"I Honor U" produced by Wyclef. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A record with a bit of a gag in the title, but a set that has the mighty Caravan at their classic best – simply soaring to the skies on some of the best-crafted prog lines of their generation! The lineup has shifted a bit from before – only core members Pye Hastings on guitar and Richard Coughan on drums – but the sound is still wonderful, as Dave Sinclair steps on with lots of cool work on keyboards – and the group get assorted guest help from Brit jazz giants who include Tony Coe on tenor, Pete King on flute and alto, Henry Lowther on trumpet, Frank Rocotti on congas, and Rubert Hine on Arp! Peter Geoffrey Richardson is also a core member of the group, and provides electric viola at many spots – an instrument which doesn't change the Caravan sound, so much as slide right in and expand it. Titles include "The Dog The Dog He's At It Again", "A Hauting We Shall Go", "Headloss", "Surprise Surprise", "Memory Lain Hugh", and "C'Thlu Thlu". LP, Vinyl record album

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Includes the previously unreleased "original mix" of the entire album as well as additional bonus tracks. CD

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

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An overlooked album from pianist Eddie Costa – recorded in the late 50s for Dot Records! The set's a bit different than some of Costa's other material from the time – in that has Eddie playing with a much heavier touch on the left hand – inflecting the keys in a bluesier mode, but also working here with some modern touches from drummer Paul Motian, who's in the trio along with bassist Wendell Marshall. Costa's tone has changed decidedly for the record – and he's often got a loudly flowing approach to the keys that echoes later work by McCoy Tyner, Steve Kuhn, and other key 60s innovators. And even though tracks are again mostly familiar numbers, Costa's really pushing them to new levels – pushing, pausing, and twisting them into unusual time structures and melodic progressions. Titles include "House Of Blue Lights", "Diane", "When I Fall In Love", "My Funny Valentine", "What's To Ya", and "Anabelle". CD

A great record from The Crusaders – and an album that's really the start of the group's strong run of smooth funky jazz for the 70s – a very vibrant little set, even though the black and white cover makes the whole thing look a bit understated! The album's got the group dropping the "jazz" from their name, but it's still a great bit of LA funky soul jazz – with electric keyboards from Joe Sample that are very much in a late 60s mode, plus guitar from David T Walker and Arthur Adams, and bass from Chuck Rainey, in addition to fine work by regulars like Stix Hooper, Wayne Henderson, and Wilton Felder. Tracks have a tight and uncomplicated funky approach, with a slightly smooth edge – and titles include "Do Yourself A Favor", "Try A Little Harder", "Cold Duck Eddie", "Way Back Home", and the Afro-funky groover "Alekesam"! CD

Warm and soulful samba from Wilson Das Neves – an artist who's reemerged a bit in recent years, but still working with all the swinging charm he had in the 60s and 70s! The set's got some lyrical touches that are mighty nice, and which fit well with the raspy quality of Wilson's aging vocals – almost a trace of choro mixed in with the samba, at least in the way the tunes sparkle with a nice depth of feeling and sensitivity. The vocals have a very human quality – even more so than before – and titles include "Minha Trajetoria", "Coquetel", "Folha No Ar", "Estava Faltando Voce", "Assedio", "Nao Da", "Outono Chegou", and "Ingrata Surpresa". CD

A stunning collection of work from Kiki Dee – a British singer that most folks only discovered in the US in the mid 70s, thanks to a duet with Elton John – but one who gave her homeland some fantastic music in the 60s! The set's the first to fully dip into this part of Kiki's career, and bring all the best bits together – early singles and an album for the Fontana label, plus European material too – then her full album for Motown from the end of the 60s, plus nine more bonus tracks recorded for Motown too! The whole thing's a massive book-styled package – with loads of notes and photos – and the music shows just what a groovy singer Kiki was back in the day – the kind of powerhouse female vocalist that England always seemed to do better than us at the time. The set features 60 tracks in all – the albums I'm Kiki Dee and Great Expectations, plus rare tracks and singles – a set list that includes "Runnin Out Of Fools", "There He Goes", "The Day Will Come Between Sunday & Monday", "My Whole World Ended", "I'll Have You You'll Have Me", "Oh Be My Love", "Mr Loneliness", "You're My World", "While They Watch", "On A Magic Carpet Ride", "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You", "Hungry Heart", "Now The Flowers Cry", "I'm Going Out", "Don't Destroy Me", "Why Don't I Run Away From You", "Sunshine", "Patterns", "With A Kiss", "That's Right Walk On By", and "Senza Te". CD

