An incredible record – and virtually the blueprint for countless other keyboard records to come! At the height of his 70s powers, Herbie really takes off into space with this set – moving away from more commercial music, and hitting a groove that's totally righteous, totally electric, and completely mindblowing! The album's got a bit of a Headhunters vibe, but it also veers off into some very wild analogue electronics too – a mix of Fender Rhodes, clavinet, melotron, and echoplex processing – augmented by additional work on Arp from Patrick Gleeson. Other players on the set include Bennie Maupin on reeds, Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Julian Priester on trombone, Buster Williams on bass, and Billy Hart on drums – and the great Buck Clarke rounds out the combo on percussion. The album only features three long tracks – "Rain Dance", "Hidden Shadows", and "Hornets" – but all of them are killers! LP, Vinyl record album

Genius material from Waylon Jennings – one of those career-defining records from the early 70s that completely put him on top, and heralded a whole new generation in country music! The set's maybe equally noteworthy as a showcase for the up-and-coming Billy Joe Shaver, who wrote much of the songs on the record – and it's also a great showcase for the important production talents of Tompall Glaser, who really gets the spirit of the music right! Titles include great versions of "Honky Tonk Heroes", "Old Five & Dimers Like Me", "Ride Me Down Easy", "Black Rose", "Willy The Wandering Gypsy & Me", "Omaha", and "Ain't No God In Mexico". LP, Vinyl record album

A 70s crossover classic, and the album the put LaBelle over the top! The mighty Allen Toussaint is at the helm for this first Epic album to feature the trio of Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash – and he really helps the group find an amazing new sound after their somewhat rougher, rootsier efforts for Warner Brothers! The new groove has plenty of Toussaint's New Orleans rhythms in the mix – but the overall sound is a bit smoother too – kind of a classy, clubby take on the Crescent City sound – one that still sounds wonderful after all these years. Most tunes have a vamping rhythm and lots of great electric piano – and titles include the massive hit "Lady Marmalade", the great title track "Nightbirds" – and "Space Children", "All Girl Band", "You Turn Me On", "What Can I Do For You?", and "It Took A Long Time". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest Meters albums of all time – a set done for Warner Brothers, but one that continues some of the sharper edges of their earlier Josie Records material – but all with the heavier studio power they were allowed at the bigger label! The set was produced by Allen Toussaint during that time he was making big waves on the west coast – and he still retains some of the bite of the Sansu years, while also letting the group come across more as a soul group than just an instrumental funk act. The vocals are up more in the mix than before, but the razor-sharp funky instrumentation is still center stage – and titles include the incredible breakbeat cut "Just Kissed My Baby" – worth the price of the album alone – plus "Jungle Man", "Africa", "What'cha Say", and the perennial New Orleans favorite "Hey Pocky A Way". Also features the incredible funk jam "It Ain't No Use" – a monster track that's nearly 12 minutes long! LP, Vinyl record album

A hell of a tribute to all the greatness that made Dolly Parton such a wonderful country singer – years before she achieved superstardom and was known in so many other fields than just music! Here in the early days, Dolly's a tremendous singer and a hell of a songwriter – she penned most of the tracks on the record herself, save for a few by frequent duet partner Porter Wagoner – and the album works beautifully as testament to the hardship of Parton's youth and the strong spirit she forged getting through it – her very unique mix of pride, power, and wit that really comes through in the album's great collection of tracks! And yes, you might expect a bit of schmaltz – but somehow Dolly's got a way of delivering the material with sincerity that cuts right through any of that – very different than similar songs in the hands of her contemporaries. Titles include "Coat Of Many Colors", "Traveling Man", "My Blue Tears", "If I Lose My Mind", "The Mystery Of The Mystery", "She Never Met A Man (She Didn't Like)", "Early Morning Breeze", "The Way I See You", "Here I Am", and "A Better Place To Live". LP, Vinyl record album

The tremendous debut of Dolly Parton – a very early record done before her famous years at RCA – yet a set that already has Dolly at the top of her powers! Parton wrote a good deal of material on the record – rare for a female country singer at the time – and the songs together really show that mix of wit and spunk that were Dolly's calling card – her ability to weather the changes of life and come out on the other side with a sunny disposition – and, usually, a hell of a story to tell too! Production and backings are nicely different than the RCA years – and titles include "I've Lived My Life", "The Company You Keep", "Fuel To The Flame", "Something Fishy", "Dumb Blonde", "Your Ole Handy Man", "I Don't Wanna Throw Rice", and "Put It Off Until Tomorrow". LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant early work from Dolly Parton – a set that marks her as one of the greats in female country music, even at a very young age – and an artist with a sense of spark and wit that already sets her apart from the rest of the pack! The tunes have a wonderful way of blending pain and pride, wisdom and mercy – all with a clear way of looking at the world that comes from Parton's tremendous ability with a pen. Unlike some of her contemporaries, she was not nearly as reliant on material from male songwriters – and although the set's only got a few of her original tunes, those are clearly some of the best – and the beginning of a great legacy to come. Titles include "I'll Oilwells Love You", "Just Because I'm A Woman", "Baby Sister", "I Wish I Felt This Way At Home", "The Only Way Out", and "Little Bit Slow To Catch On". LP, Vinyl record album

