Hard-jamming jazz rock from Back Door – 3 prime era Warner albums in a 2CD set! Graced with lots of free solo work on alto and soprano sax by Ron Aspery, and a pretty strong power-trio instrumental format from Tony Hicks on drums and Colin Hodgkinson on bass, the group's early-to-mid 70s triumphs are mighty to this day. The self-titled debut is a jamming affair with genuine strains of funk and pretty great playing – and overall, it almost sounds like a rock take on the ESP sound at times! Titles include "Back Door", "Jive Grind", "Askin The Way", "Vienna Breakdown", "Plantagenet", and the classic Beastie Boys' sample track "Slivadiv". 8th Street Nites more than lives up to its predecessor, with a lots of bass-driven grooves and a couple charged takes on classic Robert Johnson and Leadbelly. Titles include "Linin' Track", "Forget Me Daisy, "Roberta", "Dancin' In The Van", "The Bed Creaks Louder", "Adolphus Beal" and more. Another Fine Mess arrived a couple years later and brings some Fender Rhodes to the mix, with titles including "I'm Gonna Stay A Long, Long Time", another fine jammy jazz rock take on the blues in "TB Blues", plus "Manager's Shirt", "Streamline Guitar", "The Dashing White Sergeant" and more. CD

An excellent album by one of the greatest Brazilian funk bands ever – a wonderful blend of funk, jazz, and soul – and a set that rivals any of the best work coming from the US at the time! These guys are right on the money right from the start – moving through sharp changes with effortless ease, yet never in a way that's too slick or commercial – kind of like that perfect balance that Kool & The Gang hit for just a few records in the mid 70s – but with more of a Brazilian feel overall. Jazzy licks abound – and the keyboards, guitar, and horns are just great – but the set's also got some more regional percussion, too – which really rounds out the record wonderfully. The grooves all have a really universal appeal – essential for any fan of funky sounds – and titles include "Mr Funky Samba", "Junia", "Casa Forte", "Na Baixa Do Sapateiro", "Lelbon Via Vaz Lobo", "Baia", "Maria Fumaca", and "Metalurgia". LP, Vinyl record album

Presented by the Youngbloods, and issued on the small Raccoon offshoot of Warner brothers! Steve Swallow plays bass on side two, and msot of the instrumentation is pretty stripped down. LP, Vinyl record album

A great early 70s entry from The Beach Boys – and a record that's nicely balanced between mature pop tunes and more experimental moments! The set kicks off with the sublime "Sail On Sailor" – a tightly compressed, wonderfully catchy number that's easily one of the group's greatest of the decade – and other tracks range from gentle ballads to playful numbers to others that explore more spiritual themes. All group members contributed tunes, and helped in production, but somehow we feel the tighter hand of Brian Wilson behind it all. Titles include "Sail On Sailor", "The Trader", "Funky Pretty", "Only With You", "Leaving This Town", and the "California Saga". LP, Vinyl record album

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A super huge hit for George – the record that took him from being a funky jazz guitarist into an R&B superstar! The album features George playing and singing over arrangements by Claus Ogerman – some of Ogerman's best of the 70s, ones that mix together his trademark pillow of sound with a slightly funky bounce. The result is incredible – and the album is filled with loads of great songs – including George's excellent version of Bobby Womack's "Breezin", the hit version of "This Masquerade", and the cuts "So This Is Love", "Six To Four", and "Affirmation". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweetly jazzy soul from George Benson – a key classic from his great run at Warner Brothers Records, and the kind of record that George did better than anyone else at the time! Back in the 60s, we'd never have guessed that Benson's sweetly crackling vocals would dominate popular jazz more than his great guitar work – but hearing George here, it's clear that his soul work could easily outshine his guitar, especially when set up in a package like this! Atlantic soul maestro Arif Mardin produced, and as with his Chaka Khan productions for Warner at the time, he gives Benson a clean, clear modern style that's certainly pop, but also a lot less cluttered and clunky than modes used with other artists at the time. George is mostly on the vocal tip for the set, and Kashif helps out on one track – no surprise, given that Kashif was soon to walk down the path that Benson had started with his first few vocal albums in the 70s. Titles include "Love Will Come Again", "Use Me", "Late At Night", "In Search Of A Dream", "Lady Love Me", "In Your Eyes", and "Never Too Far To Fall". LP, Vinyl record album