A live set recorded in 1965 – and more straight ahead soul jazz than Lou's later funk work on Blue Note, even though Leo Morris/Idris Muhammad is on drums. The album is a nice transitional session, though, with a good lounge jazz feel, and some nice long cuts like "Fried Buzzard", "Summertime" – and "The Thang", which have a rawer feel than most of his Blue Note stuff. CD

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A really cool limited single – with two contemporary vocal jazz gems! Kurt Elling takes on the groovy tune "Stepping Out" by Joe Jackson – really unlocking the jazzy core of the song, almost as anthem for the New York that Elling now calls home – and Mark Murphy handles the classic "Stolen Moments" – a cut he's done a few times, but which is presented here from his great Verve album with Til Bronner at the production helm! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Great soundtrack work from Brian Eno – a record that's maybe more stark than some of his other work of the past few decades – but in a way that's no surprise, given that the music is for a film about the brilliant minimalist designer Dieter Rams! There are sounds here that recall some of Eno's late 70s collaborations with Cluster, while others have more of the organic, acoustic qualities of his own ambient work – and the pairing of two thoughtful geniuses for one project is a perfect match. Titles include "For A New Design", "Generative Lounge", "Designer Piano", "A Warm Sweet Bed", "Beautiful Metals", "Bright Clouds Of Metal", and "Harmonic Guitar". CD

No sophomore slump for the second Eric B & Rakim album – benchmark hip hop of the first order and up there with the best of all time! Following up Paid In Pull was no easy task, and the appropriately titled Follow The Leader makes it look easy, completing one of the great one-two punches in hip hop history by bring in a richer, fuller, more skillfully creative sound, without sacrificing the dense, hard hitting, sparely funk greatness of the debut. Includes the awesome title track, plus "Lyrics Of Fury", "Microphone Fiend", "The R", "Musical Massacre", "No Competition", "Just A Beat", "Eric B Never Scared", "Put Your Hands Together", "To The Listeners" and "Beats For The Listeners". LP, Vinyl record album

We've loved the music of Shaun Escoffery for many years now – right from that time when he emerged from the UK scene as key talent in the Omar generation – the kind of strong songwriting voice and confident singer that really helped mark a difference from the world of soul in the US! Escoffery has evolved wonderfully over the course of his superb recordings – and here, he continues to grow even more – coming on strong, and maybe with more of a 60s soul inspiration than ever before – kind of a romping, vibrant approach to the music that echoes the Motown generation, while still also sounding immediately contemporary, and graced with a production style that maybe makes Shaun's vocals sound even more powerful than ever! We've been waiting decades for Escoffery to get the international fame he deserves – and maybe this record is the one that will put him over the top, given the strength of the songs and the overall set as a whole. Titles include "River", "Imagine", "Lucky", "Soldier", "Heat", "With These Eyes", "Need To Believe", "Candle", "You Remind Me", and "Surrender". CD

A great snapshot of jazzy London in the years before the acid jazz explosion of the late 80s – and a surprisingly great soundtrack that's stood the test of time much more than the actual film! The music here represents a jazz-based undercurrent of the London scene that was already turning its ears back in time – to a pre-mod era of the late 50s, which is the setting for Colin MacInnes original novel used for the film – portrayed here in a pastiche of vocal and instrumental songs that often have a fair bit of classic touches! Gil Evans was brought in for most of the instrumentals, and turns out some really sparkling charts that have all the charm of his best work of the 50s – and other contemporary artists do a pretty great job themselves – at least on the more jazz-based numbers. Evans numbers include versions of Charles Mingus' "Boogie Stop Shuffle" and "Better Git It In Your Soul", plus his own "Va Va Vaoom" – and the better jazzy tunes includes the excellent "Killer Blow" by Sade, plus "Have You Ever Had It Blue" by The Style Council, "That's Motivation" and "Absolute Beginners" by David Bowie, "Rodrigo Bay" by Working Week, "Selling Out" by Slim Gaillard, and "Riot City" by Jerry Dammers. CD

