All Items 389 Items

Why you'll love it...
Townes Van Zandt’s work, as far-reaching and as universal as it has become, begs for possessorship. It’s a love language understood by all who find it, yet one that remains acutely difficult to translate to those who haven’t.



No one understood this better than his earliest fans. It’s perhaps why his first studio album, For the Sake of the Song, remains a point of controversy among anyone who discovered Townes Van Zandt outside of these LP’s grooves. Townes Van Zandt the songwriter was the antithesis of bells and whistles, and so an album with such accoutrements, as this album has in spades, rings false — however unfairly — among purists. Taken in context, though, For the Sake of the Song is a gorgeous study in polarity. Each anchor is an artist from wildly different backgrounds, united under the profound effect of songcraft.

Why you'll love it...
Freddie Roach’s first three albums introduced him to the world, but Brown Sugar showed it who he was. It was the album that Roach made to capture the energy of soul jazz. To somehow take the sounds in the city, in the clubs, and bring them to a record. In his original liner notes, Roach writes that the album is an ode to late nights and loud clubs, to backs damp with sweat, arms wrapped around waists. ‘’Not caring for the moment about troubles or problems,'' he wrote of people dancing, ‘’their bodies quivering under smiles that seemed to promise ‘after the dance.’'' After talking to Alfred Lion, president of Blue Note, they decided that the album needed to be made up of standards — not the standards of the stage or screen, but the standards of the people. ‘’To get the ‘soul,’'' Roach wrote, ‘’I decided to do show soul tunes.''

New York based Jazz singer Helen Merrill moved to Europe after her London debut concert in 1959. as she is living in Italy for 4 years, Helen also performed Japan in 1960 and 1963.

An extraordinary album where Algerian pianist and composer Mustapha Skandrani improvises and varies Andalusian folk melodies on the piano. Algerian classical music is a blend of Andalusian court music, originating from the Arab-Islamic rulers of Spain, and Turkish classical music, along with Western, African, and Jewish influences. Skandrani pioneered a style of performance, which was considered unconventional. Before him, solo piano performances were unheard of in Andalusian music concerts, and playing "Istikhbar" on the piano was revolutionary at the time.

Monstrous blue-eyed soul / garage double-sider and a must for any rare groove DJ.
250 copies pressed.

Why you'll love it...
There is something raw and disruptive about La Lupe and her modalities of performance, something that far exceeds tropes of so-called hysteria and all the gendered and racial scripts that come along with it. Uncontrolled expression opens up new routes; it presses against obligatory composure.

The boleros, boogaloos and salsas of Reina de la Canción Latina contain lessons about love, about a willingness to stay alive, about what it means to push against the confines. Reina de la Canción Latina asks us to listen to La Lupe outside of a binary mode — to look a little deeper, to find her personhood and to search for flashes of freedom wherever we can.

Infectious rock&roll, surf, beat, girl group and ye-yé sounds by LAS Mosquitas, the first female beat band from Argentina.

Including their rare album from 1965 for the Music Hall label plus bonus tracks from singles and their impossible to find split EP with Los Gatos Salvajes.

Las Mosquitas (“The Little Flies”) consisted of Stella Maris Conde (Pupé) on vocals and guitar, María Cristina Medina (Nita) on bass, Ana María Millán (Nené) on vocals and guitar and Beatriz Cabrera (Dina) on drums. They performed their original compositions as well as Spanish sung covers of hits from the era. Producer Ricardo Romero of pioneering rock&roll Argentinean band Los Cinco Latinos took them under his wing and secured a deal with the Music Hall label.

They toured nationally and internationally, sometimes supporting Los Cinco Latinos, other times as the main act. Not only that, but they conquered every city they performed in, they were received by fans, ambassadors, presidents and their daughters, all eager to see Las Mosquitas on stage. Tours through Panamá, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Puerto Rico, Chile, Uruguay, Brasil, Curazao and Argentina were completed with fantastic public response and TV appearances.

The “Mosquitamania” was born and a string of singles and a full album on the Music Hall label followed. All of them are compiled here for the first time.

“Their music was a mix of ye-yé and beat and they dressed how you would expect the Beatles to dress if they had been women” - Gareth Wynne (Ugly Things)

Why you'll love it...
Creating harmony out of unlikely combinations was integral to Charles’ genius, and that’s evident with how effortlessly he navigates multiple genres on In Person, oftentimes on the same song. It’s an album that’s a testament to him as a versatile musical pioneer: someone who was unafraid to explore different ideas and sounds throughout his career, becoming a seminal figure in American music in the process.

