Joe Farrell on a variety of reeds, Bunny Brunel on bass, and Airto on percussion! There's a small bit of vocals on the set, but Chick's keys are the main star – and titles include "Slinky", "Drifting", "Glebe St Blues", "Fickle Funk", "Bagatelle 4", and "Hot News Blues". CD

Sublime duets between Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock – both 70s masters of the keyboard, but working here in an acoustic setting that's a great reminder of the talents both musicians had at the start! The tracks are very long, and balance structure with a lot of improvised intensity – often at a level that recalls some of the longform acoustic trio work that Herbie recorded for the Japanese market in the 70s, mixed with some of the sharper edges that Corea brought to his avant styles from the decade before! The presentation is wonderful – a very ear-opening record for fans of both artists – and titles include "Homecoming", "Bouquet", "The Hook", "Ostinato", "La Fiesta", and "Maiden Voyage". CD

It's the early 80s, and Gal's working with a style that's sure a lot sweeter and slicker than her earlier albums – but her voice is still fantastic, and we can't help liking the catchy tunes on the album, which are produced in a style that's similar to some of the modern soul-oriented work that Marcos Valle was doing around the same time. There's a lot of electric keyboards and percussion, but Gal's voice is still out front, singing in a lovely touching manner. Includes a nice remake of the classic "Baby" performed with backing vocals by Roupa Nova, plus the tracks "Ruma Louca", "Olhos Do Coracoa", "Mil Perdoes", "Sutis Diferencas", "Grande Final" and "Sim Ou Nao". CD

One of the most mindblowing albums ever recorded – anywhere, anytime! This 1969 set stands as one of the greatest records ever cut by Gal Costa – done at the height of the Tropicalia movement, and featuring a sublime mix of styles that really gets the spirit of the movement right. Arrangements are by the legendary Rogerio Duprat – who effortlessly shifts the backings between stark electronics, sweet bossa, gliding strings, jazzy piano, and baroque orchestrations that dance around with a surprising amount of grooves! Tunes include some classics by Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben, and Gilberto Gil – served up in amazing new versions by Gal and Duprat! Titles include "Nao Identificado", "Lost in the Paradise", "Que Pena", "Sebastiana", "Namorinho De Portao", "Divino Maravilhoso", and "Deus E O Amor". CD

Light and lively work from the great Gal Costa – a set that's light years away from her Tropicalia experiments of a decade before, but which is equally beautiful in its own sort of way! First off, Gal's vocals are amazing – more expressive and dynamic than in the early days – with a range of different emotions that comes off wonderfully, and without some of the heaviness of some of her contemporaries – such as Maria Bethania. The arrangements, while not entirely tropical, mix together jazz choro modes with more contemporary touches – providing a surprisingly strong, sparkling backdrop for the lyrics! The album features a nice remake of "India", plus the tracks "Forca Estranha", "Olha", "Meu Nome E Gal", "Balance", and "Samba Rasgado". CD

One of the most important early records by Elvis Costello – and maybe one of a small handful that we'd deem completely essential out of his massive catalog over the decades! Elvis and The Attractions are in perfect form here – coming across with all the biting energy of the punk generation, but not punk at all – and instead finding a way to open the door to a global audience, especially American, that some of his contemporaries weren't able to reach at the time – thanks to some incredible songs that even Elvis might not have thought would go on to become pop and rock standards over the years! Titles include "This Year's Girl", "Hand In Hand", "Chelsea", "Lip Service", "Little Triggers", "Pump It Up", "No Action", "Lipstick Vogue", and "Living In Paradise". US version also includes "Radio Radio" and "Big Tears". LP, Vinyl record album

A new take on a classic set from Elvis Costello – a record that features all the tunes from the classic This Year's Model album, done anew, and with Spanish language vocals from a variety of global stars! The overall sound of the record is a bit more contemporary than the 70s release – with production by Sebastian Krys, directed by Costello – who conceived the project – and while we're not sure that the record is going to open up Elvis in a huge new market, the whole thing is both a fresh take on the classic, and a testament to its staying power over the years. Titles include "La Chica De Hoy" by Cami, "Mentira" by Pablo Lopez, "Chelsea" by Raquel Sofia Y Fuego, "Yo Te Vi" by Draco Rosa, "No Action" by Nina Diaz, "La Turba" by Jorge Drexler, "Lipstick Vogue" by Morat, "Crawling To The USA" by Gian Marco & Nicole Zignago, and "Radio Radio" by Fito Paez. LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite albums ever from the legendary Paco De Lucia – and a set that really has the guitarist coming into his own – stepping past even his rich flamenco roots, and coming up with a new style that's practically a genre unto itself! Paco's sense of imagination here is wonderful – freed up from any previous expectations, and really set loose on the strings of the guitar – coming up with an amazing blend of rhythm and melody in these fast flurries of notes – at a level that's as passionately powerful as it is breathtaking from a sheer technical perspective. Ramon De Algeciras joins Paco on two tracks, but most numbers are solo – and titles include "Fuente Y Caudal", "Entre Dos Aguas", "Plaza De San Juan", "Los Pinares", and "Cepa Andaluza". CD