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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

Naked guys on motorcycles – and that's just on the front cover – a great indication that you're really in for something special from this legendary Japanese band! Flower Travellin Band are one of those combos who clearly started out with an inspiration in blues, but quickly take things out to much trippier territory – long jams that are more psych than anything else at points, especially when the guitars get really freaky and fuzzy! There's almost a heady Bay Area vibe to the whole thing – although the record has some sinister currents that would have really freaked out an acid-dropping hippie – all of which makes for the kind of record that never loses its power over the decades. Titles include "Black Sabbath", "Twenty First Century Schizoid Man/Anywhere", "Anywhere/Louisiana Blues", and "House Of The Rising Sun". LP, Vinyl record album

A really hard-jamming band from the Japanese scene at the start of the 70s – the kind of quartet who take simple instruments but find a way of making music that's completely their own! The record's instrumental, and definitely has some ties to European prog – but there's also a sound that's much rougher around the edges – especially on the guitar and organ, which would both be equally at home on a blues rock record, but never have this intensity or complexity! The group show their hard rock chops at a few points too – and titles include "The Hole In A Sausage", "Dedicated To Bach", "Clock", "The Conflict Of The Hippo & The Pig", "Waltz For MPB", and "Naked Mountain". LP, Vinyl record album

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A treasure trove of rare work from the legendary Serge Gainsbourg – studio outtakes, alternate versions, and lots of other material that stands as a great addition to the catalog of one of the coolest, grooviest French language singers ever! This 3CD set is overflowing with gems – and CD1 brings together rare tracks by Serge himself – some from 45 or LP projects, but presented here in different modes that stand as a wonderful complement to some of the versions you might know – almost like a "part 2" or extended take in some cases. Titles include "Black Trombone (avec intro)", "L'Homme A Tete De Chou (instrumental)", "Sea Sex & Sun (extrait des prises voix", "Chez Les Yeye (prise complete)", "L'Eau A La Bouche (avec intro)", "69 Annee Erotique (instrumental)", and two very long tracks – "Melody (prise complete)" and "Lola Roastaquoouere (instrumental)". CD2 features various interpretations of Serge's songs – many of which were produced by Serge himself, and a few of which even feature vocals by Gainsbourg! The music spans the space of his early Latin and jazzy work, through his slinky sexy 60s and 70s years, to his final burst of great music in the early 80s. Titles include "J'Ai Deja Donne" by Jacques Dutronc, "Les P'Tits Papiers" by Regine, "Les Papillons Noirs" by Michele Arnaud, "Mambo Miam Miam" by Los Goragueros, "Le Sixieme Sens" by Juliette Greco, "L'Oiseau De Paradis" by Zizi Jeanmarie, "Les Petits Boudins" by Dominique Walter, "Le Mal Interieur" by Isabelle Adjani, "Plus Dous Avec Moi" by Charlotte Gainsbourg, and "Le Drapeau Noir" by Mirelle Darc. CD3 features great music that Serge Gainsbourg did for a variety of cinematic projects – music that's every bit as groovy as his own vocal tunes, and which often appear here in instrumental takes that let you focus even more strongly on his great sense of a funky bit and a groove! Titles include "Milena (instrumental)", "L'Eau A La Bouche (avec intro)", "Requiem Pour Un Con (instrumental)", "First Class Ticket (prise alternative)", "Les Chemins De Katmandou (generique)", "Le Village A L'Aube", "Discophoteque (rough mix)", and "Le Physique Et La Figure (version complete)", plus Anna Karina singing "Roller Girl". CD