Why you'll love it...

Cadet Records was one of the oddest jazz labels to ever issue LPs in America; it was the jazz imprint of Chess Records, and most of its releases came from the minds of two men: Charles Stepney and Richard Evans. The latter man ran point on the short-lived label's lone holiday release, which found the label's house band – which included luminaries like Phil Upchurch – doing their thing on 10 holiday classics. A curio for the cratedigger who already owns every Dorothy Ashby album, this album was AAA remastered by Barry Grint.

Limited to 2,000 copies, the VMP exclusive version of The Soulful Strings' The Magic of Christmas is pressed 180g Opaque Olive vinyl at Independent Record Pressing (IRP). The AAA 1 LP will arrive in a single, tip-on, foil-stamped and numbered jacket. The lacquers were cut by Barry Grint at Alchemy Mastering at AIR.

Recorded in 1965 at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in New Jersey, Roland Kirk's album Rip, Rig and Panic finds him teamed with the most awesome rhythm section he ever recorded with: pianist Jaki Byard, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Elvin Jones. It received a 5 stars rating on AllMusic, with reviewer Thom Jurek stating that "Rip, Rig, and Panic may be pre-Rahsaan Roland Kirk's greatest outing. Kirk and his quartet moved through a series of musicological changes that defined him as an artist at the time. Five of the seven compositions are his, and reach through each of the phases that Kirk was interested in integrating into his compositional and improvisational voice. Positively smashing."

The collaborative album 5 Na Bossa was originally released in 1965 on Philips Brazil and featured some of the top player of the genre. If you are into the sound of Nara Leão, Edu Lobo and Tamba Trio this is a magical encounter, bringing together Nara's soft voice, Edu's battering guitar and Tamba's swinging vocals. Featuring classic compositions like ‘Reza’ and ‘Zambi’ this album is a must have for any fans of the latin jazz legacy. The set was recorded live at the Paramount Theater in Sao Paulo.

A cult album from 1968 that has long since become known as a groove classic across genre boundaries, now for the first time as a deluxe edition, freshly remastered, with bonus tracks and attractive packaging. Along with Alice Coltrane, Dorothy Ashby was the only world-famous jazz harpist. Thanks to deep grooves and sophisticated orchestral sounds, “Afro-Harping” is her most famous album to date, which is continually breathed new life into thanks to samples and remixes by Pete Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Dee (aka J Dilla), Madlib, Flying Lotus and others. Remastered from the original ¼-inch tapes by Alex Wharton/Abbey Road Studios and featuring eight strong, previously unreleased alternate tracks, including an explosive version of the single “Soul Vibrations”, the classic album is now available for the first time in a high-quality format appropriate to its ever-growing importance.

2-lp: gatefold sleeve, padded black inner sleeves, illustrated eight-page insert with detailed liner notes by Seán Casey/Shindig! magazine.

Even by the high-water marks set by Herbie Hancock’s tremendous 1960s Blue Note output, 1965’s Maiden Voyage remains one of the pinnacle artistic achievements of the great pianist’s career. Hancock is joined here by his Miles Davis Quintet bandmates Ron Carter on bass and Tony Williams on drums, along with Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and George Coleman on tenor saxophone. The quintet embarks on an oceanic exploration of five original Hancock compositions, several of which have since become enduring standards of the jazz lexicon including the title track, “Eye of the Hurricane,” and “Dolphin Dance.”

Elemental Music, together with Universal Music Spain presents a new vinyl reissue of “Samba ’68“, the only album released on the Verve label by prolific Brazilian singer Marcos Valle. In 1968, Valle was commissioned by Verve to record his Brazilian hits in English in order to capitalize on the then-huge Getz-Gilberto-Jobim-Mendes-Astrud market. Marcos’ rapid and stunning artistic growth is apparent on this brilliant Bossa Nova album. Fans of Sérgio Mendes and Astrud Gilberto (both of whom recorded tons of Valle tunes) will enjoy it immensely, for “Samba ’68” is definitely one of the ultimate “loungy” records. “Samba ‘68 is a vibrant set of Brazilian pop, indebted to bossa nova and samba but undeniably Americanized for a domestic audience. The result is a joyous album throughout that wears its dated sound quite well. Marcos Valle interprets eleven of his own songs, including Brazilian standards like ‘Chup Chup, I Got Away,’ ‘Batucada’ and ‘So Nice (Summer Samba),’ as well as new tracks like ‘Crickets Sing for Anamaria’ and ‘The Answer.’ The vocal harmonies of his wife (the Anamaria of the song title) provide a beautiful counterpoint to Valle’s voice on several tracks, making Samba ‘68 one of the best Brazilian crossovers of the 1960s.”(John Bush, AllMusic) Marcos Valle was the Renaissance man of Brazilian pop, a singer/songwriter/producer who straddled the country’s music world from the early days of the Bossa Nova craze well into the fusion-soaked sound of ‘80s Brazilian popular music. Though his reputation in America never quite compared to contemporaries like Caetano Veloso, Milton Nascimento, Gilberto Gil, or even Tom Zé. Valle is one of the most important and popular performers in the history of Brazilian pop.