Q-Tip's legendary unreleased jazz funk-flavored Kamaal The Abstract album – a wonderful record that should have come out in 2002, but was held back for years – and yet, in another tribute to Q-Tip's prescience, a set that's got lasting power that's made it well worth the wait! We remember well, hearing snippets of Kamaal The Abstract on a promo-only sampler, and telling anyone who would listen to us what a wholly credible modern hip hop-learned take on 70s keyboard funk this record was going to be, and how it would catapult Q-Tip into the forefront of new school practitioners of the style. Then it got bumped, and bumped, and bumped, and finally sealed in the vault – until the gods at Arista finally decided to let it go! Fender Rhodes, Moog, organs, piano, synth, bass, soulful guitars, live, and programmed drums carry the headnodding jazz funk vibe – with Q-Tip/Kamaal's buttery vocals as a piece of the overall groove, as opposed to party rocking MC mode. The Abstract Rapper does stand out a couple times, but for the most part it's all about setting up a vibe, and what a vibe it is! The set features guest work from jazz musicians like Kenny Garrett and Kurt Rosenwinkel – and titles include "Feelin", "Do You Dig U", "A Million Times", "Blue Girl", "Barely In Love", "Heels", "Abstractionisms", "Caring", "Even If It Isn't So", "Make It Work" and "Damn You're Cool". LP, Vinyl record album

Ahhh . . . The young genius of The Replacements! A bit punk, a bit garage, with a heartfelt quality that you didn't always find in indie rock at the time. These rough hewn gems are already as brilliant as they can be – shiny little diamonds that show Westerberg and crew working at top form, possibly topper than they'd ever be at in later years. Every single track is fantastic – and the album dances from number to number with delight, an endless array of great hooks, soulful vocals, and searing guitar bits that are laid out with early 80s economy! Titles include "Take Me Down To The Hospital", "Run It", "Color Me Impressed", "Within Your Reach", "Buck Hill", and "Treatment Bound". LP, Vinyl record album

The classic debut of Gang Starr – and a record that would really help chart the direction for hip hop in the decade to come! And yes, the set's not the first in this mode – but the production work of DJ Premier alone here sets a whole new standard for smart samples, creative rhythms, and really matching the groove to the lyrical interplay – qualities that are still continued when Mark The 45 King helps out on a few tracks too! The duo have a way of serving up smart lyrics with just the right work on the mic – yet all at a level that never hits you over the head – so that the record can easily travel between the streets, the clubs, and the kind of ears tuned towards something smarter than the rest. A classic all the way through – with cuts that include "Manifest", "DJ Premier In Deep Concentration", "Positivity", "Jazz Music", "Gotch U", "2 Steps Ahead", "Knowledge", "Gusto", "Cause & Effect", and "No More Mr Nice Guy". Features a whole album of bonus material – with cuts that include "Here's The Proof", "The Lesson", "Dedication", "Positivity (rmx)", "Manifest (rmx)", "Gusto (inst)", and "No More Mr Nice Guy (return of the bass version)". LP, Vinyl record album

The major label debut of Boogie Down Productions – a record that's got quite a striking cover for the time – one that's drenched in political power, and is hardly the sort of fake gangster image that so many other rappers would use to grace the covers of their albums! Here, KRS-One really hones his craft – delivering a rock-solid album that's already a step ahead of his classic debut Criminal Minded – full of songs whose themes still resonate strongly today – not that KRS failed to change the world with his music, but just that his concerns were years ahead of their time! Production is turned up a few notches than before too – all the best uses of the Jive Records money, while not watering down the songs or going for a crossover hit – and titles include "My Philosophy", "Ya Slippin'", "Jimmy", "Illegal Business", "Stop The Violence", "Nervous", "I'm Still #1", "Part Time Suckers", "T'Cha - T'Cha", and "Necessary". LP, Vinyl record album

Not just a live album from Ray Charles – but a set that shows just how much his talents had grown and matured over the course of the 50s – especially hitting that jazzy current that would mark the late years on Atlantic Records – underscored here by work from David Fathead Newman on tenor, Hank Crawford on alto, and a very young, pre-Tribe Records Marcus Belgrave on trumpet! With players like that in the group, you know there's plenty going on – and Ray's vocals and piano are superb as well – with backing from The Raelettes on a few tracks too! Marjorie Hendricks provides vocals on "The Right Time" and "Tell The Truth" – and other titles include "Frenesi", "Yes Indeed", "What'd I Say", "Drown In My Own Tears", and "The Spirit Feel". LP, Vinyl record album