Biz's second LP from 1989 – what can we tell you about the Biz that you don't already know? As far as we're concerned there's a lot of MC's that could learn a lesson or two from the Biz, and producers too. Good time middle school hip hop, with nice sample based production and a great sense of humor, that makes us nostalgic for the late 80s early 90s glory days of hip hop. 13 tracks in all, with the cuts "Spring Again", "Just A Friend", "A Thing Named Kim", "The Dragon", "Things Get A Little Easier", "I Hear Music", "Biz In Harmony", "Check It Out" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Quite possibly the greatest moment of genius ever from Black Sabbath – and a genre-changing record that influenced generations! The group are at their lean, raw best here – free from any cliches at all, and working in an incredibly heady brew of fuzzy guitar, romping bass, and dark drums – all topped by the instantly recognizable screech of the young Ozzy Osborne! Guitarist Tony Iommi virtually redefines rock use of the guitar with this record alone – and the Oz follows suit with some of the creepiest vocals set to record ever. Titles include the classics "Paranoid" and "Iron Man", plus "War Pigs", "Planet Caravan", "Electric Funeral", "Hand Of Doom", and "Rat Salad". CD

One of the greatest albums ever recorded by trumpeter Ruby Braff – a set that's hipper than some of his other 50s sessions, thanks to some wonderful sidemen! The sound here is still somewhat traditional, but there's also an undercurrent of 50s modern swing too – thanks to work by Jim Hall on guitar, Al Cohn on tenor, and Hank Jones on piano – all players who skew the record nicely away from some of the too-sweet or too-familiar modes of some of Ruby's other sessions. The music is all from the Gershwin score for Girl Crazy – played in a mellow and open-handed style that brings a new sense of swing to the tunes – and rhythm is by George Duvivier or Bob Haggart on bass, and Buzzy Drootin on drums. Titles include "Embraceable You", "Treat Me Rough", "But Not For Me", "I Got Rhythm", and "Bidin My Time". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

A great live recording by Lenny Bruce – and a rich document of the level of persecution he was made to feel from the US legal system! The album dates from 1974, but features an earlier performance held by Phil Spector, and licensed to Warner – one that features Lenny running through various instances of his persecution – including legal testimonies and transcripts. And although some albums from this time get a bit over-weighted with persecution, this set somehow manages to avoid most of those pitfalls – and still captures Lenny at his spontaneous best, at a time when he could still make jokes about most of these circumstances! LP, Vinyl record album

Some sweet Allen Toussaint production! LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... CD

A pretty darn soulful album of tracks from Jorge Calderon – recorded in LA with help from a great batch of 70s studio players, and an excellent compressed pop sound! The record's not the stuff for weak of heart – but it's a great batch of tightly produced vocal tracks that will appeal to fans of 70s LA. Lots of nice ones – like "Kiss & Run", "At The Beehive", "All The Faces", and "Friends Again". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

While some of this material was released later by Carlos in a different recording, this is the soundtrack to the film, with several orchestral songs and the Gene Kelly version of "Singin In The Rain" included next to Carlos' electronic versions of Beethoven and his own great work for the film, "Timesteps" and "Theme From A Clockwork Orange". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest records ever from guitarist Philip Catherine, and one of the funkiest too – thanks to a really sharp edge that you won't find on some of his other albums, and lots of Fender Rhodes from the legendary Marc Moulin too! Some of Catherine's other records of the 70s were a bit laidback or noodly – but this set's got a strong, soulful drive all the way through – a nice focus that may well come from the production of Sacha Distel, himself a onetime guitarist! But the group's just got things right on the money, right from the start – with some very strong funky drums from Freddy Rotheir, plus trombone from Jiggs Wigham and both bass and flute from Freddy Deronde. Titles include "Bassline", "Let's Put It Like This", "Stream", "Foire", "Face", "Jeux Interdits", and "Memphis Talk". LP, Vinyl record album