A seminal piece of west coast bop from the mid 50s – featuring altoist Geller in group with wife Lorraine on piano, and either Curtis Counce or Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and either Larry Marable or Eldridge Freeman on drums. The groove's nice and hard, nice and stripped-down – and Geller proves himself to be a fantastic player with a soulful edge that sets him apart from most of his LA contemporaries. Titles include "Sweet Vinegar", "Love Is Like a Turtle", "Kahagon", "Breaking Through The Sound Barrier", and "Days I Never Knew". 12 tracks in all! CD

A beautiful recent live recording from bossa legend Joao Gilberto – the kind that shows that he's still very much in fine fine form! The set was recorded in Tokyo, and features Joao on voice and guitar – with no other instrumentation at all – replicating the feel of some of his sparest classic work, with a style and approach that seems even better with age. There's a waning sadness to the whole set that's really compelling – the weight of years that somehow makes classic tunes sound even more meaningful than before! 15 tracks in all – with titles that include "Aos Pes Da Cruz", "Bolinha De Papel", "Louco", "Pra Que Discutir Com Madame", "Doralice", "Este Seu Olhar", and "Preconceito". LP, Vinyl record album

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

Easily one of the greatest records ever from the Keef Hartley Band – and certainly the group's jazziest! The album's awash in great horn parts that dance along beautifully with the rootsier vocals of the set – sung by guitarist Miller Anderson, in a rough-edged style that has some American bluesy overtones. The set features a great instrumental called "Premonition" – a really tasty little jazz rocker – and saxophonist Jimmy Jewell and trumpeter Henry Lowther get in some great licks on the album as well. Titles include "Morning Rain", "The Time Is Near", "Another Time Another Place", "Change", and "Premonition". CD

A long-lost album from one of our favorite jazz talents of all time – British tenor legend Tubby Hayes, a player we'd easily place on a short list with giants like Dexter Gordon or Sonny Rollins! Like both of those players, Hayes has an incredible talent for longform solos that never lose their fire, direction, or imagination – a quality that emerges here maybe even more strongly than on some of the records that preceded it – as Hayes works with just a quartet, on long tracks that are really dominated by both his great sound, and the strong contributions of pianist Mike Pyne – an equal star on the set! At a time when British jazz was going for a lot of new recording modes, crossover styles, and other gimmicks, the whole thing is a back to basics record for Tubby – but also one that shows just how much he's grown as a soloist in just a few short years – really on fire, as the tenor is driven strongly by the efforts of Ron Mathewson on bass and Spike Wells on drums, completing a great quartet who really get the energy of their leader. Titles include a great version of the Duke Pearson tune "You Know I Care", a lovely take on "Where Am I Going", and the Hayes originals "For Members Only", "Rumpus", and "Grits Beans & Greens". Fantastic stuff – long overdue, and instantly a key addition to the Tubby Hayes Fontana catalog of the 60s! CD

A long-lost album from one of our favorite jazz talents of all time – British tenor legend Tubby Hayes, a player we'd easily place on a short list with giants like Dexter Gordon or Sonny Rollins! Like both of those players, Hayes has an incredible talent for longform solos that never lose their fire, direction, or imagination – a quality that emerges here maybe even more strongly than on some of the records that preceded it – as Hayes works with just a quartet, on long tracks that are really dominated by both his great sound, and the strong contributions of pianist Mike Pyne – an equal star on the set! At a time when British jazz was going for a lot of new recording modes, crossover styles, and other gimmicks, the whole thing is a back to basics record for Tubby – but also one that shows just how much he's grown as a soloist in just a few short years – really on fire, as the tenor is driven strongly by the efforts of Ron Mathewson on bass and Spike Wells on drums, completing a great quartet who really get the energy of their leader. Titles include a great version of the Duke Pearson tune "You Know I Care", a lovely take on "Where Am I Going", and the Hayes originals "For Members Only", "Rumpus", and "Grits Beans & Greens". Fantastic stuff – long overdue, and instantly a key addition to the Tubby Hayes Fontana catalog of the 60s! This great 2CD version features the full versions of all the sessions, with a number of takes on some of the tunes – including an unusual version of "Where Am I Going" with the guitar of Louis Stewart instead of the piano of Mike Pyne. Also has a hardcover package, and a nice booklet of notes! CD

