... LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent collection of rare female soul from the 60s – a set that not only features overlooked 45rpm singles from Warner Brothers at the time – but also some great gems from their famous Loma Records imprint too! If you think you know this territory, think again – as there's a huge amount of tracks here that are completely fresh to our ears – the kind of material that a label as big as Warner was able to cut with their ample staff and studio time, then never did a think to promote the singles at all – leaving a space of decades before all these 7" gems were finally able to get exposure on a set like this! The package moves between catchy group soul and deeper-burning solo material – and the whole thing's done with the usual high quality we love from Ace, from the sound quality right down to the notes in the book. Titles include "There He Goes" by The Royalettes, "We Can Find That Love" by Vickie Baines, "He's Good" by Barbara Jackson, "Contact" by Three Degrees, "Wounded" by The Cookies, "My Soul Concerto" by The Apollas, "I Taught Him (part 1)" by Gloria Scott & The Tonettes, "All Because I Love Somebody" by Barbara English, "Don't Come A Knockin" by Mary Lee Whitney, "Here I Come" by Joyce Alexander, "Jive Jimmy" by The Socialites, "The Reason Why" by The Dolls, "Bright Lights" by Delilah Kennebreuw, and "Oh Eddy My Baby" by Brenda Hall. CD

A special British edition of this very cool series from Warner Japan – one that focuses on groovy work from the UK scene at the end of the 60s and start of the 70s – all with the same "pop rock nugget" vibe as the previous volumes! The tunes here often pull in bits of soul and sunshine pop in the rhythms or production – and while there's a few cuts here you might know, there's lots more that will come as a great surprise – especially in this territory, which kind of charts a progression of pop modes as the 60s end and 70s begin! Titles include "Make Time Stand Still"by Tony Summers, "Sarah" by Malcolm Rabbit, "Don't Make My Baby Blue" by The Shadows, "God Only Knows" by Tony Rivers & The Castaways, "Beck's Bolero" by Jeff Beck, "Movin Away" by Kenny Lynch, "Sha La La Lee" by Symon & Pi, "River To Another Day" by Love Sculpture, "Better By Far" by Terry Reid, "Where Have You Been" by Gerry & The Pacemakers, "Walk Away" by Matt Monro, "That's How It's Gonna Stay" by The Mockingbirds, "I'd Much Rather Be With The Boys" by The Toggery Five, "On The Brink" by Mike Vickers, "Know One Knows" by Badfinger, "January" by Pilot, and "Peace Love & Understanding" by Brinsley Schwarz. CD

A very soul-based entry in this totally groovy series – one that brings together soul tracks from Warner, Atlantic, and related labels – but often with the same upbeat crossover vibe that fits the "pop rock nuggets" spirit! Yet despite that, many cuts here are relatively obscure – cool numbers by bigger acts, mixed with some other tracks that hit a big bigger on the charts – served up in a sweet list of 25 cuts that include "Angel Baby" by Darrell Banks, "Ain't That Terrible" by Roy Redmond, "Some Kind Of Wonderful" by Soul Brother Six, "Pushin A Good Thing Too Far" by Barbara Lewis, "I'm Gonna Run Away From You" by Tami Lynn, "He's Got The Nerve" by True Tones, "Cool Jerk" by The Capitols, "Crazy Baby" by The Coasters, "Hypnotized" by Linda Jones, "The Man with The Golden Touch" by Charles Thomas, "Take A Step" by Aesop's Fables, "Lady Madonna" by Fats Domino, "Go Out Walking" by Soul Survivors, "Here I Go Again" by Archie Bell & The Drells, and "I Love You For All Seasons" by The Fuzz. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A mid 80s classic from Atlantic Starr – at the height of their catchy commercial fame – bouncing along with rhythms that crossover nicely to the mainstream, yet still keep a bit of their previous funky edge intact! The groove here is almost in the style that Atlantic Starr inspired in so many other younger groups in the earlier part of the 80s – although it's also a bit more polished too. Most instrumentation is electric, and tunes are mostly written by the team of David and Wayne Lewis – both of whom sing on the record. Barbara Weathers also handles female vocals, and titles include "Once Lover At A Time", "Let The Sun In", "My Mistake", "I'm In Love", "Always", "Don't Take Me For Granted", and a version of Sam Dees' "All In The Name Of Love". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