Two tremendous soundtracks from the mighty Francois De Roubaix – easily one of our favorite film composers of all time! Dernier Domicile Connu is wonderful – with a famous theme that mixes stepping strings and funky drums in this really magnificent way – before moving between spare instrumental moments and the return of the great theme – all with that incredible ear for space and sound that made Francois so different than so many of his contemporaries! Une Aller Simple has a few more conventional modes, but still hits all these cool moments too – and lots of that subtle funk that made De Roubaix ahead of his time – great use of electric bass under more standard instruments. Titles include "Jerk Carcerel", "Aspic", "Blues Pour Nicoletta", "La Vitesse La Mort", "Dernier Domicile Connu", "Gregg", "Les Maniaques", "Por Qui Porquoi", and "Jeanne Et Marceau". LP, Vinyl record album

2 of the greatest soundtracks ever from Francois De Roubaix – both recorded in that magical year of 1967! First up on the set is Les Adventuriers – a mindblowingly wonderful score for a Robert Enrico film, and one that offers a unique blend of jazzy rhythms, western themes, and more – all tied together by an extremely haunting theme! Some tunes have spaghetti western-esque acoustic guitar and whistling, while others have a more Frenchy isolated piano, played with a slightly watery feel – and some others take on a much more driving, almost Francis Lai-like approach. De Roubaix score for Jean Pierre Melville's classic Le Samourai follows in a much darker mode – as moody and solitary as the film's main character, but graced with some warmer touches on piano, flute, and even a bit of organ – none of which are especially jazzy, but which color in the music with extremely evocative tones. Titles include "Laetitia Par Alain Delon", "Journal De Bord", "Enterrement Sous-Marin", "Acrobaties Aeriennes", "Hotel Sandwich", "Martey's", "Valerie", "Le Samourai", and "Le Destin De Costello". CD

A great collection of soundtrack work by Georges Delerue – featuring 6 tracks from Jean-Luc Godard's famous film Le Mepris (aka Contempt), plus tracks from the films Compte A Rebours, Heureux Qui Comme Ulysse, Cartouche, L'Insoumis, La Peau Douce, and L'Aine Des Ferchaux. Most of the work is in a strongly orchestral style – and even though the tracks are from diverse films, they're unified by a dark approach to the themes. Titles include "Lamento", "Capri", "Paul", "Camille", "Adultere", "Thomas Et Dominique", "Cartouche", "Final", and "Ulysse". 28 tracks in all – with notes in English and French! CD

A fantastic score from Eric Demarsan – a French composer who's maybe known best for his work with director Jean-Pierre Melville, and who really knocks it out of the park for this film with the director! L'Armee Des Ombres has a slightly wider scope than the usual more solitary, brooding film by Melville – and Demarsan's score follows a similar lead – using some occasional grander passages that match the best Morricone music of the time, then blending in a few more French-styled numbers – and balancing the score with a nice sense of tension and drama! Titles include "La Mort De L'Instituteur", "Theme De Gerbier", "20 Octobre 1942", "La Lettre Anonomye", "Generique Debut", and "La Planque". LP, Vinyl record album

A really great collection of work from one of the great unsung heroes of the French soundtrack scene of the 60s – the mighty Eric Demarsan, who also gets the chance to provide us with new music on the first half of the set! The first half is music from a documentary on Jean-Pierre Melville – the French director who created such great films as Le Cercle Rouge, Le Doulos, Le Samourai, and other noir gems of the new wave – often scored by Demarsan, who provides new jazzy music for the documentary – played here by a group that features Erik Truffaz on trumpet, Daniel Ciampolini on vibes, Alexis Morel on flute, and Bruno Fontaine on piano – on titles that include "Le Dernier Samourai", "Un Destin", "Arrivee Au Studio", "L'Adieu", and "Reparages". The second half of the set featuers classic Demarsan work for films by Melville – tracks from L'Aine Des Fercahaux, Deux Hommes Dans Manhattan, Bob Le Flambeur, Le Cercle Rouge, and other classics! LP, Vinyl record album

Brazilian accordion player Dominguinhos first got his start in forro – but here, the sound is something else entirely – a very groovy mode that you might expect from the style of the cover! There's still plenty of accordion on hand, but it's often mixed with arrangements that have some funky samba currents – with a great current of soul that's a great surprise, and augmented by keyboards from Wagner Tiso and guitar from Gilberto Gil! There's vocals throughout, and some nicely jazzy touches in the instrumentation – which further makes the whole thing sound warm, wonderful, and very unique. Titles include "Tenho Sede", "Veja", "Quero Um Xanego", "O Babulina", "Gracioso", "Baiao Violado", and "O Canto De Acua". CD