Strictly limited vinyl reissue of the Arizona rock band's only album, originally released on Vault Records in 1968. A relatively obscure masterpiece, combining psych rock with distinctive elements of acid blues and jazz. Wild jams sensibly influenced by the West Coast sound and much closer to the Nuggets manifesto. Rising from the ashes of the folk-rock outfit The Bittersweets in 1967, the Phoenix musicians were born to take you on an endless journey. Drifting from acid rock to melancholic blues, this fuzzed out gem from the earliest days of the Phoenix Valley rock and roll scene stands as one of the rarest and purest slices of mid-'60s psychedelia around.

An acid-folk masterpiece finally revealed ! When two worlds collide here’s where the legacy of Tim Hollier begins, his first album was released on United Artists in 1968 and this long overdue re-issue is a definitive statement of the master genius. Guest on the opening night of a Beckenham folk club run by his friend David Bowie, Hollier recorded ‘Message To A Harlequin’ with the assistance of Donovan arranger John Cameron. Hollier was also a regular on London's folk club circuit for several years alongside the likes of Paul Simon, Al Stewart and Nick Drake. Here’s your chance to finally grab his visionary songwriting.

Reissue of this incredibly wild proto-punk garage 45 released in Mexico in 1965!!! 500 copies only!!!

Take A Picture is Margo Guryan's one and done classic _ one of record collecting's real unheralded masterpieces _ bright, breezy, lightly psychedelic, and utterly cosmopolitan, recorded in New York City no less. Newly restored by Jessica Thompson from the original two-track safety masters, this beguilingly melodic 1968 pop tour-de-force has never sounded better.

Take A Picture is Margo Guryan's one and done classic _ one of record collecting's real unheralded masterpieces _ bright, breezy, lightly psychedelic, and utterly cosmopolitan, recorded in New York City no less. Newly restored by Jessica Thompson from the original two-track safety masters, this beguilingly melodic 1968 pop tour-de-force has never sounded better.

Nobuo "Hara", whose real name is Nobuo Tsukahara, is a Japanese saxophonist who became known in 1951 with his big band, the Sharp & Flats. Together they recorded more than a hundred album during their career. Hozan Yamamoto is, for his part, a Shakuhachi player, a traditional Japanese flute, enjoying such recognition in his country that he was awarded a Living National Treasure in 2002. The first record bringing together the two musicians is a live recorded in 1967 during the Newport Jazz Festival. It was a year later, in 1968, that New Jazz in Japan, their first studio recording, was released. Accompanied by the ower of the Sharps & Flats, Nobuo Hara"s tenor sax and Hozan Yamamoto"s shakuhachi respond subtly to give this record, which had not been reissued since 1971, a completely unique style.

Iconic 1968 Northern Soul Anthem, One Of The Famed “3 Before 8” As Played Every Sunday Morning At Wigan Casino During It’s 8 Year Reign Coupled With The Original Demo, Recorded By The Writers At The Impact Studio, Detroit, 1965

1964 was one of the most momentous years in the musical life of Wayne Shorter. Early in the year the saxophonist was still a member of Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, appearing on classic Blue Note albums like Free for All and Indestructible. Shorter made his own auspicious label debut that spring with Night Dreamer and quickly recorded the impressive follow-up JuJu. That summer he joined the Miles Davis Quintet, cementing a line-up that would become one of the seminal bands in jazz history. And when Shorter entered Van Gelder Studio with Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Elvin Jones on Christmas Eve 1964 they created a masterpiece with Speak No Evil, a transcendent set of six Shorter originals including the swinging title track, “Witch Hunt,” and sublime ballad “Infant Eyes.”