The last in a long run of 80s hits from Atlantic Starr – a group who were already moving up the soul charts before the release of the album! The set continues their move into commercial territory started a few records before, but it also shakes loose of some of the colder sounds of 80s soul – and picks up a somewhat warmer vibe on the keyboards and rhythms. Porscha Martin sings female vocals with the group, and titles include "Under Your Spell", "Love Ain't Fair", "Woman's Touch", "We're Movin Up", "My Sugar", "You Deserve The Best", and "Don't Start The Fire". LP, Vinyl record album

Later work from Brian Auger's Oblivion Express group – really pushing the envelope from previous work with a soaring blend of fusion and soul! The keyboards are still very firmly at the front of the sound – stretching out a lot from Brian's original work on organ – and the group features Lenny White on drums, kicking things up a bit nicely, with that outerspace groove he was laying down on some of his own records at the time. Alex Lingenwood sings vocals on a few cuts, and titles include "Spice Island", "Gimme A Funky Break", "Back Street Bible Class", "Got To Be Born Again", and "Never Gonna Come Down". LP, Vinyl record album

A hell of a debut from The B-52s – and a record that's become surprisingly timeless over the years, despite a retro-styled approach by the group! These guys aren't the silly group of later years here – and instead, they've got this moody darkness that's wonderful – a re-envisioned postwar America, one in which the neuroses are all on the outside – served up with instrumentation that's stark, but incredibly tight – snapping drums, riffing guitar, and these great organ lines that sound beautiful next to the vocals of Fred and the girls. The set gave the group their perennial hit "Rock Lobster" – but taken as a whole, it's an incredibly different landscape – as you'll discover on tracks that include "Planet Claire", "52 Girls", "Dance This Mess Around", "Lava", "There's A Moon In The Sky (Called The Moon)", "Hero Worship", "6060-842" and "Downtown". LP, Vinyl record album

A favorite of post punk and new wave era fans for a decade plus, pop fans finally caught up the great, utterly unique party band with Cosmic Thing! A late classic and one where they finally got their due. Nile Rodgers's pop soul production works incredibly well, and titles include "Love Shack", "Roam", "Channel Z", "Cosmic Thing", "Dry Country", "Topaz", "Follow Your Bliss" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A real shift for the B-52s – a record that's got quite a different sound than the group's first two full albums, and which really shows them as having a more diverse approach than might have been expected! The key change here is David Byrn – who's on the record as both a producer and performer, and who also opens the door to some percussion and horn players too – making for a sound that's a bit fuller, but in a subtle way – with a bit less of the retro guitar and keyboards that the group had at their start! The instrumental shift actually seems to work wonders for the vocals of Fred Schneider, who really pops out of the mix when he sings – and although the set's only an EP, it works well to focus in on this new sort of sound. Titles include "Loveland", "Mesopotamia", "Deep Sleep", "Throw That Beat In The Garbage Can", "Nip It In The Bud", and "Cake". LP, Vinyl record album

Another dose of retro party rock from one of the first groups to come out of the Athens scene. Includes "Legal Tender", "Whammy Kiss", "Song For A Future Generation", "Butterbean", "Trism", "Queen Of Las Vegas", "Don't Worry", "Big Bird" and "Work That Skirt". LP, Vinyl record album