A perfect summation of the dearly Joao Donato at his best – a record that's awash in amazing tones, colors, and phrasing – and one that really demonstrates the subtle genius that Donato brought to his work! The album's only a trio outing – with Milton Banana on drums – but there's an approach to the piano that's as complex as some larger arrangements – especially in the way that Joao effortlessly shuffles sonic elements with the sophistication you'd guess from the "modern" in the title – yet still manages to groove as you'd expect from the "bossa" as well! The approach is quite jazzy, but something else as well – and titles include "Rio", "Silk Stop", "Outra Vez", "Noa..Noa", "Sambolero", "O Morro Nao Tem Vez", "Sambongo", and "Indo Perdido". CD

A sweet electric 70s session from the mighty Joao Donato – very different than his earlier bossa work of the 60s – and with the same funky appeal as the best work on his classic Quem E Quem album! This set's got a tighter feel overall – very much in a samba soul style, with lots of great Brazilian bits mixed up with funk and jazz touches – including a range of great keyboards handled by Donato himself! Drums are by the mighty Wilson Das Neves – who brings in some breaks at a few points – and the whole thing's supremely soulful too – with titles that include the funky classic "Bananeira", plus "Patumbalacunde", "Lugar Comum", "Tudo Tem", and "Naturalmente". CD

A bit of a change for Dr John, but a nice one too – a set that's somewhat more mature than some of his Atco albums, but in a really nice way! The album features fuller backings from Claus Ogerman, but a core groove that's still nice and soulful – jazzy leanings from a combo that includes Dr John and Richard Tee on keyboards, John Tropea on guitar, Will Lee on bass, and Steve Gadd on drums – the latter of whom kicks in a nice groove at the bottom of most numbers, making a subtle undercurrent of older funk amidst the smoothness. Ogerman's backdrops are never too excessive, and help the Dr break out of some of his older modes in a good way – not rehashing the same New Orleans ideas, but taking them instead to cooler California territory – a bit in the way that Allen Toussaint was doing on his best mainstream work of the 70s. Titles include "Dance The Night Away With You", "Rain", "Wild Honey", "Street Side", "Snake Eyes", "Fire Of Love", and "City Lights". CD

Soaring strings and bossa piano – a tremendous combination in the hands of Luiz Eca – working here at a time when the arranger was first making his name with the Tamba Trio! The set's one of Eca's gems from the 60s under his own name – and it's got a style that echoes the mix of darkness and sweet he forged with the trio, but which also shows a deeper, more sophisticated approach to the music – fuller orchestrations, yet handled with a sense of space and timing that's really amazing – at a level that almost beats Jobim at his own game at the time! Eca's piano is recorded beautifully – tinkling over the top of the backings, and always getting plenty of its own space – and titles include "Amando", "Quase Um Adeus", "Saudade", "Cheganca", "Velho Pescador", "Cancao Da Terra", and "A Morte De Um Deus De Sal". CD

Early work from Seu Jorge – heard here with the group Farfoca Carioca, but still in a style that's got the same soulful samba touches of his own work! The sound is a bit more upbeat here – vocals that are often sung by the whole group at once, even though Jorge gets plenty of solo moments – and the instrumentation is live and funk-based, but with plenty of jazzy flourishes on the horns, and a fair bit of Brazilian percussion too. And while the record maybe doesn't pack a punch that's as hard as some of Seu Jorge's best work, it's still plenty darn great on its own – a rare example of a set like this coming from Brazil at the time, and a real precursor for grown to come – not only in Jorge's music, but in Brazilian grooves in general! Titles include "Bebel", "Sao Gonca", "Moro No Brasil", "Jacare", "Indio", "Rabisca Robson", and "Menino Da Central". CD

Two very groovy albums from French singer Nino Ferrer – back to back on a single CD! First up is Nino & Radiah Et Le Sud – a set that's maybe one of Ferrer's most striking records ever – as it features English language lyrics, and a very funky sound overall – thanks to backing from the members of Ice, who were also known as the Lafayette Afro Rock Band! Back in the 60s, Nino was already experimenting with variations of American soul – on some James Brown-styled records that were totally great – and here, he takes off in a different way – with all sorts of slinky, funky grooves that are great for his vocals, which are also shared with soul singer Radiah Frye! Titles include "Hot Toddy", "Moses", "South", "Looking For You", "The Garden", "New York", "Vomitation", and "Mint Julep". Next up is Suite En Oeuf – a record that has Nino Ferrer working with help from the Spamm Band as he returns to French-language lyrics on most cuts – still with a current of rootsy funk, but also maybe more of a rock-based mode overall. Titles include "Daddy Tarzan", "Papagayo Frog", "Moon", "Chanson Pour Petit Bout", "Les Morceaux De Fer", "Chanson Pour Nathalie", and "Southern Feeling". CD

