Folk Vinyl 267 Items

SOURCED FROM THE ORIGINAL ANALOGUE MASTER TAPES
PRESSED AT RTI ON MOFI SUPERVINYL, AND STRICTLY LIMITED TO 5,000 NUMBERED COPIES
1/4” / 15 IPS / Dolby A analogue master to DSD 256 to analogue console to lathe


Ladies of the Canyon can be viewed as Joni Mitchell's coming-out party. Having recently moved to Lookout Mountain in Los Angeles' Laurel Canyon area — her house is depicted in a watercolour painting she made for the record's cover — the Canadian icon turned to her immediate surroundings for inspiration the while taking the pulse of national affairs, corporate enterprise, celebrity, and her relationship with Graham Nash. The 1970 album finds the singer-songwriter morphing into the groundbreaker who would shed folk music's constructs and wade into pop, jazz, soul, and poetry with a combination of depth, sophistication, self-examination, and acumen no one had ever heard.

Sourced from the original analogue master tapes, pressed on MoFi SuperVinyl at RTI on MoFi SuperVinyl, featuring new liner notes, and strictly limited to 5,000 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity's UltraDisc One-Step 180g 45RPM 2LP box set delivers Ladies of the Canyon with bracing intimacy, detail, balance, and depth. Marking the first time the LP has received audiophile treatment, it's one of six iconic Mitchell records Mobile Fidelity is reissuing on definitive-sounding vinyl and SACD sets.

Playing with organic warmth, superb clarity, and ample spaciousness, this collectible UD1S edition benefits from the inherent properties of SuperVinyl — a virtually non-existent noise floor, reference-calibre groove definition, and ultra-silent surfaces among them. Primarily recorded solo, with spare accompaniment on select tracks, Mitchell practically takes up residence in your listening room. Her voice, piano, and guitar image with spot-on precision and three-dimensionality; the music is focused, emotional, natural. Auxiliary instrumentation — cello, clarinet, baritone saxophone, Milt Holland's deft percussion — is seamless, cohesive, steady. Notes bloom and decay as they do on a live stage; relatedly, the soundstage extends far and wide, with carbon-black backgrounds adding to the uncanny realism.

The deluxe packaging of the Ladies of the Canyon UD1S set complements its distinguished status. Housed in a deluxe slipcase, both LPs come in special foil-stamped jackets with faithful-to-the-original graphics that illuminate the splendour of the recording. This UD1S reissue is made for listeners who prize sound quality and production, and who desire to engage themselves in everything involved with the album, including Michell's illustrative painting that serves as the cover art.

Deemed "powerful and brilliant" upon release by The New York Times, Ladies of the Canyon followed Mitchell's first Grammy-winning effort (Clouds) and marked the first of six consecutive masterworks she made en route to becoming the most celebrated singer-songwriter of both her generation, and, arguably, all time. It's the first record on which the then-26-year-old featured the piano, a creative decision of immeasurable significance; first to attain platinum status, which transformed Mitchell into more than a folk figure; first to see her taking more chances with her singing; and the last on which she comes across upbeat, largely unencumbered by the complex themes and personal ache that would occupy her for the foreseeable future.

Mitchell radiates confidence and courage, producing Ladies of the Canyon herself after realizing she didn't need the services of an outsider when she already knew what she wanted. She just required a competent and collaborative engineer, who she landed in Henry Lewy. Fittingly, on the record's affectionate title track, she celebrates community and a trio of women — all real, all from her Laurel Canyon neighborhood — who, individually, as a visual artist, free-spirited mother, and circus-raised imagineer, respectively, were all reflected in Mitchell herself. Akin to Trina, Annie, and Estrella, Mitchell also had an affinity for wearing beautiful clothes, hosting friends, baking sweets, and weaving "a pattern all her own."

That pattern most famously materializes on the album's closing trio of songs — their unconventional placement on the record likely another sly acknowledgement of Mitchell's disdain for commercialism, or at the very least, catering to its demands — each, then and now, a classic. Within months of releasing Ladies of the Canyon Mitchell would find herself at the centre of the singer-songwriter movement — and preparing songs for another album whose impact is still felt today.