The classic debut from Change – and the start of an amazing run of groovers in the early 80s! The set's got a tight, jazzy feel throughout – a stripped-down approach to disco modes, with the same focus on the basslines that you'd find in work by Chic – but a style that's almost even more instrumentally focused overall, given the great range of studio players who worked on the set. Yet there's also some key vocal moments, too – work by Luther Vandross that really helps make some of the best tracks sparkle, and which went onto catapult Vandross into a rich solo career on his own. The set's filled with sharp rhythms and sweet jazzy changes – and titles include the classics "The Glow Of Love" and "Searching", both with Luther, plus "Lover's Holiday", "Angel In My Pocket", and "The End". LP, Vinyl record album

Two great albums back to back in one set – with a full CD's worth of bonus material too! First up is The Glow Of Love – the classic debut from Change, and the start of an amazing run of groovers in the early 80s! The set's got a tight, jazzy feel throughout – a stripped-down approach to disco modes, with the same focus on the basslines that you'd find in work by Chic – but a style that's almost even more instrumentally focused overall, given the great range of studio players who worked on the set. Yet there's also some key vocal moments, too – work by Luther Vandross that really helps make some of the best tracks sparkle, and which went onto catapult Vandross into a rich solo career on his own. The set's filled with sharp rhythms and sweet jazzy changes – and titles include the classics "The Glow Of Love" and "Searching", both with Luther, plus "Lover's Holiday", "Angel In My Pocket", and "The End". Miracles is a brilliant second set from Change – working here without Luther Vandross on lead vocals, but hardly missing a beat at all! As before, the basslines are at the core of the set – a sweet stripped-down approach that brings even more focus onto the bottom of the groove for early 80s dancefloors – with loads of numbers that step along in a really groovy mode – one quite far from the cliches of disco, and inflected by loads of jazzy elements that keep things fresh over the years! Vocals are by James Robinson – previously with Lonnie Liston Smith – Diva Gray, and Jocelyn Shaw – and titles include "On Top", "Paradise", "Hold Tight", "Your Move", "Stop For Love", and "Heaven Of My Life". CD 2 features a whopping 17 more bonus tracks – lots of single mixes, including versions of "A Lover's Holiday", "It's A Girl's Affair", "Angel In My Pocket", "The Glow Of Love", "Searching", "The End", "Paradise", "Hold Tight", "Stop For Love", and "On Top". CD