A strong span of work from the very groovy Nino Ferrer – a French singer who started out in very soulful modes in the 60s, then really kept on growing and changing in the 70s – at a level that made him one of the most compelling French vocalists of his generation! The set focuses most strongly on late 60s/early 70s material by Nino, then includes a few later tracks from mature years – and the whole thing is a wonderful introduction to the many talents of Ferrer – a singer you'll love for his mod 60s tracks, then appreciate even more as he tries out all sorts of more complicated, sophisticated styles in later years too! 21 tracks in all – with titles that include "Je Vends Des Robes", "Les Hommes A Tout Faire", "Le Telefon", "Oh He Hein Bon", "Les Cornichons", "La Maison Pres De La Fontaine", "C'Est Irreparable", "L'Innocence", "Les Morceaux De Fer", and "Chanson Pour Nathalie". CD

Hard to say goodbye to a group this good – one of the heaviest combos working the Japanese scene in the early 70s – graded with guitar work from Shigeru Narumo that we'd put right up next to any of the best British or American players of the time! Shigeru clearly gets his inspiration from blues, but turns his music into hard rock overall – especially when the vocals come into the mix, and the whole thing is driven by the intense drums of Hiro Tsunoda and heavy bass of Masayoshi Takanaka! The album packs as heavy a punch as any English work issued on Vertigo at the same time – and titles include "Out To The Sea", "Goodbye To My Friends", "521 Seconds Schizophrenic Symphony", "Before You Descend", "Five More Pennies", and "Rolling Down The Broadway". LP, Vinyl record album

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Motown legends finally get their due – in this first-ever collection of work by The Funk Brothers! The group were the backing band for most of the classic Motown recordings of the 60s – and labored for years with hardly any credit, until recently, when their achievements have been brought to light by the film Standing In The Shadows Of Motown, and a much-deserved Grammy award! And despite its cheap packaging, the collection's got plenty to offer any solid fan of Motown – 12 tracks that are pulled from sources that include tracks issued under the name of organist Earl Van Dyke, British singles, and even a previously unreleased mix! The tunes include a few originals, plus instrumental takes on Motown classics – with titles that include "Soul Stomp", "6 By 6", "Too Many Fish In The Sea", "All For You", "Come See About Me", "How Sweet It Is", "The Way You Do The Things You Do", "What's Going On", "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", and "Runaway Child Running Wild". CD

A very well done compilation truly including some of the very Best Of Serge Gainsbourg – programmed chronologically starting with the late 50s – not only some of the best of Serge, but some of the most provocative, innovative and creatively fearless popular music ever! From the more elegant, jazzier early number and on through the great duets, more sultry and stripped down numbers and bits of all the great strains of his inimitable style. Features the previously unissued "Comme Un Boomerang", plus "Leau A La Bouche", "Baudelaire", "Elaeudanla Teiteia", "Comic Strip", "Requiem Pur Un C", "L'Anamour", "Elisa", "La Decadanse" with Jane Birkin, "Bonnie And Clyde" with Bridgette Bardot, "Aux Armes Et Caetera" and more. 27 tracks on the 2LP version, LP1 from 1960-1968 and LP2 from 1968 to 1979. LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing collection of work from Serge Gainsbourg – a set that definitely lives up to the "integrale" promise in the title, as it includes every single album he ever recorded, plus loads more singles and rare bits too – all packaged in a really lavish set! Even if you've got an album or two by Serge at home – or even more than that – there's plenty here to love, as the set's overflowing with goodness – material that runs from his early work in a mixture of jazz and Latin, to his playful 60s pop, to the kind of sexy, slinky, funky sounds he's become legendary for as the 70s moved in! The album features 16 CDs of the classic original albums – nearly all of which include bonus tracks – a CD of singles & duets (1975 to 1986), a CD of television and radio recordings (1957 to 1974), a CD of songs for films, and a CD of instrumental film music – plus large book, with 48 pages of notes and images to hold the whole thing together! The original albums include Du Chant A La Une, No 2, L'Etonnant Serge Gainsbourg, No 4, Confidentiel, Gainsbourg Percussions, Initials BB, Jane Birkin E Serge Gainsbourg, Histoire De Melody Nelson, Vu De L'Exterieur, Rock Around The Bunker, L'Homme A Tete De Chou, Aux Armes Et Caetera, Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Etoiles, Love On The Beat, and You're Under Arrest. The 4 addition CD adds dozens of far reaching, Serge greatness – and the whole thing includes 271 tracks in all! Even includes exclusive tracks – such as "Parce Que", "Les Play Boys", and "J'Entends Siffler Le Train". CD