They may look goofy on the cover, but the young B-52s are incredible here – working with this spare sense of power that almost makes us think that we didn't need most of what happened in rock and roll during the 70s – given the way these guys can distill a mood or moment down to just a few deft instrumental turns and offbeat lyrics! The record's not punk, but it's also not new wave either – at least in the conventional way – and there's a darkness here that goes way past any simple cliches you may have associated with the band – a haunting feel that transcends most of what they were ever capable of in later years. We might even say this one tops their debut – and titles include "Party Out Of Bounds", "Dirty Back Road", "Runnin Around", "Give Me Back My Man", "Private Idaho", "Devil In My Car", "Quiche Lorraine", "Strobe Light" and "53 Miles West Of Venus". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

The kind of overlooked, understated gem that should have put Badfinger at the top of the charts in the mid 70s – a record of impeccable songwriting, really great production, and a refinement of an earlier musical ideal that really points the way forward – all while avoiding most of the pitfalls of some of the group's UK contemporaries! There's a quality here that almost reminds us of the more straightforward elements of Wings, but with a rootsy vibe too – almost a bit like Little Feat, but definitely British in terms of the way the vocals come across. The album's overflowing with hooks, and the kinds of songs that should have been huge – and maybe that's what makes it such a treat all these many years later. Titles include "Just A Chance", "Got To Get Out Of Here", "Dennis", "No One Knows", "In The Meantime/Some Other Time", "King Of The Load", "Love Time", and "Meanwhile Back At The Ranch/Should I Smoke". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most iconic rock and roll shows of all time – the late 70s farewell to The Band – and quite famously, much more final concert by an esteemed band, it's actually a rock, pop, folk, blues and soul summit that features The Band as the house band. This landmark document of the event has always been one of rock's more opulent releases – with appearances by Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Dr. John, The Staples and more. Includes "The From The Last Waltz", "Up On Cripple Creek", "The Shape I'm In", "Down In South New Orleans" with Bobby Charles, "Forever Young" with Bob Dylan, "I Shall Be Released (Finale)", "Rag Mama Rag", "Further Up The Road" with Eric Clapton, "Dry Your Eyes" with Eric Clapton, "Evangeline" with Emmylou Harris, "The Weight" with The Staples and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A great little record from this legendary pair – a late nite, bluesy sort of record that's a nice change from some of the Joe Williams/Count Basie material on Verve! Basie plays Hammond on part of the record – and the organ makes a wonderful accompaniment to Joe's vocals – played with this open tone that kind of flows up from the bottom and around the edges, while the rest of the Basie group provide slightly gentler backigns – still that syncopated swing we love from the Count, but more laidback too – in a way that fits the material and the vocals perfectly! Titles include "Sweet Sue", "Dinah", "Memories Of You", "Baby Won't You Please Come Home", and "Call Me Darling. CD

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

The Beau Brummels' debut for Warner Brothers – surprisingly, a record of all cover versions – but one that's still plenty darn great! Although the tunes here are all quite familiar, they're also give some pretty unique treatment – often Brummel-ized with a mix of rootsier rock influences, and topped with tremendous lead vocals from Ron Elliott – easily one of the most distinct voices of his generation! Elliott's inflections and the group's instrumentation really turn these tunes into something new – and the album's a great illustration of the old adage that "it's not the song, but the singer!" Titles include "Bang Bang", "Play With Fire", "Woman", "Yesterday", "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away", "Homeward Bound", "Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter", and "Monday Monday". LP, Vinyl record album

A crucial album in the sound of late 60s Warner – recorded by west coasters The Beau Brummels in the heart of Tennessee, at the legendary studios of country producer Owen Bradley! This meeting of west and country is fantastic – a really incredible extension of earlier folksy rock styles forged by Dylan, Fred Neil, Tim Buckley, and others – handled with incredible care, and a style that's equally honest and ironic – but coming together with a sound that's unlike anything else we can think of – one of those rare few albums that somehow draws from a wealth of inspiration, but manages to make something completely standout in the process – almost a Feelies/Good Earth for its own generation! Tremendous stuff – and titles include "Jessica", "Bless You California", "I'm A Sleeper", "Little Bird", "Turn Around", and "An Added Attraction". Very cool double LP reissue – with loads of bonus tracks that include "Long Black Veil", "Confessions (demo)", "High There", "Deep Water (alt version)", "Love Can Fall A Long Way Down (alt mix)", "Bittersweet", "Jessica (alt version)", "Tan Oak Tree", "Just A Little Bit Of Lovin (demo)", "I Love You Mama (alt version)", "I'll Be Your Baby (alt version)", and "Lift Me (alt take)". LP, Vinyl record album