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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

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At the end of the 60s, Milt Jackson and Ray Brown cut some very groovy records together – teamed up in a great pairing of styles that pushed both of them way past the more standard sounds of earlier years! This album's one of the best of the bunch – as it features pianist Monty Alexander joining the pair, bringing in some warmly soulful elements on piano – in ways that are a great bridge between his work for MGM and MPS! The set also features great tenor from Teddy Edwards – blowing with a deep tone and a sharp edge – and in addition to vibes by Jackson and bass by Brown, the group also features Dick Berk on drums. The set was recorded live at Shelly's Manne-Hole – and titles include Alexander's "That's The Way It Is", plus "Blues In The Basement", "Wheelin & Dealin", and "Tenderly". 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

Something Special indeed – as the album was one of the biggest hits for Kool & The Gang, and showed that the group still had plenty of energy left to groove into the 80s! The record features production work by Brazilian music maestro Eumir Deodato – who by this point had become a sweet and smooth talent with a real flair for putting over a modern soul groove! Deodato's approach is really great – smooth, yet soulful, without any tricks or gimmicks – and a real appreciation for lead vocals and a catchy little hook! The album features the group's party classic "Get Down On It", plus "Steppin Out", "No Show", "Pass It On", "Be My Lady", "Take My Heart", and "Good Time Tonight". CD

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A nice little live set by Rita Lee – the ex-member of Os Mutantes who went onto become a huge Brazilian pop star in the 80s and 90s. This set – done for MTV Brasil's equivalent of Unplugged – has Rita singing in a mellow small group mode, performing with a few guest stars, and running through a selection of older material. Titles include "Agora So Falta Voce", "Flagra", "Doce Vampiro", "Jardins Da Babilonia", "Luz Del Fuego", "Balada Do Louco", "Eu E Meu Gato", "Alo Alo Marciano", and "Gita". CD

One of our favorite soundtracks ever – a jazzy swinging ode to love found and love lost – all penned by the legendary Michel Legrand! The work was composed in collaboration with director Jacques Demy for his 1966 film of the same name – and, like the previous Demy/Legrand collaboration, Umbrellas Of Cherbourg, the movie's a story in song – one that has much of the dialogue presented as sung lyrics to the tunes. The mode takes off from a Hollywood musical style, and pushes the genre into territory that's much hipper, very French, and with a soaring approach that's filled with plenty of mod 60s jazz grooves. Legrand's genius has never sparkled so brightly – and his ability to interweave different themes, stories, and grooves is simply amazing! This double-length set presents the expanded original score – with many songs that were not on the original single version of the soundtrack, plus key bits of dialogue to help transition the tunes. Titles include "Chanson Des Jumelles", "Chanson De Delphine", "Nous Voyageons De Ville En Ville", "Chanson D'Andy", "La Femme Coupee En Morceaux", and "Marins Amis Amants Ou Maris". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the greatest jazz work ever recorded by Michel Legrand! Although Legrand's always been known for his sweet soundtrack work and his famous easy listening sides – he's also a heck of a jazz pianist, and here in this rare 1959 session, he works in a trio format that puts him right up there with the best of the French piano-technics of his generation, like Maurice Vander or Rene Utreger. The arrangements are wonderfully off-beat – and Legrand dances around the piano with a versatility that we didn't know he had. The group features Guy Pedersen on bass and Gus Wallez on drums – and titles include "Paris In The Spring", "Sous Les Ponts De Paris", "Paris Canaille", "Moulin Rouge", and "La Vie En Rose". CD