Lord Quas returns for another batch of booming, mad-blunted hip hop – an even more sprawling, surreal ride than the Unseen LP! Quasimoto was and still is Madlib's outlet for his most cartoonishly blunted, eccentric tendencies – and he really lets 'em fly on this set! The Unseen LP had more strains of the smoky jazz vibe of 'Lib's more mature productions – buried underneath the wacky funk and Quas/'Lib's instantly identifiable, hilarious mouthbreather rhymes. This one keeps it surreal throughout – sort of a cross between Madvillain, Prince Paul and a Max Fleischer cartoon – with Melvin Van Peebles dropping in here and there! Tracks include "Bullysh*t", "Greenery", "Crime", "Hydrant Game", "Don't Blank", "Bus Ride", "Bartender Say", "The Exclusive" feat MED, "Closer" feat Madvillain, "Strange Piano", "Life Is. . .", "Tomorrow Never Knows" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Nina's not just singing the blues here – she's completely reinventing the sound of the format – by drawing on a long tradition of vocal expression, and infusing it with the hipper, more personally exploratory mode she forged in the 60s! The album's got a subtle brilliance that means that it's sometimes overlooked next to her more forceful work of the time – but it's every bit essential Simone as some of her other key sides of the decade. The group is a small combo featuring Eric Gale, Bernard Purdie, Buddy Lucas, and Ernest Hayes – and titles include "I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl", "Do I Move You?", "In The Dark", "Real Real", and "Backlash Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first albums ever as a leader from the young Gary Bartz – and an instant spiritual jazz classic that showed the world that he was well on his way! Bartz blows alto here, in a setting that's equal parts Impulse and Strata East – a killer group that features Pharoah Sanders on tenor, Charles Tolliver on trumpet, Stanley Cowell on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Freddie Waits on drums – some of whom worked with Bartz on the Max Roach classic Members Don't Get Weary – a great introduction to the spirit of this set! Unlike Gary's later records, there's no funk, no vocals, no weird rhythms – just pure spiritual jazz, played to perfection, and filled with a creative vitality that most of the players had lost a few years later. Tracks include the album-side "Another Earth", plus "Dark Nebula", "UFO", and "Perihelion & Aphelion". LP, Vinyl record album

Soaring work from the legendary John Coltrane Quartet – a session that was incredibly far-reaching for the time, and which originally was unissued until after the time of Coltrane's death! The record's got the group really pushing forward strongly – hitting a Love Supreme mode, but also showing even some of the sharper edges that John would explore with the group after this one – a beautiful swan song to the lineup of McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. Things soar with a hell of a lot of spirituality, yet never get too overindulgent to lose their groove – and titles include "Amen", "Dearly Beloved", "Ascent", "Attaining", and "Sun Ship". LP, Vinyl record album

A lasting 70s classic from Frederick Knight – easily his best-remembered album, thanks to the legendary title track! The set's got a slow-burning, deeply soulful feel all the way through – one that takes Knight's high-end vocals, and backs them with some bottom-burning instrumentation that certainly owes something to the Muscle Shoals sound, but which comes off in a way that's a bit more organic, and less in the trademark style of the time. Organ features heavily on most numbers – matching Knight's vocals with a bubbling energy that cooks things up nicely – and tracks include the classic "I've Been Lonely For So Long" , plus "Trouble", "Now That I've Found You", "This Is My Song Of Love To You", "I Let Me Chance Go By", and "Your Love's All Over Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Very early work from jazz vocal legend Abbey Lincoln – material that's maybe a bit more straight ahead than some of her later work, but still has that unmistakable Abbey Lincoln quality in the voice! The arrangements on the set are by Benny Golson – using that light angular edge that always makes his work such a great fit for a hip singer – and the lineup is filled with top shelf jazz musicians who really make the whole thing sparkle – including Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Jerome Richardson on flute, Wynton Kelly on piano, Sahib Shihab on baritone, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums – plus Golson himself on tenor! Tunes include a fantastic reading of the Jon Hendricks/Golson tune "Out Of The Past", a great take on Randy Weston's "Little Niles", and other titles that include "I Am In Love", "An Occasional Man", "Love", "Exactly Like You", and "Just For Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Wilson Pickett at Fame Studios – an unbeatable mix that yields up one of his greatest albums ever! All the best elements of Pickett's strength at Atlantic Records are firmly in place here – hard, raw vocals at the front, supported by funky accompaniment from Fame Studios regulars, plus a bit of vocals from The Sweet Inspirations – all tied together by near-perfect production from the legendary Rick Hall! But best of all, the tracks here are all winners through and through – mostly penned by the cream of the crop of southern-tinged soulsters of the time – including George Jackson, Bobby Womack, Raymond Moore, and the team of Isaac Hayes & David Porter. Of course, Lennon & McCartney contributed the title track "Hey Jude" – which Wilson redoes here with the same soulful inflection that Ike & Tina were bringing to some of the 60s rock cannon at the end of the decade – and other titles include "Save Me", "My Own Style Of Loving", "Toe Hold", "People Make The World", "A Man & A Half", and "Sit Down & Talk This Over". LP, Vinyl record album