A massive collection of music from one of our favorite singers of all time – the legendary Serge Gainsbourg, a French vocalist who worked equally well in jazzy, funk, and groovy modes – always with a groundbreaking quality that had Serge taking his lyrics to places that few previous singers dared to touch! This set brings together work from the earliest years of Gainsbourg – when he was mixing jazz and Latin modes in a hip Left Bank sort of style – then really shows him taking off in the 60s, bringing in funk in the 70s, and even working with some Jamaican dub elements towards the end of the package! There's a few key duets with Jane Birkin, and one more with Jane Birkin – and titles include "Sea Sex & Sun", "Mister Iceberg", "Bonnie & Clyde", "Ballade De Melody Nelson", "Cargo Culte", "L'Hotel Peculier", "Amour Sans Amour", "Coco & Co", "Ces Petits Riens", "Black & White", "Ford Mustang", "Initials BB", "Requiem Pour Un Con", "Sex Shop", "Torry Canyon", "Ah Melody", "En Melody", "Hold Up", "New York USA", "La Javanaise", "Aux Armes Et Caetra", "Daisy Temple", "Harley David Son Of A Bitch", "Sorry Angel", "Ronsard 58", "Black Trombone", "Elisa", "Nazi Rock", "Vu De L'Exterieur", and even the wild "Lemon Incest" – a duet with his daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg. CD

The coolest collection we've ever seen to focus on the soundtrack work of the great Serge Gainsbourg – and the most complete as well! The package really digs deep – and seems to offer up tracks from just about every single film that Gainsbourg was involved with – from his own compositions, to partnerships with greats like Alain Goraguer, Michel Colombier, and the mighty Jean-Claude Vannier – all of whom come up with very groovy, often funky instrumentation that rivals Serge's own releases! In fact, we might well even say that we find the Gainsbourg soundtrack material to be even cooler – as the films often gave Serge a chance to experiment, and try out new ideas he wouldn't do on his own records. This LP package is a great distillation of the larger CD set, with a focus on the grooviest cuts – and includes selections from the films L'Eau A La Bouche, Manon 70, Anna, Si Jetais Un Espion, Le Pacha, Slogan, Une Vueve En Or, and Les Chemins De Katmandou. LP, Vinyl record album

Stunning work from the great Serge Gainsbourg – a special set that takes a look at the strong work he recorded in London studios during the late 60s, presented here with some ultra-groovy cuts from Paris as well! You'll know a few of these cuts if you're a fan of Serge at all – but the set also mixes in some lesser-remembered gems from this monumental moment in his career – including some excellent instrumentals, and one title that appears here for the first time ever! British work includes recordings with arrangers Arthur Greenslade, Harry Robinson, and David Whitaker – and both Michel Colombier and Jean-Claude Vannier help out on the frew Parisian tracks. Titles include the unreleased "69 Anne Erotique (inst mix with orig backing vocals)" – plus "Danger", "L'Hotel Particulier", "Roller Girl", "Vilaine Fille Mauvais Garcon", "Hold Up", "La Horse", "Bloody Jack", "Torrey Canyon", "Ford Mustang", "L'Anamour (single mix)", "Breakdown Generique", "Requiem Pour Un C", and "Docteur Jeckyll & Monsieur Hyde". CD

One of the greatest French female singers of the 60s – presented here in a classic collection of work! If you've gotta dig one gal vocalist of the Parisian scene of the time, Gall is definitely your girl – as her brash, bold style of singing really sums up the hippest, grooviest French styles of the time! Many tracks here were penned by some of the best French arrangers and composers of the period – including a fair bit by Serge Gainsbourg, who really helped Gall find her groove, and moved her from being just another girl singer to one of the more powerful 60s voices in French pop! There's even a few funky numbers in the mix, and the rest mostly have a modly snapping 60s groove – of the sort that's being heavily revived these days – and titles include "Pense A Moi", "Laisse Tomber Les Filles", "Attends Ou Va T'En", "Nous Ne Sommes Pas Des Anges", "Poupee De Cire Poupee De Son", "N'Ecoute Pas Les Idoles", "Baby Pop", "Les Sucettes", "Cet Air-La", "Bebe Requin", and "24/36". LP, Vinyl record album

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The best of Brazil, old and new – as Joao Gilberto meets up with a younger generation of Brazilian vocalists – Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Maria Bethania – all for a wonderful session of stripped-down bossa! The work is very much in Joao's best style of the early 70s – a back to basics return, handled with even more intimacy than before – with production by Gilberto, and some beautifully understated arrangements from Johnny Mandel! Tracks are all nice and long, and allow for lots of vocal interplay between the four singers on the set. Titles include "Cordeiro De Nana", "Aquarela Do Brasil", "Milagre", and "Bahia Com H". CD