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A fantastic selection of work from one of the hippest girl groups of the 70s – the mighty Love Unlimited trio, three singers who all worked under the genius of Barry White in his prime! Unlike other girl trios of the time, who often used an older soul mode refitted with disco grooves – sometimes acting more like a chorus than a lead act – Love Unlimited always brought their full vocal strengths to play, and do a fantastic job here working in modes that rival some of the best male harmony groups of the early 70s – especially the sweet soul groups from New Jersey, New York, and Philly. And yes, Barry does kick up the groove a bit at times, but even then things are usually more in a midtempo mode, not a disco one – which makes for tremendous sounds throughout. This is the first-ever proper collection of the girls' singles from the early 70s – and titles include "Oh Love Well We Finally Made It", "Fragile Handle With Care", "Are You Sure", "I Should Have Known", "Is It Really True Boy Is It Me", "Walkin In The Rain With The One I Love", "Under The Influence Of Love", "It May Be Winter Outside", "I Love You So Never Gonna Let You Go", "I Belong To You", "So Nice To Hear", "People Of Tomorrow Are The Children Of Today", and "Share A Little Love In Your Heart". CD

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The long overdue reissue of this masterpiece from the Brazilian underground of the post-Tropicalia years – one of the first albums by Jorge Mautner, one of Brazil's most unique talents at the time! Although Jorge's main instrument is the violin, he lays low on it for much of the record – singing amidst rootsy rhythms, folkloric instrumentation, and an overall post-sixties sense of righteous empowerment. Tracks are spare and jagged, but never unpleasant – and the record has a brittle quality that makes it as striking today as it must have been back in the early 70s. Tracks include "Anjo Infernal", "Super Mulher", "Olhar Bestial", "Sapo Cururu", and "Estrela Da Noite" – plus the English language tracks "Sheridan Square" and "From Faraway", which have a feel that almost reminds us of work on Caetano Veloso's Transa album. Also includes 3 bonus tracks – "Planeta Dos Macacos", "Rock Da Barata", and "Relaxa Meu Bem Relaxa". CD

A landmark album of crossover funk – fuzzed out rock, soul, and jazzy licks all coming into play together – held totally tight by drummer Buddy Miles, the undisputed king of his scene! Buddy's drums are super-heavy – holding down his Freedom Express group with a heavy jazz-rock sound that would soon have a huge influence on other groups. Includes Buddy's original version of "Them Changes" – a tune that was instantly covered by everyone at the time – plus the cuts "Memphis Train", "Your Feeling Is Mine", "Dreams", and "Down By The River". One for the Fillmore crowd! CD

An impeccable collection of work from one of the greatest soundtrack talents ever – a package that brings together a range of rare work from the 70s, including a number of previously-unreleased tracks! The music does have some of the dark tinges promised by the title, but this is less the atonal, avant Morricone than the more sonically mindblowing side of the composer – all sorts of unusual ways to use and record familiar instruments, offbeat combinations of notes and sounds, and an overall ear for the scope of the music that always leaves us breathless when we hear material this strong! The package features 27 tracks in all – 7 of which are unreleased – and the combination of cuts is wonderful. Features music from Stark System, L'Automobile, Lui Per Lei, Spotlati Protesta Uccidi, Quando L'Amore E Sensualita, Eat It, Peur Sur La Ville, Storie Di Vita E Malavita, La Smagliatura, Copkiller, San Babila Ore 20, Rene La Canne, and other films too. CD

An impeccable collection of work from one of the greatest soundtrack talents ever – a package that brings together a range of rare work from the 70s, including a number of previously-unreleased tracks! The music does have some of the dark tinges promised by the title, but this is less the atonal, avant Morricone than the more sonically mindblowing side of the composer – all sorts of unusual ways to use and record familiar instruments, offbeat combinations of notes and sounds, and an overall ear for the scope of the music that always leaves us breathless when we hear material this strong! The package features 27 tracks in all – 7 of which are unreleased – and the combination of cuts is wonderful. Features music from Stark System, L'Automobile, Lui Per Lei, Spotlati Protesta Uccidi, Quando L'Amore E Sensualita, Eat It, Peur Sur La Ville, Storie Di Vita E Malavita, La Smagliatura, Copkiller, San Babila Ore 20, Rene La Canne, and other films too. LP, Vinyl record album