A definite real thing from the mighty David Porter – one of his killer solo albums for Stax Records, after splitting his partnership with Isaac Hayes at the end of the 60s – and a record that really matches some of Ike's classic solo sets for sheer ambition and power! Porter's approach is a bit more earthy – almost some deeper soul currents in the music, set alongside fuller arrangements that bring in some gentle funk currents at the bottom, and a complicated instrumental approach that still stays plenty soulful, while stunning us with a level of complexity. Like Hayes, Porter talks a bit along with his vocals – and Ike helps out on one track, but clearly lets David give the album most of his own flavor. Titles include a long version of "Hang On Sloopy", one that goes on for over 11 minutes, and with a soul sound that's very different than the original – and other tracks include "I Don't Wanna Cry", "Ooo Wee Girl", "Thirty Days", "Grocery Man", and "Too Real To Live A Lie". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that maybe didn't make a huge wave when it came out at the time, but a set that serves as a key springboard for the young Jeff Lynne and all the magic he'd later create with ELO! Although Lynne was making music with Roy Wood in The Move around the same time, the record's definitely more in the warmer, compressed territory that Jeff would expand upon a few years later with his massive classics of the 70s – already sitting strongly at the production deck in the studio, and blending the group's core instrumentation with these arrangements that really create a great sort of fullness in the music. In other words, there's maybe not a full "electric orchestra" vibe here, but the set has a great precursor to that mode – on tracks that include "Come With Me", "Sea Of Dreams", "Going Home", "Please No More Sad Songs", "Big Chief Woolly Bosher", "Someone Knocking", "Girl At The Window", "Hurry Up John", and "A Better Life (The Weather Man Knows)". LP, Vinyl record album

The standout classic from Curtom disco diva Linda Clifford – and an album that showed that Chicago could rival Philly in the clubby groove department! Linda has a proud presence that really matches that of her better-known sisters in the City Of Brotherly Love – and she's singing here with a strong sense of personality that really sets the album apart from other female disco albums of the era. One of the greatest examples of this is her stunning "Runaway Love" – which has a bad-rapping, almost Marlena Shaw-esque monologue in the middle – but other tracks are equally nice, and include "Gypsy Lady", "If My Friends Could See Me Now", "Broadway Gypsy Lady", "You Are You Are", and "I Feel Like Falling In Love Again". Arrangements are by Gil Askey – who also produced the set in collaboration with Curtis Mayfield! LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal work from Wilco – one of those key records where they were firmly establishing themselves as one of the most solid, complete bands of their generation – maybe hitting instant classic status with an album like this! The set's both very contemporary and true to their roots – the kind of set you'd swear you heard on AM radio back in the 70s, but which never would have gotten played back then – thanks to the ever-sharpening songwriting skills of Jeff Tweedy, and the overall musicianship and production skills of the group. Titles include "Walken", "Leave Me Like You Found Me", "Either Way", "You Are My Face", "Impossible Germany", "Side With The Seeds", "Please Be Patient With Me", "Hate It Here", and "On & On & On". LP, Vinyl record album

Great stuff! "Wear It On Our Face" is one of their wildest cuts, and starts out with this crazy prepared piano introduction that sounds like it was just lifted from a John Cage record! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A record with a sound that's as swirly as its cover – a record that's loaded to the brim with fuzzy guitar and dreamy organ lines – and served up in a style that makes the whole thing one of the most treasured albums from the short-lived psych years on Mainstream Records! The group hail from Boston, but they've almost got the heady sound of some of the trippiest Texas groups of the period – effortlessly mixing garagey grit with heavier psychedelic elements – on titles that include "Trip To The Zoo", "Please Don't Set Me Free", "The Flight", "Mommy & Daddy", "Symphonic Psychedelia", "Crystalescent Heaven", and "One More Heartache". And heck, even their cover of "Gloria" is pretty darn wild! LP, Vinyl record album

One of those few classic cases where a compilation of tracks was maybe even more influential than the original music itself – as this early 70s collection of 60s material turned out to shape and influence generations for decades to come! Guitar genius Lenny Kaye put the set together famously for Elektra Records in 1972 – as a reminder that, just a few years before, there were some amazing sounds that were not only brewing up in local indie scenes around the country, but also on the radio as well – even though most of those groups had been pushed into relative obscurity by the rise of soft rock, hard rock, and classic rock of the early 70s! The package is a return to the pre-prog years, with an especially strong ear for garage-tuned tracks that would go on to shape later punk, 80s indie, and lots more underground sounds in the future. Titles include "I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)" by Electric Prunes, "Dirty Water" by the Standells, "Respect" by Vagrants, "No Time Like The Right Time" by Blues Project, "Invitation To Cry" by Magicians, "You're Gonna Miss Me" by Thirteenth Floor Elevators, "Psychotic Reaction" by Count Five, "Baby Please Don't Go" by Amboy Dukes, "My World Fell Down" by Sagittarius, "Open My Eyes" by Nazz, "It's A Happening" by The Magic Mushrooms, "Lies" by The Knickerbockers, "Oh Yeah" by Shadows Of Knight, "Sit Down I Think I Love You" by The Mojo Men, "Just Like Romeo & Juliet" by Michael & The Messengers, "Hey Joe" by The Leaves, and "Farmer John" by The Premiers. LP, Vinyl record album