More About Mobile Fidelity UltraDisc One-Step and Why It Is Superior

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab's UltraDisc One-Step (UD1S) technique bypasses generational losses inherent to the traditional three-step plating process by removing two steps: the production of father and mother plates, which are created to yield numerous stampers from each lacquer that is cut. For UD1S plating, stampers (also called "converts") are made directly from the lacquers. Since each lacquer yields only one stamper, multiple lacquers need to be cut. Mobile Fidelity's UD1S process produces a final LP with the lowest-possible noise floor. The removal of two steps of the plating process also reveals musical details and dynamics that would otherwise be lost due to the standard multi-step process. With UD1S, every aspect of vinyl production is optimized to produce the best-sounding vinyl album available today.

MoFi SuperVinyl

Developed by NEOTECH and RTI, MoFi SuperVinyl is the most exacting-to-specification vinyl compound ever devised. Analogue lovers have never seen (or heard) anything like it. Extraordinarily expensive and extremely painstaking to produce, the special proprietary compound addresses two specific areas of improvement: noise floor reduction and enhanced groove definition. The vinyl composition features a new carbonless dye (hold the disc up to the light and see) and produces the world's quietest surfaces. This high-definition formula also allows for the creation of cleaner grooves that are indistinguishable from the original lacquer. MoFi SuperVinyl provides the closest approximation of what the label's engineers hear in the mastering lab.

180 gram audiophile vinyl, numbered limited edition!

Mastered from the Original Master Tapes for Unsurpassed Analog Sound: Mobile Fidelity's 180g 45RPM 2LP Set Opens Up Scale of Lush Orchestral Architecture and Elegant Baroque Textures.

180 Gram 45RPM Audiophile Vinyl, limited/numbered, Mastered from the Original Master Tapes, Five-Times Platinum Collection of Dylan's World-Changing Singles Spanning 1963 Through 1966

* Originally released in 1977 * Featuring covers of 'The Girl from Ipanema' and 'The Look of Love' * Pressed on Black Vinyl A masterpiece of samba released in 1977, featuring Norio Maeda, a major pianist and arranger in the jazz world, and Tin Pan Alley by Haruomi Hosono, Shigeru Suzuki, and Tatsuo Hayashi. This album features several of the greatest Bossa Nova numbers such as 'Wave', 'One Note Samba', 'The Girl from Ipanema', 'Summer Samba', and famous songs such as 'The Look of Love' by Burt Bacharach. This is an album full of highlights.

Limited to 15000 copies.

Vinyl version of Remastered Original Album + LP of Studio masters, B-sides and demos (many for the first time on vinyl) from the 2016 Bella Donna Deluxe Edition.

The album chronicles a show performed by Baez in a bullring, naturally, in Bilbao, Spain, in 1988, and it demonstates what makes her such a draw overseas. Half of the collection, side two of the LP, consists of songs sung in Spanish.
»This record was made in a bullring in Bilbao, Spain, in 1988. It is dedicated to the Mayor and the people pf Bilbao, who came out between thunderstorms to see me perform. The song in Catalan "Txoria Txori" is about a sweet little bird ... I want to thank Pasku who taught it to me, and thank the Bilbao public for singing it so beautifully.« — Joan Baez. Illustrations by Joan Baez; additional vocals Mercedes Sosa.

Absolutely essential. Deluxe 2LP edition of this impeccable album from 1988. The spot glossed Gatefold jacket features artwork including archival photos & drawings from Woo’s archives as well as liner notes by Clive Ives.

Issued for the first time in its entirety on vinyl, spread over two LPs, and remastered from newly discovered hi-quality DAT sources, we’re thrilled to present the definitive version of Woo’s most fully-formed album. A cosmic testament to the healing power of love, utilizing vocoded clarinets, pastoral guitars, homespun folk lullabies, and lilting electronics, coalescing into a an hour plus long journey through their otherworldly soundscapes. A prime entry point to Woo’s sound, containing some of their most beloved songs, such as ‘Make Me Tea,’ ‘It’s Love,’ ‘Hopi’ and many others, and also including a never-before heard bonus track – the vocal version of ‘It’s Love.’