A trio of classics from this electronic duo – all brought together in a single set! First up is In A Wild Sanctuary – one of the best records ever from Beaver and Krause – largely because there's not so much noodling! This one features the pair on moog and organ, with help from Dave Grusin on piano, Milt Holland on percussion, Howard Roberts on guitar, and Bud Shank on reeds. The sound isn't jazz at all – but more a mix of spacey grooves and bubbling bits, with much more of a song-like structure than on other records. There's a few nice cuts here that almost hit a groove, and even when they don't, they still have a nice stripped down moogy sound that's very pleasing. Titles include "Spaced", "Salute To The Vanishing Bald Eagle", "People's Park", "Walking Green Algae Blues", and "Another Part Of Time". Gandharva is a cool mixture of rock and electronics – a perfect example of the Beaver & Krause team at their best! The ensemble on this one is bigger than usual, and the players includes jazz musicians like Mike Bloomfield, Gerry Mulligan, and Howard Roberts – but Beaver & Krause still play a lot of moog, though, and the songs are pretty groovy – although a little short. Side 2 was recorded at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Titles include "Soft/White", "Walkin By The River", "Walkin", "Nine Moons In Alaska", "Bright Shadows", and "Short Film For David". All Good Men is a higher concept album than usual for the team of Beaver & Krause – a record that still features plenty of cool moog and electronics by the pair, but which also has them teamed up with arranger Jimmie Haskell in a set of tunes that mixes older themes with original numbers! A fair bit of tracks here have vocals – either by Krause, or by female vocalists Cris Williamson, Adrienne Anderson, or Elisabeth Wilson – plus the "celestial choir" on a few tracks. There's a hearkening back here that's a bit confused at some moments – mixing Scott Joplin with the then-common apology to Native American mode – but things sound best on the original numbers, which have picked up a groove a bit more than before, and even have some nice warmer tones we really like. Titles include the spacey spinner "Between The Sun & The Rain", plus "Loves Of Col Evol", "Sweet Williams", "Bluebird Canyon Stomp", "Looking Back Now", "Child Of Morning Sun", and "All Good Men". CD

2CDs worth of work by Jorge Ben – featuring hits from the Warner years on one CD, plus a whole CD worth of rare material! The hits are all from the 90s – and include "Pega Ela De Montao", "Dzarm" (in 2 mixes), "Alcohol", "W Brasil", "Salve Simpatia", "Norma Jean", and some live recordings of older titles like "Filho Maravilha" and "Pais Tropical". The rare stuff is more interesting, though, and the second CD features 14 hard to find tunes – including 2 early cuts from 1963 that feature Jorge singing with the organ group of Ze Maria – plus "Eu Quero Ver A Rainha", a duet with Tim Maia, "Norma Jean", done in a house mix and extended piano mix, "Pais Tropical", in a sax mix, "Dzarm", done acoustically and in a horn dub, "Alcohol", done in a playground mix, and the track "Roberta Corta Essa". CD

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All the 70s classics – "On Broadway", "Give Me The Night", "Livin Inside Your Love", "Breezin", "This Masquerade", and lots more! 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

Includes "Hey Girl", "Nassau Day", "Livin Inside Your Love", "Welcome Into My World", "Before You Go", "Unchained Melody", "Love Ballad", "Prelude To Fall", and "Soulful Strut". LP, Vinyl record album