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A wonderfully spiritual album – and one that's maybe a bit of a surprise, given the later fame of the group! The group here is billed by their full name – Experience Unlimited – but where later known to most of the world as EU, the DC funk outfit that went onto become pretty big in the GoGo scene, and who scored big with the 80s party cut "Da Butt". Yet as a classic album on the Black Fire label, this record is nothing like their 80s material at all – and instead catches the group when they were part of a more spiritual scene, the same DC one that gave the world Oneness Of Juju and the larger family of Black Fire artists! This album has the group very much in a mid 70s Earth Wind & Fire mode – jamming hard and free, with plenty of electric guitar riffing, funky keyboards, horns, and lots of percussion. Some tracks have vocals, and some are instrumentals – but the whole thing's an extremely unified album with a great overall vibe – and a message to match the title and the cover. Titles include "Functus", "Free Yourself", "Hey You", "It's All Imagination", and "Funk Consciousness". LP, Vinyl record album

This is the real deal for Screamin Jay Hawkins – the seminal 50s recordings done for the Okeh label, all of which are a lot harder and heavier than some of his later work! The format is simple R&B, but Screamin Jay brings a heck of a lot of himself to the sessions – singing in a raspy, raw sort of way that really lives up to his name – and hitting a variety of fresh and funky subjects in the lyrics – hardly the usual stuff of 50s bluesy recordings! Titles include the classic "I Put A Spell On You", plus 20 more tracks that include "Yellow Coat", "You Made Me Love You", "Little Demon", "Hong Kong", "Alligator Wine", "Person To Person", "Take Me Back To My Boots", "Darling Please Forgive Me", "Orange Colored Sky", "There's Something Wrong With You", and "Frenzy". CD

Plenty of blues power here – a searing live set recorded by Albert King before a very enthusiastic crowd at the Fillmore in the late 60s! The album's filled with lots of King's sharp-edged guitar lines – searing with a bit more soul than your usual bluesman, possibly in part because the backing group's so tight! At times, there's almost a bit of funk in the mix – given that the rhythm section romps it up pretty strongly – and the record stands nicely apart from some of the blues cliches that were creeping into the mix at the time. Titles include the 10 minute workout "Blues Power" – plus "Watermelon Man", "Night Stomp", "Blues At Sunrise", "Please Love Me", and "Look Out". LP, Vinyl record album

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A great little compilation of early vocal group material on Chess Records! The set is very heavy on tracks by The Moonglows – including "Please Send Me Someone To Love", "When I'm With You", "Sincerely", "Most Of All", and "We Go Together". Other cuts include "You're Everything To Me" by The Orchids, "Nadine" by The Coronets, "Long Lonely Nights" by Lee Andrews & The Hearts, and "Bad Girl" by The Miracles. LP, Vinyl record album

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The third volume in Strata East's Dolphy Series, and a hard to find recording by the great baritone saxophonist Cecil Payne! Although Payne had his roots in earlier bop material, by the time of this recording, he'd emerged as an outspoken modernist – although few labels would give him the chance to prove himself in this respect – save for the legendary Strata East imprint, which gives Payne this chance to show a whole new side of his talents! The group is a perfect one to bridge the generations – with Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Wilbur Ware on bass, Wynton Kelly on piano, and Albert Heath on drums – stretching out beautifully in a set of original compositions that are easily some of Payne's best work on record ever. Tracks include "Follow Me", "Flying Fish", "Slide Hampton", and "Girl You Got a Home". LP, Vinyl record album

Can 60s pop get any better than this? It's hard to think so – given the near-perfect sound of this album, and its unique blend of soul, vocal, and mainstream modes! The album's only the second in the career of Dionne Warwick, but she's already at the top of her game – singing with a sense of grace and poise that's simply tremendous, and getting some equally great backing from a young Burt Bacharach – who himself co-wrote most of the tunes here with Hal David. There's a sense of completeness to the record that few other pop albums of the time could boast – a mature, thoughtful presentation of the material that certainly set a new standard for many artists to come! Titles include "Anyone Who Had A Heart", "Don't Make Me Over", "Getting Ready For The Heartbreak", "Any Old Time Of Day", "Mr Heartbreak", "Put Yourself In My Place", and "Please Make Him Love Me". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the more obscure albums by Albert King – and a surprisingly great little set! Given that the concept – hinted at in the title – has Albert performing songs made famous by Elvis Presley, you might think that the record is a bit of a sell-out, or somewhat gimmicky. But given that a good number of these tracks have roots in rougher R&B, King's almost returning these tunes to their forebears with his performance on the set. There's a nicely gritty undercurrent to the grooves – almost a bit of Stax funk at times – and titles include "Hound Dog", "All Shook Up", "That's All Right", "Heartbreak Hotel", "Don't Be Cruel", "One Night", and "Love Me Tender". LP, Vinyl record album