... CD

The full spectrum of Chic magic from back in the 70s – all the group's early albums, rare singles and mixes, and even the Sister Sledge album handled by Nile Rodgers too! First up is the group's self-titled album – classic work from Chic, and a great batch of choppy funky dancefloor tunes! By the end of the 70s, Chic were so ubiquitous it was hard to remember the early power of this set – but from the perspective of 30 years later, the album's a real gem – set up with a simple focus on the rhythms that's made even better by the choppy guitar of Nile Rodgers, and his superbly soulful work on production alongside Bernard Edwards. Vocals are by Luther Vandross, Norma Jean, and Edwards – and titles include "Dance Dance Dance", "Strike Up The Band", "You Can Get By", and "Sao Paolo". Next is C'Est Chic – a massive set from the legendary Chic – and a set that has the dancefloor combo coming down perfectly throughout! Riffing Nile Rodgers guitars really make the tunes cook – as does the superb production – and although the record played plenty in discos and radios of the mainstream, it's still got a raw funky power that holds up brilliantly over the years! The set features the legendary "Le Freak" – a classic cutting track from the old school – plus "I Want Your Love", "Sometimes You Win", "Savoir Faire", "Happy Man", and "(Funny) Bone". Risque is a massive classic from Chic – a record that's worth it alone for the classic cut "Good Times" – a buoyant groover that was instantly timeless upon release, and went on to transform the sound of disco, hip hop, and many other styles to come! The whole thing's great, though – full of that perfect Nile Rodgers studio genius – with just the right sort of bass, beats, and riffing guitars – all peppered with vocals that really do a heck of a lot with just a little. In addition to "Good Times", other cuts include "A Warm Summer Night", "My Forbidden Lover", "What About Me", "My Feet Keep Dancing", and "Can't Stand To Love You". Next is the album We Are Family – possibly the greatest moment ever from Sister Sledge – a set that has the Philly quartet teaming with the Chic team of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards! Rodgers' guitar brings in a hell of a groove to the record – that choppy, skittish sound that made Chic such a favorite at the time – which makes for a surprisingly great combination with the sweeter vocals of the group. There's a definite sense of groove going on here – heard most famously in the huge hits "We Are Family" and "He's The Greatest Dancer" – and continuing strongly through other numbers like "Thinking Of You", "Easier To Love", "One More Time", and "Lost In Music". The set also features a full extra CD – with bonus cuts that include "Everybody Dance (12" mix)", "Dance Dance Dance (7" edit)", "You Can Get By (7" edit)", "My Forbidden Lover (12" mix)", "My Feel Keep Dancing (7" edit)", "Le Freak (7" edit)", "Good Times (7" edit)", and "I Want Your Love (7" edit)". All CDs newly remastered – and comes with a 40 page booklet too! CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A brilliant set of post-post-post Konitz jazz – a late 70s Warne Marsh session, produced by Donald Fagan and Walter Becker of Steely Dan! Despite the smooth jazz feeling of Becker & Fagan's own work, the pair are completely respectful to Marsh and his twin-tenor frontman Pete Christlieb – recording them along with Lou Levy on piano, Jim Hughart on bass, and Nick Ceroli on drums, in a setting that's got a warm, acoustic feel. There's no tricks or electricity on the set – just a tight, angular approach to modern jazz – crafted in the twin-sax mode that Marsh recorded in often during the 50s. Titles include "Magnatism", "317 E 32nd", "Rapunzel", and "Tenors Of The Time". CD also features 3 bonus tracks – "Lunarcy", "Love Me", and "How About You". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty amazing effort from country rock progenitor Gene Clark! This one blends breezy songcraft that's not too far off from his previous couple of great solo albums – rustic harmonies and memorable lyricism flavored by acoustic guitars – with far more deft studio touches such as synths and densely layered backing vocals. There really was no other album in '74 like No Other, and initially it had the poor reception to show for it! It has a somewhat laidback and laconic vibe overall – infused with that Cali country rock groove that Gene helped invent – yet the production is richly produced on an epic scale, an effort that seems to seek flat out perfection. A couple years later, California fellow travelers would utilize a similar approach and sell LPs by the ton. Here's hoping those groups bought Gene a dinner or two to thank him for the inspiration! Includes "Life's Greatest Fool", "Silver Raven", "No Other", "Some Misunderstanding", "The True One", "Lady Of The North", "Strength Of Strings" and "From A Silver Phial". CD includes 7 bonus tracks. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of Bootsy's best tracks from the old days – served up here on a promo 12" single that was issued at the time of the Warner Archives CD release for The Best Of Bootsy. The remix is better than you'd expect, too – and really keeps the original flavor of the song! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Bootsy Collins steps strongly from the shadow of George Clinton here – and wrote, arranged, and produced most of the album himself! Of course, George was having plenty of his own troubles at the time – but that only allowed Bootsy to take the helm even more, and step out with a batch of grooves that still keeps his star power plenty high. Of course, he's got some great help here too – from Fred Wesley & The Horny Horns, Midnight Star, Godmomma, and P-Funk regulars Bernie Worrell and Gary Shider – all of whom help contribute some classic elements to grooves that include "Shine O Myte", "#1 Funkateer", "So Nice You Name Him Twice", "Take A Lickin & Keep On Tickin", and "Countracula". LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal 70s work from one of the most righteous jazz musicians ever! On this set, Alice Coltrane moves past the rawer spiritual sound of her Impulse albums – working with a more focused vision and an approach to jazz that takes her way past the identity of just being "Mrs Coltrane", into territory that's a more perfect expression of her spiritual vision. The approach calls for more ambitious orchestrations, yet never in a way that overwhelms the jazz basis of the music – and Alice herself is on Fender Rhodes, organ, and harp – working with players who include Fred Jackson and Hubert Laws on reeds, Oscar Brashear on trumpet, George Bohannon on trombone, Charlie Haden on bass, Ben Riley on drums, and Armando Peraza on congas. Titles include "Spiritual Eternal", "Om Supreme", "Morning Workshop", "Wisdom Eye", and "Los Caballos". LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal 70s work from one of the most righteous jazz musicians ever! On this set, Alice Coltrane moves past the rawer spiritual sound of her Impulse albums – working with a more focused vision and an approach to jazz that takes her way past the identity of just being "Mrs Coltrane", into territory that's a more perfect expression of her spiritual vision. The approach calls for more ambitious orchestrations, yet never in a way that overwhelms the jazz basis of the music – and Alice herself is on Fender Rhodes, organ, and harp – working with players who include Fred Jackson and Hubert Laws on reeds, Oscar Brashear on trumpet, George Bohannon on trombone, Charlie Haden on bass, Ben Riley on drums, and Armando Peraza on congas. Titles include "Spiritual Eternal", "Om Supreme", "Morning Workshop", "Wisdom Eye", and "Los Caballos". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful record from Alice Coltrane – a swirling mix of spiritual jazz and themes from Indian music! Alice plays organ, Fender Rhodes, and harp – building the sound as the album progresses, from simple airy strings to an earthier groove that features vocal refrains in unison with the keyboards, chanting away, over and over, stretching to the heavens in a cosmic groove! Most of the other musicians are Indian musicians, and the record features a lot of variations on traditional Indian themes – including "Sivaya", "Ghana Nila", and "Bhaja Govindam" – plus the original tracks "Transcendence" and "Vrindavana Sanchara". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent work by Alice Coltrane – a real back to basics session, recorded in trio format, at a time when most of her other albums featured larger, more complicated arrangements. The album was recorded live at UCLA in 1978 – with Alice on piano and organ, Reggie Workman on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums – and the approach of the album has the group hitting a number of trance-like modes, spinning out in a freely searching style that's always one of the stronger sides of Alice's playing. One track, "Prema", features overdubbed strings, a bit like some of Alice's more ambitious work on Impulse – but other tracks are straight trio recordings, with titles that include "Krishnaya", "Leo", "Affinity", and "Transfiguration". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Speedo", "Johnny Porter", "Down In The Boondocks", "Crazy Bout An Automobile", and "Girls From Texas". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Alice Cooper at his most sinister – crossing over big, but still keeping plenty of the lean, mean edge from the early days! The package does more than enough to live up to the hype that was building around Cooper at the time – building hip up as much as a baby-chopping monster as much as a hard Detroit rocker – and the album's filled with well-focused tunes that definitely helped propel hard rock into the American mainstream! Titles include the classic "No More Mr Nice Guy" – plus "Elected", "I Love The Dead", "Hello Hurray", "Sick Things", and "Billion Dollar Babies". LP, Vinyl record album