Not macht erfinderisch! Das Album “Heavy Sounds” war eigentlich als Trio-Session mit dem Gitarristen Larry Coryell geplant gewesen. Als dieser aber kurzfristig erkrankte und nicht im Studio auftauchte, spielten Schlagzeuger Elvin Jones und Bassist Richard Davis ad hoc eine fast zwölfminütige Duo-Version von “Summertime” ein. Die restlichen Nummern nahm das Gespann einen Tag später mit Verstärkung des Saxofonisten Frank Foster und des Pianisten Billy Green auf, wobei Elvin Jones in “Elvin’s Guitar Blues” höchstpersönlich den Gitarrenpart übernahm. Es sollte seine einzige Aufnahme als Gitarrist bleiben.

Verve BY Request Serie: remastert, audiophiles 180-Gramm-Vinyl von Third Man Pressing/Detroit, Gatefold Sleeve.

Lee Morgan’s 1968 album "Taru" found the trumpeter at a crossroads exploring a variety of styles from modal jazz and post-bop to beautiful balladry and funky boogaloos. The band here is notable for the elevating presence of guitarist George Benson and the addition of tenor saxophonist Bennie Maupin.

BLUE NOTE TONE POET EDITION: Stereo, produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analogue master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a Gatefold Sleeve with deluxe tip-on jacket.

Blind musician Hrant Kenkulian (1901-1978), generally known as Oudi Hrant was a master of the oud (fretless lute) who was probably best known for his taksims. He was an Armenian born in Adapazar, a city close to Istanbul which had a large Armenian population before the Genocide of 1915. After WWI, Hrant's family settled in Istanbul. Hrant started out singing in the church choir, but soon moved on to the oud. He made his career in Istanbul, but he toured the US in 1950, and did a world tour in 1963 to Paris, Beirut, Greece, America, and Yerevan, Soviet Armenia. He was a teacher of many Armenian-American oudists including Richard Hagopian. He was the pride of the Armenian people, and many consider him to be the most soulful oudist ever to emerge from Turkey. Released in 1964 on jazz label Prestige the record shows the stunning classical inspiration of the musician.

Blisterin’ bleach blonde garage punk from Long Beach’s Emperors!

Previously limited to a handful of singles, this full length LP includes all of their material, including 4 unissued tracks! From the maniacal laughter on “Laughin’ Linda” to their foot-tappin’ cover of the Zombies’ “You Make Me Feel So Good” it’s easy to see why this group of teens were hailed as Long Beach’s favorite group.

Susan Gilmore, an Emperor fan, recollects, “The highlight of the dances were when they played. While attendance was pretty good for other bands, the Emperors packed the place every time. The buzz would start during the week at school. ‘The Emperors are playing this weekend. Are you going to go?’”

The wild teenage sound of the original Emperors is still the greatest. “It's just a lifetime experience,” concluded Randall. “In a way, I felt that we were ahead of our time. The way we played and the way we presented everything on stage, nobody was shy. It was a wonderful experience.”

A new version of the band rebranded as simply Emperor, led by Steve Watts and Randy Budihas, would record for RCA, then Private Stock during the ‘70s. After a 20-year break, The Emperors reformed in 2002 and are still performing and entertaining fans today.

Vinyl LP pressing.

Nobody had expected the extraordinary success of this album and its funky title track. When Blue Note released trumpeter Lee Morgan's “The Sidewinder” in 1964, the label “only” pressed 4,000 copies, but they were completely sold out within three days. The instrumental album reached number 25 in the pop charts and number 10 in the rhythm'n'blues charts, while the soul-jazzy title track, which was shortened for that, was also successful as a single. The album, recorded with tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, pianist Barry Harris, bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Billy Higgins, is now a classic album that should be in every jazz collection.

“Is that what you wanted, Alfred?” we hear in Miles Davis’ unmistakable rasp at the end of “One for Daddy-O,” making it clear that the legendary (and assertive) trumpeter was not just playing the role of sideman on Somethin’ Else, the sole Blue Note album by Cannonball Adderley. The alto saxophonist was a memb¬er of Davis’ band at the time and the depth of their musical camaraderie lifts this session up to rarefied heights throughout, from the breathtaking performance of “Autumn Leaves” that opens the album to the thrilling call-and-response theme of the title track. Pianist Hank Jones, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Art Blakey round out the quintet on this timeless classic.

Long-awaited reissue of this rare Jamaican ska record, originally released in 1964. In 1961 Byron Lee And The Dragonaries took a huge break when they were part of the first James Bond film - Dr. No - as the hotel band . In 1964, the band was also featured in a broadcast called "This is Ska!" alongside Jimmy Cliff, Prince Buster, and Toots and the Maytals. Amazing back cover illustrations: how to learn classic ska dance in 12 easy steps !