A late 80s set from George Benson, but one with a relatively classic jazz feel – instrumentation that's mostly small combo, and which has Benson serving up a range of familiar jazz and standards! George plays guitar on some tracks, and also sings a bit on others – and the groups here are mostly in the quartet range – with players who include McCoy Tyner on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Louis Hayes or Herlin Riley on drums. There's a bit of added strings at times, and George's sweet style of singing gives a few of the numbers a slightly more contemporary feel – but never too much so. Titles include "Stella By Starlight", "Stardust", "You Don't Know What Love Is", "This Is All I Ask", "Tenderly", and "At The Mambo Inn". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Ode To A Kudu", "We As Love", "Lady Blue", "Windsong", "Weekend In LA", "It's All In The Game", and his classic take on "On Broadway". LP, Vinyl record album

Huge, dark, and heavy – an album of mythical proportions, and that's a lot to say for a mainstream album – especially one that crossed over as big as this one! It would be hard to imagine the modern rock landscape without this album or group, who provided the template for so much music to follow – and the soundtrack to many bong-fueled excursions to the dark side – a huge legacy in sound, but one that may well still be best begun on this landmark self-titled album! Titles include "Black Sabbath", "The Wizard", "Behind The Wall Of Sleep", "NIB", "Wicked World", and "Warning". LP, Vinyl record album

Huge, dark, and heavy – an album of mythical proportions, and that's a lot to say for a mainstream album – especially one that crossed over as big as this one! It would be hard to imagine the modern rock landscape without this album or group, who provided the template for so much music to follow – and the soundtrack to many bong-fueled excursions to the dark side – a huge legacy in sound, but one that may well still be best begun on this landmark self-titled album! Titles include "Black Sabbath", "The Wizard", "Behind The Wall Of Sleep", "NIB", "Wicked World", and "Warning". LP, Vinyl record album

Huge, dark, and heavy – an album of mythical proportions, and that's a lot to say for a mainstream album – especially one that crossed over as big as this one! It would be hard to imagine the modern rock landscape without this album or group, who provided the template for so much music to follow – and the soundtrack to many bong-fueled excursions to the dark side – a huge legacy in sound, but one that may well still be best begun on this landmark self-titled album! Titles include "Black Sabbath", "The Wizard", "Behind The Wall Of Sleep", "NIB", "Wicked World", and "Warning". CD

The fourth nearly flawless album of heavy genius from Black Sabbath – featuring some of the mightiest rock riffs ever! Vol 4 is just the tiniest of notches below Master Of Reality and Paranoid in overall greatness – which is the tiniest of possible complaints given that those previous two albums are among the few truly perfect rock and roll albums ever recorded! But this one has "Supernaut". Enough said. Other titles include "Wheels Of Confusion", "Tomorrows Dreams", "Changes", "FX", "Snowblind", "Cornucopia", "Under The Sun" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

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... CD

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Titles include "The Murder Weapon", "Fatally Beautiful", "Stunned", "When The Night Falls", "Hefner & Disney", and "Baby Fall Down". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A lost 60s rocker from Freddy Cannon – and a pretty darn groovy one, too! The set's a mid 60s outing for Warner Brothers – and gives Freddy a style that's more Sunset Strip crossover than some of his previous east coast work – an upbeat vibe that would be perfect for the kind of fast-action nite spot that featured gals in bikinis, dancing in cages – and the kind of crowd that's more interested in fast shaking to the music than sitting back and sipping! Most of the tunes are covers, but given a special sort of zing – and titles include "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", "She's Somethin Else", "Action", "Hang On Sloopy", "Beachwood City", "You Gotta Help Yourself", and "Let Me Show You Where It's At". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