So many great ones – including "School's Out", plus "Grande Finale", "Alma Mater", "Public Animal", "Street Fight", and "Gutter Cat Vs The Jets". LP, Vinyl record album

A weird little record from Bill Cosby – a set that's not as all-out funky as some of his other vocal albums, but still pretty nice overall! The style here is more bluesy than soul-based, but production is still by Fred Smith, of 103rd Street Rhythm Band fame – and the album has a sense of grit that's a lot stronger than you might guess. Many of the tunes are covers from an older R&B era, and Cosby takes them with an approach that's a bit tongue-in-cheek at times – kind of garbling the lyrics and muddying up the sound, even though we know he can sing a bit more clearly from other records! There's certainly a few tracks that have a nice gritty soul sound, and titles include the great "Little Ole Man" which is basically Bill doing a skit over the "Uptight" rhythm – plus "Bright Lights Big City", "Big Boss Man", "Hush Hush", "Baby What You Want Me To Do", "Mojo Workout", "Doncha Know", and "Place In The Sun". LP, Vinyl record album

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A great little album cut by Randy during the height of her career! She'd just broken big with her vocals on "Street Life" by the Crusaders – and although that track's not on here, the Crusaders team of Wilton Felder, Stix Hooper, and Joe Sample produced the album, and have given it a very similar sound to that track. There's a few weak moments where Randy's singing in a mellower style that lets her voice wobble a bit too much – but the stronger tracks have a good jazz funk groove, and these include "Blue Flame", "Last Night At Danceland", and "My Heart Is Not As Young As It Used To Be". CD