A very groovy record from the lovely Annie Girardot – done at a time when she was appearing onscreen in the Claude Lelouch film that's named in the title, but steps out here in an even wider range of modes than we might expect! The arrangements are great – handled by Maurice Vander and Roland Vincent – with a vibe that mixes 60s French pop with some more sophisticated soundtrack modes – sometimes with Girardot speaking in addition to singing – and, as with Jeanne Moreau on her Polydor album from the same time, coming across at a level that's a real revelation if you only know her from films. The set features a fair bit of original songs – many penned by Francoise Dorin with Jean Loup Chauby – and titles include "Bons Baisers", "Oui Non", "Mon Prince", "IBM", "Dans Une Glace", "A N'En Plus Finir", "La Chanson Empoisonnee", "Isalaide", and a nice take on "Vivre Pour Vivre". LP, Vinyl record album

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One of the coolest, most unusual groups to ever record for the legendary Elenco label – and one with a very unique sound overall! At some points, the group share a harmony sound with bossa contemporaries like MPB4 or Tamba Trio – but at others, they take off wildly – with a playful vibe that's really in keeping with the image on the album's cover – and which definitely earns them the musical promise of their manifesto name! Gracinha Leporace is in the group, amidst some other male and female vocalists – and most numbers feature one or two singers stepping out in the lead – with some very cool backing instrumentation from Oscar Castro Neves and Durval Ferreira! Titles include "Diferenca", "Hoje E Domingo", "Bloco Da Vida", "So", "Marianinha", and "Minha Decisao". CD

Features Tord Gustavsen on piano, Harald Johnsen on bass, and Jarle Vespestad on drums! CD

A great little collection of early work from Johnny Hallyday – one of the first big rockers to emerge from the French scene in the 60s – and an artist who's really coming into his own with tracks! Some titles have Hallyday taking on American or Anglo material, with new French lyrics – but there's also some other cuts of his own – and together, the tracks really get at the special sort of charm that would make Johnny a much bigger star for a lot longer than most of the earlier American artists who inspired him! Backings are often by Joey & The Showmen, but some cuts feature larger arrangements from Eddie Vartan, Jacques Denjean, and others – in a set of 22 titles that includes "Les Coups", "Je L'Aime", "Les Mauvais Garcons", "Excuse Moi Partenaire", "Reviens Donc Chez Nous", "Mes Yeux Sont Fous", "O Carole", and "Les Monts Pres Du Ciel". CD

The fantastic first Verve album from Tim Hardin – a record that's almost a genre unto itself, given the very unique approach that Tim brings to his music! The set might be one of the first times that the world of folk was able to reach out and really find a home in so many other styles too – as there's a blend of jazz-inflected instrumentation and vocals that helped lift Hardin and these songs way past the pop folk moment of the mid 60s – so much so, there's arguably an influence here that just keeps going on over the decades! Gary Burton provides some great vibes, John Sebastian blows a bit of harmonica, and Artie Butler creates these gentle arrangements that are perfect – still making you feel like you're meeting Tim Hardin on his own, but with secret subtle support. Nearly every song's a classic – and titles include "Don't Make Promises", "It'll Never Happen Again", "Reason To Believe", "How Can We Hang On To A Dream", and "Misty Roses". CD features five bonus tracks! CD

The second fantastic album from Tim Hardin – a singer/songwriter classic that's gone on to have a tremendous amount of pull and power over the years – and for good reason too! With songs like these, Hardin set the stage for so many other singers to come – bringing in a lot of his own personal sense of history and failings, but never in a way that was wallowing in its own weakness – and instead used just the right balance in the lyrics to help these songs instantly transcend Tim's own handling of the words! And yet, despite so many versions of so many of these tunes by others, we still love Hardin's readings the best – augmented here by some light arrangements that set things up personally, yet still retain all the intimacy of the music – on tunes that include the classic "If I Were A Carpenter" , plus "Red Balloon", "Black Sheep Boy", "It's Hard To Believe", "Lady Came From Baltimore", and "You Upset The Grace Of Living When You Lie". CD features 5 bonus tracks too! CD

A really cool record from 80s Japan – a set that's got a nicely different vibe than you might guess from the cover, and from some of your expectations of more mainstream city pop records of the period – as the overall sound is clearly channeling some of the darker modes that came into the UK scene after the underground post-punk years! Ichiko Hashimoto's got a nice sense of range in her voice – one that's used well on the album's moodier, synth-laden backings – which often have some of the fuller ranges you might year from a synclavier, even though we can't guarantee that instrument's on the set. Hashimoto has a way of bubbling up with lighter moments that push the higher side of her vocal range – a bit like Kate Bush, but without the drama – and titles include "Kitsune", "Naja Naja", "We Are Only Dancin", "I Love Your Music", "Tamare", "Sculptured Blue", and a nice bossa remake of "Cinnamon & Clove". LP, Vinyl record album