Lovely English-language work from Nana Mouskouri – a set recorded with some really great arrangements from Bobby Scott, who seems to help Nana pack even more feeling than usual in her work! Scott's arrangements have some elements of jazz, but are usually more complicated overall – sensitively shading things in alongside Nana's well-crafted vocals – and really getting past some of her poppier modes of the 60s with an all-adult approach to the tunes. Strings figure into most of the backings, with almost a Scott Walker sense of depth – and titles include "Tiny Sparrow", "I Love My Man", "Johnny", "Half A Crown", "Just A Ribbon", "If You Love Me", "The Love We Never Knew",a nd "Ballinderrie". CD

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A rare British session from vocalist Mark Murphy – and one of his grooviest albums of the 60s! Mark's working here with great backings from the orchestras of Tubby Hayes, John Dankworth, and Les Reed – all of whom give Murphy some of his hippest grooves to date, very much in the mode of some of his work on the Midnight Mood album cut for MPS during the same overseas 60s stretch. And as with that one, there's a nice selection of tunes that goes way past the usual – and which shows off the widest range of Murphy's groovy vocal talents – titles that include "Ballyhoo", "Iceberg", "Stablemates", "She Loves You", "Come Rain Or Come Shine", "I Left My Heart In San Francisco", "From Time To Time", and "The Best Is Yet To Come". CD

The third album from the legendary Os Mutantes – part of the essential trio of sides released during the Tropicalia years! The record's got a sound that's tighter and a bit more straightforward than their previous efforts – stricter song formats, and styles that lean heavily on rockish guitars and organ. But as the odd cover images on the front and back will attest, the band is still in a very creatively arty mode here – still working strongly with arranger Rogerio Duprat, in a wash of sounds and moods that fold contemporary music back upon itself with plenty of odd twists, turns, and surprises! Titles include "Desculpe Baby", "Oh Mulher Infiel", "Quem Tem Medo De Brincar De Amor", "Hey Boy", "Halleluia", "Ave, Lucifer", and "Meu Refrigerador Nao Funciona". CD

A landmark album from late 60s Brazil! This is the first – and the wildest – album by this legendary group that was one of the founding forces of the Tropicalia movement – a brilliant musical statement that easily ranks with some of the most groundbreaking late 60s American work by The Velvet Underground, Captain Beefheart, or The Stooges! The music is a wonderful blend of 60s rock and early MPB – hard-driving with plenty of guitars, but also produced with beautifully baroque touches that echo through simultaneous albums by Caetano Veloso and Gal Costa – both of whose 1969 albums are strongly resonant with this one. In fact, Caetano contributed a number of tracks to the album, including "Panis et Circenses", "Bat Macumba", "Trem Fantastma", and his great "Baby", which is done fantastically here. Great stuff all 'round! CD

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A sparkling set of modern samba tunes performed by Zeca Pagodinho – done in collaboration with producer Rildo Hora, who also handled most of the arrangements on the set! There's a warmth here that recalls some of the best of the samba revival generation of the 70s – a style that's back to basics, yet which also has some jazzier inflections that liven up the tunes from time to time. Seu Jorge and Marcelo D2 make a great guest appearance on the track "Zeca Cade Voce" – and other tracks include "Pra Sao Jorge", "A Vera", "Dona Esponja", "Que E Ela", "O Pai Coruja", "Dizer Nao Pro Adeus", and "Vida Da Gente". CD

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Very early work from Astor Piazzolla – recorded in the decades before he first started hitting fame on the international scene – and with a sound that shows that his skills on the bandoneon were every bit as great in his youth as they were in his later years! The music here is a bit less modernist than some of the nuevo tango modes of Astor's 70s years – but the tracks have a very similar interplay between piano, violin, and accordion – and even when larger orchestrations might creep into the mix, they never get in the way of the standout solo instrumentation at the core! Titles include the beautiful extended "Tango Ballet" – plus "Caliente", "Reparense", "El Recodo", "Orgullo Criollo", "Lunfardo", and "Bandoneon Guitarra Y Bajo". CD