Randy Crawford at the height of her powers – working here with a sweet jazzy vibe, but a deeper sense of soul that makes her one of the few vocalists to balance so perfectly between both styles! The record has relatively full arrangements – smooth, but never too slick – and Randy's got this way of bursting out throughout, with that sort of youthful freshness that first made us fall in love with her sound when we heard her with The Crusaders. Titles include "Look Who's Lonely Now", "Letter Full Of Tears", "He Reminds Me", "Windsong", "One Hello", "Don't Come Knockin", "We Had A Love So Strong", and "This Night Won't Last Forever". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest soundtracks ever for a Burt Reynolds film – an a hip mix of soul and jazz tracks that's gone onto become a classic over the years! The album's a compilation of sorts, but most of the material was recorded fresh for the film – and the different artists really work together here to forge some great backdrops for the action on the screen! Al Capps handled the larger charts, but most numbers really spotlight an individual artist – and highlights include Randy Crawford singing a new version of "Street Life" – different than the one with The Crusaders – Sarah Vaughan singing "Love Theme From Sharky's Machine", Peggy Lee vocals on "Let's Keep Dancing", and Julie London singing "My Funny Valentine" – as one of the first recordings after many years of retirement. Other great numbers include "Dope Bust" by Flora Purim & Buddy DeFranco, "Sharky's Theme" by Eddie Harris, "Before You" by Sarah Vaughan & Joe Williams, "8 To 5 I Lose" by Joe Williams, and the instrumental cuts "Sexercise" and "High Energy" by Doc Severinsen. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Late live work from Miles Davis – a collection of material recorded in various concert settings during the last few years of the 80s – pulled together as a double-length tribute the trumpeter after he passed away! The quality of the performances here is great – very similar to some of Miles' early 80s work for Columbia, especially his great 2LP live set for them – and the players on the tracks vary a bit, given the setting – and include Adam Holzman, Joey DeFrancesco, and Robert Irving III on keyboards – plus Kenny Garrett on alto and flute, Benny Rietveld and Foley on bass, Ricky Wellman on drums, and Marilyn Mazur on percussion. Titles include "Hannibal", "New Blues", "Intruder", "Time After Time", "Human Nature", "Full Nelson", "Wrinkle", and "Amandla". CD

A nice collaboration between Miles and Marcus Miller from the latter part of Miles career. As much of the recording here is overdubbed, with many multiple instruments played by Miller, it doesn't have the improvised vibe of Miles' classic performances, but the songwriting and arrangements are head and shoulders above much of the contemporary jazz being recorded at the time, Miles is in great form, and the glossy production sits better with us now than ever before. Paulinho DaCosta, George Duke, Michael Urbaniak and Bernard Wright all make guest appearances. 8 tracks in all: "Tutu", "Tomaas", "Portia", "Splatch", "Backyard Ritual", "Perfect Way", Don't Lose Your Mind" and "Full Nelson". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Original soundtrack excerpts, dialog & music from East Of Eden, Rebel Without A Cause, and Giant. LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Deep Purple may be asking a lot to knock the faces of the presidents off Mount Rushmore, and put up their own images instead – but given the force of this classic early 70s set, they may well have the musical power on their own to carve up a whole mountainside! The album's a ripper right from the start – a tight barrage of fierce guitars and heavy drums from the legendary lineup that included Roger Glover, Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillian, Jon Lord, and Ian Paice – a group so tight, so tremendous, the only way to proper describe them is to encourage you to drop the needle on a classic gem like this! A non-stop barrage from start to finish – with tracks that include "Speed King", "Bloodsucker", "Child In Time", Into The Fire", "Flight Of The Rat", and "Living Wreck". LP, Vinyl record album

A definite fireball from the legendary early lineup of Deep Purple – a record that has the group soaring to the skies in a blazing blend of guitars, keyboards, bass, and drums! A set like this is seminal for understanding just how far rock music stepped in just a few short years – because back in the mid 60s, these guys might have been slavishly laying out blues riffs, or trying to copy their American heroes – but those roots are completely subsumed in the band's own style, and delivered with a dexterity that's truly amazing – a brash, balls-out quality that should be given everything it's trying to claim – because a record like this doesn't need to answer to anyone! Titles include "Fireball", "No No No", "Anyone's Daughter", "Demon's Eye", "The Mule", and "No One Came". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the crowning classics from the early years of Deep Purple – and a set that will forever be remembered for giving the world the classic rock anthem "Smoke On The Water"! Yet the record as a whole is even better – and is filled with some long-burning, hard-wailing tracks that easily put Deep Purple in the company of the heaviest groups of their generation – thanks to some killer contributions from Ritchie Blackmore's guitar! The whole thing packs a hell of a punch when taken in a full dose – from the start of "Highway Star", to the last notes of "Space Truckin" – and all the great in-between sounds from "Pictures Of Home", "Maybe I'm A Leo", "Never Before", "Lazy", and "Smoke On The Water". LP, Vinyl record album