Hardly the disco set you might guess from the title – and instead, a surprisingly soulful gem from the post-Stax years of Isaac Hayes! There's certainly a bit of uptempo grooving in the mix – but, as on Ike's Polydor years, the approach is still handled with the deeper sounds that Hayes first forged over at Stax – a way of putting together the groove that's almost like a mini-symphony in soul – still quite complex, even when aimed at the dancefloor! But not all cuts are groovers, too – as there's some key mellow moments on the record that really help balance things out, and which we really like a lot – those slow-stepping, mature masculine numbers that always marked Hayes as one of the hippest talents of his generation. There's some key Memphis help on the record from The Movement – who handle rhythm and horns – and titles include "Let's Don't Ever Blow Our Thing", "Lady of The Night", "The Storm Is Over", "Juicy Fruit", "Thank You Love", and "Music To Make Love By". CD

A career-spanning set of work from one of the hippest composers of the 20th Century – a huge box set that not only features most of his important works, but also includes 14 pieces that appear here for the first time ever! And yes – there have been other box sets of Pierre Henry's music – but this one is very different than those, and even has very little in common with the Polyphonies set from a decade before – music that stands as a fantastic testament to the never-ending genius of Pierre, even up until the final years of his life! Henry began as one of the key experimentalists in the French musique concrete scene of the 50s – but quickly established a style of his own that often relied as heavily on silence as it did sounds – sometimes delivered with a sense of humor, and often able to adapt to more everyday modes or down to earth settings – which may well be why Henry is not only one of the best-remembered artists of his generation, but also has been sampled by hip hoppers, and become a big influence on electronic music as well. The set features a whopping 13CDs in all – and unreleased works include "Astrodanse", "Professeur Robot", "Ma Grande Paque Russe", "Gouttes D'Eau 2", "Jerusalem", "Une Minute Eternelle", "Grand Tremblement", "Utopia Hip Hop (final)", "La Note Seule", "Construction Tournante", and "Fragments Rituels Metamorphose". Other tracks include "Le Voyage", "Prisme", "Variations Pour Une Porte Et Un Soupir", "Interieur/Exterieur", "Dracula", "Entite", "Art De La Fugue Odyssee", "Futuristie", "Pierres Reflechies", "Envol", "Coexistence", "Apocalypse De Jean", and "Messe De Liverpool". CD

A new version of Henry's Antogonismes IV – originally commissioned by the WDR in Cologne, and presented here with stunning sound that really lives up to the spirit of the piece! The theme of "antagonisms" is very apt – as the work slowly progresses by working up noises between various instruments and sound sources, building and shifting in the manner of some of Henry's pivotal work from the early 60s. CD

Includes the 20 minute "Gouttes D'Eau" or water drops section from Pierre Henry's Hugosymphonie. CD

A beautiful American release from Toninho Horta – and one that features some great guest work by Joyce too! The sound here is a nice extension of Horta's early EMI albums in Brazil – a bit more jazz-based and somewhat polished – but still light years away from the sound of contemporary fusion in the US at the time. Toninho often uses that cool wordless style of singing that makes his music so magical – and in addition to some guest vocals from Joyce on two tracks – other artists include Nivaldo Ornellas and Wayne Shorter on saxes, Robertinho Silva on drums, and Marcio Montarroyos on flugelhorn. Titles include "Sunflower", "Mountain Flight", "Luisa", "Ballad For Zawinul", "Raul", and "Pilar". CD

A lovely blend of fusion and Brazilian roots – and one of Toninho Horta's standout sets from his US years at Verve! The album's got a warm, organic feel that's quite different from other American fusion of the time – still filled with some of the influences that drove that music in the US, but carried off in a way that's much deeper and more personal overall – thanks to Toninho's always-great approach! Horta sings wordlessly and plays guitars – and the instrumentation shifts a bit from track to track, creating different moods with the addition of players who include Pat Metheny on guitar, Onaje Allen Gumbs on synth, Billy Drewes on soprano sax, and Nana Vasconcelos on percussion. Titles include "Spirit Land", "Francisca", "Sun Song", "Bicycle Ride", "Eternal Youth", and "Gershwin". CD