On Things Fall Apart, ?uestlove, Black Thought, DJ Scratch, Rahzel and co. reinvigorated the scene with a Philly style soulful, melancholy groove that seemingly influenced the entirety of the NuSoul world – and it could even be argued that the Roots birthed that whole scene. Phrenology carries that torch, but it's so, SO much more, as the heady nature weighed the previous LP down in spots, and Phrenology is a sprawling exercise in expectation-busting perfection! "Rock You" kicks things off in explosive fashion, forgoing the laid back, yet angry soul backbone the group pioneered in hop hop, for a massive electro pulse pounding style – with Black Thought frenetically spitting confrontational wisdom until the synth unexpectedly dives into a short burst of live hardcore punk with "!!!!!!!" (we know what you're thinking, but trust us, it REALLY works). "Sacrifice" features a surprisingly effective chorus sung by Nelly Furtado, and other guest spots include Kweli heating up "Rolling With Heat", and Musiq on the single "Break You Off". Other highlights include the late 80s Bomb Squad-like production on "Thought @ Work", the group's live instrumentation (and ?uestlove's always great trap work) and soul claps on tunes like "The Seed (2.0)", the epic "Water", and "Complexity" with Jill Scott. If you're solely of the 2 turntables and a mic camp you may want to head elsewhere, but if you've been anxiously awaiting the new Roots LP like we have, you'll be knocked straight on your arse, welled up with tears of joy. The best major label hip hop album of '02, and a beauty to go in the time capsule for future generations to learn, and mourn what they missed first hand. Amazing!!! Other tracks include "Quills", "Pussy Galore", and "Something In The Way Of Things (In Town)". LP, Vinyl record album

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A record that no hip hop home should be without – the debut album from Main Source, but a set that's more than strong enough to stand next to the best from contemporaries like De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, and Black Sheep! Like all three of those groups, these guys have a way of bringing together fresh rhythms and samples, sharp-edged writing, and a keen sense of wit – all part of that next-generation level of intellectual hip hop that made them so groundbreaking at the time – and which still makes this album a fantastic delight all these many years later! The album introduced the world to the genius of Large Professor – and continues to shine for decades, thanks to tunes that include "Snake Eyes", "Looking At The Front Door", "Live At The Barbecue", "Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball", "Peace Is Not The Word To Play", "Watch Roger Do His Thang", "He Got So Much Soul (He Don't Need No Music)", and "Just Hangin Out". LP, Vinyl record album

The second tripped-out set from Ars Nova – an under-remembered late 60s group who had a great talent for blending together a range of different styles! At some level, Ars Nova share qualities with some of the harder-jamming groups of their time – but they've also got a sound that expands to bring in folk, blues, jazz, and more baroque elements – played by the group with a lineup that includes some nice work on trumpet by Jimmy Owens, who at this point was a core member of the combo. Brooks Arthur handled the overall music direction, with a quality that recalls some of his work on Verve – and the album features the wonderful bossa-styled groover "Walk On The Sand", a romping soul jazz take on Jimmy Owens' "You Had Better Listen", and the cuts "Rubbish", "Please Don't Go Now", "Temporary Serenade", "She Promises Everything", and "Round Once Again". LP, Vinyl record album

Soul Jazz gets the royal treatment, or should we say gives us the royal treatment! The royal court is in session with a fine, fine batch of today's sound today, another regal dip into the Studio One vaults, showcasing the top male vocal stars in Coxsone Dodd's stable! The set includes both classic cuts and some well chosen lesser known nuggets, and as you now know (or are about to find out) the Soul Jazz selectors pull together a compilation fit for a king! 17 numbers in all, including "I've Got To Make It" by Larry Marshall, "Every Tongue Shall Tell" by Horace Andy, "Well Run Dry" by Alton Ellis, 'Water More Than Flour" by Johnny Osbourne, "I Am The Ruler" by Anthony Rocky Ellis, "Pretty Looks Isn't All" by Cornell Campbell, "Please Be True" by Alexander Henry, "Them A Come" by Burning Spear, "Change Of Plan" by Joe Higgs, "Roots Natty" by Devon Russell, "Be Yourself" by Ken Boothe, "I Shall Be Released" by Freddie McGregor, "Father Will Cut You Off" by Freddie McKay, "Locust" by the Ethiopian, "One, One" by George Philip, "I Don't Want To See You Cry" by John Holt and "Won't You Come Home" by Delroy Wilson. LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful Holiday set from Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – easily one of the coolest albums you'll ever hope to spin in December! The group really recreate the vibe of a classic Christmas soul album – like records from James Brown or Stevie Wonder – and do an excellent job of moving between funky numbers, deeper soul, and some righteous message cuts that remind us that the Holidays aren't always happy for everyone on the planet. And these guys also don't just hang out at Christmas – and instead touch on other December holidays too – in a sweet mix of cuts that features Sharon in the lead on many numbers, plus some great instrumentals from the Dap-Kings too. Titles include "8 Days", "Ain't No Christmas In The Projects", "Big Bulbs", "Funky Little Drummer Boy", "World Of Love", "Got Rest Ye Merry Gents", "Silent Night", "Just Another Christmas Song", and "Please Come Home For Christmas". LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal sounds from this legendary group – a combo who feature a young Ted Nugent on some complete amazing guitar, but in a way that's very different than Ted's big arena rock albums of the 70s! The Amboy Dukes have a way of combining the rawness of garage rock with the headiness of psych, all while also reaching a bit into blues roots to really let the guitars speak loudly – one of those really important 60s records that twisted up different rock genres at once, and helped pave the way for a unique generation to come! Singer John JB Drake is pretty great too – and titles include great versions of "I Feel Free", "Let's Go Get Stoned", "Baby Please Don't Go", and "It's Not True" – plus the originals "Young Love", "Colors", "Down On Philips Escalator", and "Gimme Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the greatest moment on record from the mighty Yellowman – a set that has a lot more bite and power than some of his other work, and which bristles with this earthy intensity that you might guess from the title! The digital production from Junjo Lawes is great – really crisp, and showing that in the right hands the new modes could actually intensify the sounds from the past – really adding an edge to the rolling rhymes and lines from the man himself. Of course, it helps that the Roots Radics provide the rhythms – with a lean, mean edge that fits the gruff vocals – all at a level that almost makes you feel like someone went into the studio and tried to cook up a reggae record that would be sure to please anyone who discovered the music via the Clash's Sandinista album. Titles include the classic title cut "Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt" – plus "Strictly Mi Belly", "Wreck A Pum Pum", "Hill & Gully Rider", "Bedroom Mazuka", "Good Loving", "Body Move", and "Watch Your Words". LP, Vinyl record album