The first big Paul Desmond solo album of the 60s – and a standout set that's very much in the tradition of his best work on RCA! This rare side was cut for Warner Brothers during a time when they were taking a brief dip into jazz – and it's a rarely-heard set that features Jim Hall on guitar, Connie Kay on drums, and Percy Heath on bass, all backing up Paul with a spare "after hours" sound that's a marked change from his tightly woven work with Brubeck. Desmond's alto is full of possibilities here – working wonders with familiar tunes like "Greensleeves", "You Go To My Head", "Time After Time", and "East Of The Sun" – as well as with the John Lewis modern number "2 Degrees East, 3 Degrees West". CD also features the bonus track "Susie". CD

The era that catapulted cult heroes Devo into pop culture history – with bubblier synths, catchier hooks, and crazier multimedia shenanigans than ever before from these pioneers of the video era – and time capsule pop angle aside, one of the best and most innovate pop albums of its time! It's pretty hard to imagine the early 80s without Devo, but the group and this record is just as amazing decades later, since there was never anyone else like them! Includes "Girl U Want", "It's Not Right", "Whip It", "Freedom Of Coice", "Cold War", "Don't You Know", "Gates Of Steel" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

A great one from Devo – capping off their classic era when they could hardly do wrong! By 1981, the gentlemen Devo had been up to their collective arse in irony since the early 70s, and having made a sizable fortune for the Brothers' Warner with the ultra-ironic "Whip It" the previous year, they took a sharp right turn into cranky sincerity. They did so on a wave of new wave synth funk, of course, resulting in the all-time great singles "Beautiful World", "Through Being Cool" and a few more gems. Mtv and a lot of the fans couldn't understand why 5 guys with plastic hair and outerspace uniforms were no longer playing it for laughs and thus killed the prospect of Devo as hitmakers for the rest of the decade! A worthy effort from one of the most innovative pop groups ever! Other tracks include "Pity You", "Soft Things","Going Under", "Race Of Doom", "Love Without Anger" and "Enough Said". LP, Vinyl record album

A great one from Devo – capping off their classic era when they could hardly do wrong! By 1981, the gentlemen Devo had been up to their collective arse in irony since the early 70s, and having made a sizable fortune for the Brothers' Warner with the ultra-ironic "Whip It" the previous year, they took a sharp right turn into cranky sincerity. They did so on a wave of new wave synth funk, of course, resulting in the all-time great singles "Beautiful World", "Through Being Cool" and a few more gems. Mtv and a lot of the fans couldn't understand why 5 guys with plastic hair and outerspace uniforms were no longer playing it for laughs and thus killed the prospect of Devo as hitmakers for the rest of the decade! A worthy effort from one of the most innovative pop groups ever! Other tracks include "Pity You", "Soft Things","Going Under", "Race Of Doom", "Love Without Anger" and "Enough Said". LP, Vinyl record album

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah, Y- Y- Y- Y- Y- Y- Y-eah, this is one of best art rock albums of all time – the Eno produced full length debut of Devo – the caustic, sarcastic and fun soundtrack to society's devolution! There's nothing we don't love about Devo at this point, from their unprecedented use of multimedia, to the hard to pull off fusion of sneering social and pop culture satire with good humored fun, and that's just the conceptual stuff. The songs are original and inimitably great, too, with those squeeling synth punk dynamics. Tracks include (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (best rock cover ever?) "Jocko Homo", "Mongoloid", "Uncontrollable Urge", "Space Junk", "Come Back Jonee", "Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin')" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Dion in a world inspired by Tim Buckley, Nick Drake, and Tim Hardin – working alone with overdubbed guitar parts, in a jazzy/folksy mood that's incredibly arresting! LP, Vinyl record album