Incredibly great work from Toninho Horta – especially considering that the album's a US release from the early 90s! Horta's working here in a tight trio with Gary Peacock on bass and Billy Higgins on drums – both players we can trust to keep things real, and help Toninho hit a groove that's solidly jazzy. The style is more straight jazz than some of Horta's other work – but in a really great way – and although he sings a bit on the set in that wordless way of his, there seems to be more of a focus than before on well-played guitar solos, both electric and acoustic. Titles include "Pica Pau", "Lullaby Of Birdland", "My Funny Valentine", "Minas Train", "Footprints", "Tarde", and "O Amor Em Paz". CD

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Ibis are one of those Italian groups from the 70s with a sound so strong, they make you forget that you don't even know the words to their lyrics – as the focus on all the other elements in the record is so great! These guys are maybe a bit more reined in than some of their longform prog contemporaries, but not by much – and they use their more compact space to provide some focus to tunes with guitar lines so heavy, and hooks so powerful, it might take you a minute to realize they're singing in Italian – especially when you start enjoying the production on the vocals. Titles include "Narratio", "Premessa", "Dedicated To Janis Joplin", "Strada", and "Ritrovarci Qui". CD features the bonus track "Noi". CD

A playful bit of pop from the Japanese scene of the early 80s – a set that mixes in a nice range of different styles and instrumental elements at once, maybe with the same sort of charm as some of the Ze Records material from the time! Yu Imai handles a Prophet 5 and other keyboards, and produced and arranged the set – but the real warmth of the record comes from the vocals of female singer Chibo, who's got just the right balance to make the tunes come off well – without every sounding too goofy or forced. When the lyrics are in English, she could almost hit the territory of Christina – and titles include "Thermo Limbo", "Do The Wolf", "Swimming Under Glass", "Oriental Oriental", "Exotic Dance", "Narcissa", and "Watashi No Suki Na Kuni". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from Incognito – perhaps their greatest album ever! By the time of this 1993 release, this Brit funky soul combo was in perfect form – blending together classic modes of jazz funk into a tight modern blend that's lasted a lot longer than anyone might have thought at the time. From the perspective of nearly a decade later, this album glistens like a lost soul jewel – perfectly fitting in between some of our favorite 70s albums, and a few of the better sides from recent years. The vocals are great, the riffing is tight, and the production is smooth and soulful all the way through. Tracks include "Still A Friend Of Mine", "Positivity", "Smiling Faces", "Do Right", "Talkin Loud", and "Thinkin About Tomorrow". CD

With a name like Chubby, the set ought to be a snoozer – but it swings nicely, thanks to some strong bass work by Jackson! The group's a Chicago ensemble, featuring lesser-known players of the 50s – like Vito Price, Cy Touff, Don Lamond, and Jimmy Gourley – plus trombone by Bill Harris, whose earlier work is clearly an influence on Jackson's own here. Tunes are in a swinging Basie/Hefti mode – and titles include "Flyin The Coop", "Plymouth Rock", "Tiny's Blues", and "Raffles". CD

A second full length set from Jafrosax – one of the few Japanese combos to successfully blend jazzy riffs with more electric dance rhythms! The sound here really isn't club jazz, but more a soulful house with sax solo sort of mode – one that has plenty of tenor blowing over the top of funky beats, keyboards, and other tasty instrumentation. A fair bit of the tracks on the set are instrumental, but some of the best feature vocals – by singers who include Ria, Jurianne, Deeizm, and Miho Sugiura. Titles include "Free No 2", "Easy That Would Be", "Float In Afternoon", "Saxtatic", "Future Freedom", "Sweet Music", and "Sepia Rose". CD

Excellent live work by Ahmad Jamal – recorded during his classic years, when he was wowing audiences all over the US! The set features 2 CDs, with material recorded at the Pershing Lounge and Alhambra in Chicago, The Spotlite Club in Washington DC, and the Black Hawk in San Francisco. On the 2 CDs, you're getting a huge amount of material – 32 tracks that made up some of Jamal's best-selling albums of the early 60s, all recorded with the classic trio of Israel Crosby and Vernel Fournier. Titles include "Moonlight In Vermont", "Woody N You", "Poinciana", "Cherokee", "Tater Pie", "Billy Boy", "Snowfall", "Sweet & Lovely", and "Darn That Dream". CD

A stunning lost bossa nova soundtrack! The score was penned for the 1967 film Garota De Ipanema (Girl From Ipanema), and although you've heard some of the tracks before in other versions, the overall album is very nice – and is a wonderful tribute to the early days of bossa nova! Jobim and Vinicius perform, as well as Baden Powell, Tamba Trio, Nara Leao, Elis Regina, Ronnie Von, Chico Buarque, and Quarteto Em Cy – and titles include "Por Voce", "Chorino", "Aria Para Se Morrer De Amor", "Rancho Das Namoradas", and "Tema Da Desilusao". We think some of the material might have popped up on otheralbums from time to time, but there's still enough stuff here that we hadn't heard elsewhere – and that we like a lot! CD