The long-overdue release of an underground funky nugget from the Ohio scene at the start of the 70s – a set recorded by an obscure group from Columbus, and one that was only ever pressed on a rare few acetates at the time! The group were definitely crowd pleasers on the scene – as they worked local clubs, and turned out their own takes on top soul cuts of the day – often doing so with a lean groove that was much more like a funky 45 overall – thanks to sharply snapping drums, and lean instrumentation that was topped with lead vocals from the group's June and El Carey. The set actually begins with a killer original by the group – the mighty funk cut "Eggs & Bacon" – and other tracks include "Too Many People", "You're The One", "What's Going On", "Down By The River", and "If I Were Your Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

The first widely-circulated album issued by the stunning saxophonist Muriel Grossman – an artist we've been stocking on imports for the past decade or so, and who quickly became one of or favorites in jazz! If you've not heard Muriel before, this album's a perfect introduction to her music – and if you've been following her already, you'll definitely be pleased – as Grossman really opens up that mix of modal and spiritual styles she does so well – working with an expanded lineup of instrumentation that adds in her own work on flute, percussion, bass, kalimba, harmonium, and tambura next to the core tenor and soprano sax – in a combo that also features great Hammond B3 from Abel Boquera, guitar from Radomir Milojkovic, and drums from Uros Stamenkovic. At times, the organ is used almost in a Larry Young sort of way – but other moments have the instrument in moodier waves of sound, especially when things get slightly exotic – and the double-length set opens up with beautiful tunes throughout, on long selections that include "Mother Of All", "Absolute Truth", "Calm", "Care", "All Heart", "Devotion", and "Knowledge & Wisdom". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic 70s classic from Thin Lizzy – a set that was created right on the heels of their mighty Jailbreak, and which shows the group burning with an equally bright fire throughout! The rhythms here have that rock-solid approach that the group was really hitting at the time – so much so that one of the tracks ended up being a break classic used in the early days of hip hop – although the album's certainly a burning rocker all the way through! The great guitar pairing of Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson really makes the album soar – but as usual, the vocals, basslines, and undeniable charms of Phil Lynott are what really send the whole thing over the top. Titles include "Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed", "Old Flame", "Sweet Marie", "Don't Believe A Word", "Fool's Gold", "Rocky", and "Borderline". LP, Vinyl record album

Early work from one of the heaviest hard rock bands of the 60s – presented here on a set of demo tracks that were originally broadcast on San Francisco radio, and helped the group earn their recording contract with Philips Records! Blue Cheer were maybe the first group to think of turning their amps up to 11 – and there's a rawness to this work that may even top the fire of their classic debut, with really mindblowing guitar from Leigh Stephens all the way through! Titles include the 10 minute jammer "Doctor Please", a killer take of "Summertime Blues", and the mighty fierce "Second Time Around". LP, Vinyl record album

Usher comes home strong on his first album in nearly a decade –with his ageless voice, overall presence, and almost unrivaled way of fitting right in while also slyly transcending the reigning sounds of pop, soul and R&B of any given day! It's a 20 track set that's surprisingly strong throughout, giving him plenty of space to do just about everything he does so well – tight collaborations, tender balladry, dancefloor ready jams and all. He's still a king! Includes "Keep On Dancin'", "Good Good" with Summer Walker & 21 Savage, "Kissing Strangers", Risk It All" with with HER, "Big", "On The Side", "I Am The Party", "Luckiest Man", "I Love U", "Please U", "Room In A Room", "Bop", "Stone Kold Freak", "Coming Home" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Think you dig The Clash? Well, you've got nothing on Koji Takahashi – a Japanese collector who seems to have dedicated his life to the band! This unusual book documents Takahashi's huge collection of Clash records, and Clash-related material – not just vinyl, but posters, shirts, magazines, buttons, flyers, and plenty more – all served up here in a book that documents what must have been a lifetime of collecting! The book is from Japan, and main text is in Japanese – which you can either read with a translator app on your phone, or just skip overall – because there's hundreds of images in the book, of rare objects sure to please any fan of The Clash. Softcover edition is 191 pages, with images in color and black and white – filled with surprises throughout! Book