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

Larry Carlton looks a little cheesy on the cover of this one, but the album's a classic set of mainstream fusion from the start of the 80s – exactly the kind of record that made Carlton one of the standouts of the time! Larry actually sings a bit on the set, but the main focus is on his guitar work – often as sharp-edged as the lightning lines on the cover image – but with a warmer, soulful undercurrent too – one that bubbles along nicely, thanks to keyboards from Greg Mathieson and Don Freeman, and cool percussion from the great Paulinho Da Costa. The best tunes here have that warmly melodic feel you'd find in some of Pat Metheny's work, although with a bit more soul overall – and titles include "Springville", "Strikes Twice", "Ain't Nothin For A Heartache", "For Love Alone", "Mulberry Street", and "In My Blood". LP, Vinyl record album

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

The first Chicago album – presented here in all its jazzy brilliance! Back in the day, we used to wince when we heard these guys – but over the years, thanks to much rediscovery of the band by groove hounds, we've really come to like their work a lot. This first album especially has some great moments – complicated jazzy bits that you might have forgotten about, and some surprisingly groovy material that sounds a lot better than you might remember! Includes the classics "Beginnings", "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is", "Questions 67 & 68", and "Listen" – plus the tracks "Someday", "I'm A Man", "Free Form Guitar", and "Liberation". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

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A seminal bit of crossover soul from the mid 80s – and the standout effort from California trio Club Nouveau! The album's best known for its hit remake of "Lean On Me" – one that pushes the tune along with some very heavy beats, and a version that helps us remember why Bill Withers' original is so great, while still reinvigorating the tune for a new generation too! Jay King arranged and produced the set, all in a similar feel – and titles include "Heavy On My Mind", "Promises Promises", "Let Me Go", "Why You Treat Me So Bad", "Jealousy", and a reprise version of "Lean On Me". CD

A funky trip through the classic Warner Brothers recordings of P-Funk maestro Bootsy Collins! The set's a pretty great introduction to Bootsy's work, and includes some of his best numbers, plus a great set of notes that will really help you navigate his rich career. There's a total of 14 tracks, and titles include "Bootzilla", "Ahhh The Name Is Bootsy, Baby", "Stretchin Out (In A Rubber Band)", "Hollywood Squares", "Jam Fan (Hot)", "Vanish In Our Sleep", "Can't Stay Away", "I'd Rather Be With You", and a live version of "Psychoticbumpschool". CD

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

One of the classics from that 70s stretch when Alice Coltrane was really opening up her sound – not just walking away from more familiar jazz modes, but also embracing a very strong influence from Indian music and eastern thought as well! These elements had always been part of Coltrane's makeup somewhere in the background – but here, the modes are really foregrounded, as Alice plays some amazing organ, Fender Rhodes, and harp alongside a set of additional musicians that are mostly of Indian background – adding in some amazing percussion, and some incredibly haunting vocal chorus bits too! The approach is wonderful – different than her later, more meditative music – thanks in part to her excellent keyboards – and tracks include "Om Namah Sivaya", "Hare Krishna", and "Govinda Jai Jai". 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

Early work from the Alice Cooper band – working in a hard grooving, late 60s psych and garage rock informed sound, a couple years before the Bob Ezrin-produced, shock rock juggernaut – but still a nicely sinister Detroit rock & roll sound! Alice's sneering, snakelike vocals are laying the bedrock for the nastiness to come – and this is the best, pre-superstar Alice Cooper album, and also a lot stronger than the cheesy, self referential late 70s stuff. Titles include Mr & Misdemeanor", "Shoe Salesman", "Still No Air", "Below Your Means", "Return Of The Spiders", "Laughing At Me", "Lay Down And Die, Goodbye" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Non-stop screamers from the initial Alice Cooper run at Warner Brothers – a hefty set list that includes "School's Out", "Be My Lover", "I'm Eighteen", "No More Mr Nice Guy", "Elected", "Billion Dollar Babies", "Teenage Lament", "Muscle Of Love", "Is It My Body", "Under My Wheels", and "Hello Hooray". CD