A classic Trojan Records compilation from the end of the 60s – way more than just a collection of early rocksteady and reggae – as the set list is surprisingly special, and includes some obscurities from Trojan, and well as singles that only got circulation in small Jamaican pressings – which makes the records essential for fans of more obscure tracks from the time! Most cuts are of late 60s vintage, and have a strongly soulful current, and grooves that are mostly in the post-ska mode – and titles include "La La Always Stay" by Glen & Dave, "Easy Sound" by The Jay Boys, "Happy Time" by Herbie Carter, "Please" by Trevor Shield, "No More Heartaches" by the Beltones, "Soul Special" by King Cannon, "Cuss Cuss" by Lloyd Robinson, "Hang Em High" by Richard Ace, and "Candy Lady" by Black & George. LP, Vinyl record album

Part of the "Anthology Of Reggae Collector" series United Artists put together in the late 70s, many of which featured some classic material unavailable in the US at the time. This set features some of Horace Andy's wonderful early sides, recorded with Coxsonne Dodd at Studio One, and is a great way to get them on vinyl, with better sound quality than the dodgy Jamaican pressings floating around today. Includes: "Skylarking", "See A Man's Face", "Got To Be Sure", "I'll Be Gone", "Something's On My Mind", "Please Don't Go", and "Just Say Who". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge package of work that finally brings the rare Nigerian albums of Alhaji Waziri Oshomah to a much larger global audience – all beautifully brought together with a booklet that pays tribute to Oshomah, with contributions from his family – and sound quality that's a heck of a lot better than tracking down scratched-up original copies of the vinyl! The sound here is amazing – a really unique fusion of both the spiritual and funky currents running through Nigerian music at the time, graced with hypnotic percussion, rhythmic guitar riffs, and some very cool keyboard work at times – all topped with Alhaji's deeply soulful vocals. Imagine a deeper spirituality in the Fela generation, and you'll just get a start at understanding this music – then you'll have plenty to discover across the albums Oyoyo King, Godfather Of Afemai Music, Etsako Super Star, Mr Please Please Please, and Mr Dynamite. LP, Vinyl record album

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The classic album by one of the groups that has gone on to revolutionize the world of contemporary jazzy grooves. The UFO crew bring in a host of guest players – like Monday Michiru, Jon Hendricks, Galliano, and others – to weave together a host of styles – from Brazilian, to jazzy, to groovy – and lay the groundwork for the 21st Century soul movement that they're so richly a part of. Includes great remakes of Edu Lobo's "Upa Neguinho" and Jon Hendricks "I'll Bet You Never Thought I'd Find You", plus originals like "Vinyl Junkie", "The Sixth Sense" and "On Est Ensemble Sans Se Parler – LOVE". CD

Fab 60s soul from a wealth of lesser-known gals – mostly artists who never cracked it big on the soul charts, but who really knew how to belt out a tune! The styles here run the gamut from uptown soul to Northern soul to bluesy soul – but the set's nicely united in a keen awareness for an unusual cut, and by a love of female vocals that crackle with honest intensity. 25 tracks in all – including "As Long As You're Mine" by Bette McLaurin, "Jackie Bobby Sonny Billy" by Linda Carr, "I Just Don't Understand" by Marcene Harris, "He'll Never Change" by Beverly McKay, "Hey Lover" by Debby Dovale, "Straighten Up" by Connie Questell, "The Headshrinker" by Johnnie Mae Matthews, "Sweet Talk" by Linda Carr, "Never" by Bette McLaurin, and "Lying Awake" by Benice Swanson. CD

Fantastic stuff! This essential CD brings together two of Roland Kirk's best albums from the mid 60's (and two of his hardest to find on vinyl!) Rip, Rig, & Panic is mindblowing work from Roland Kirk – a record that really pushes the boundaries of his music even farther than some of his earlier, and excellent, albums for the Mercury label! Kirk's really stretching out here – finding a space in jazz that's uniquely his own – modern, yet playful – creative, yet never overindulgent – and perfectly balanced to find a whole new sound of soul for the 60s! Things never get too far outside, but Kirk's reedlines are always breaking out into fresh territory – incredible tenor parts, and also some amazing work on manzello and stritch too, both lesser-known reed instruments that Roland employs to incredible ends. Other group members fit his vibe perfectly – Jaki Byard on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – each stepping quickly to catch the energy of each new twist and turn in Kirk's music. Titles include the sublime "From Bechet Byas & Fats" – plus "No Tonic Pres", "Rip Rig & Panic", "Mystical Dream", "Black Diamond", and "Slippery Hippery Flippery". Beautiful Edith is a bit mellower, but no less wonderful, and the record features some great early piano work by Lonnie Liston Smith. Titles include "Blue Rol", "No Tonic Press", "Rip, Rig, & Panic", "Slipper, Hippery, Flippery", "Stompin' Grounds", and "Mystical Dreams". CD

A great modern jazz-meets-strings session that follows from Burns' exploratory "Introspection" title for the Jazz Scene collection! Ralph pens some inventive charts that utilize a 15 piece chamber orchestra as backdrops for his own bold lines on piano, as well as some key solo bits from Lee Konitz on half the tracks. The sound is great throughout – modern, but never too academic to swing – and titles include "Places Please", "Cameo", "Lileth", "Spring Is", and "Someday Somewhere". LP, Vinyl record album

Live recording from the Hammersmith Odeon. LP, Vinyl record album