Into The Heart Of Love was originally self-released on cassette in 1988, with a wider cassette release in 1990. Compiled from home recordings from the preceding years, and released during a transitional point for the band, the Ives brothers see this album as their most complete work, offering space to the listener to stretch out and immerse themselves into the warmth of their sound.

Woo is the uncategorizable project of Clive and Mark Ives from Brighton, UK. Since the 1970s, the duo have been recording a plethora of eclectic sounds, most falling under the blanket genre of new age, but spiraling out toward notions of ambient sounds, jazz, and other spiritual takes on modern music. They received some acclaim for their early releases, including 1982's Whichever Way You Are Going, You Are Going Wrong and 1989's It's Cosy Inside, but their work began to receive renewed appreciation during the 2010s, when labels such as Drag City and Palto Flats reissued the band's albums. The brothers remained active all the while, digitally self-issuing material.

Roy Rutanen’s self-titled album has remained a very well-kept secret among psychedelia and acid-folk collectors ever since its original release in 1971 on MCA in Australia. Now is the right time for Rutanen’s glorious music to shine through, with his unique combination of moody acoustic bliss and acid-drenched solos, as evidenced on ‘The Trip Song', a 10-minutes magnum opus that might well be a candidate for top 10 psychedelic tunes of all time! (Tell me too that ‘Plastic People’ doesn’t make you instantly think of Rodriguez). And like Rodriguez, despite the far flung nature of his record’s release, Rutanen is actually American. But during his time in Vietnam, Rutanen used two R&R periods to visit Australia. He liked it so much, he decided to fly straight back upon his discharge from the US Army. Rutanen's early recollections of Australia were of having good times, making many good friends: "I smoked a lot of pot and indulged in other highs,” Roy said. "I lived right on Manly Beach in Sydney and went to sleep at night with the sound of surf coming in through the open balcony doors.” He started putting his name about in the scene and playing his own songs at some local venues, which led to the album being recorded, and then more or less abandoned by MCA. What could have been the solid foundation for a promising career in the music industry was abandoned due to the lack of label support, subsequently surviving as a one-off release, accessible only to a select few who could afford the steep price ($650+) commanded for original copies.

Quantity: 5500
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release

2nd LP contains all of the session outtakes, included in the 2006 4CD box set The Complete Atlantic Sessions.

Released in 1973, Labi’s fourth album (“the album of which I am proudest”) includes two epic songs in “Children Of Children” and “Let’s Pretend”, songs he says he was “provoked” into writing. • This half-speed master edition is presented in its original gatefold sleeve, pressed on 180 gram heavyweight black vinyl, featuring an obi strip, and housed in a poly-lined inner sleeve. The 4-page insert includes all the lyrics and photos of the original tape boxes. • This new edition has been expertly mastered by Barry Grint at AIR Mastering from the original stereo tapes using precision half-speed mastering. Half-speed mastering is a vinyl cutting technique that improves groove accuracy and transient information creating an incredibly detailed stereo image with a natural high frequency response.

A 1974 album by Shrieks, consisting of Kazuo Kambe and Iruka (Toshie Hosaka), who later had a hit with "Nagori Yuki," is reissued on Shm-cd and analog LP!

1983’s Waves of Peace is an album of gentle reflection. The sound of ocean waves permeates every track. Sitar, tambura, synthesizer, and bamboo flute are among the instruments that Aziz & Friends use to conjure their blissful oceanic meditation.

Aziz reminisces: “Waves of Peace was born in the beautiful oceanside town of Santa Cruz, California. Living there in 1982 was the first timeI had ever lived so close to the ocean. I would walk down to the beach on a daily basis. Nature has always been a major source of inspiration in my quest to create beautiful original music. Equally important to me has been recognizing the healing potential of harmonious sound. This potential was made clear to me through my illuminating work with the Sufi order, as well as various modern dance companies. Finally, my music has always been shaped by my lifelong commitment to peace and non-violence. With all of these things in mind, drawing inspiration from the nearby ocean and the growing popularity of New Age music, I produced Waves of Peace.

Waves of Peace was my first album to combine instrumental music with the sounds of nature. Graced by the presence of some truly exceptional local musicians, most of the music was performed and recorded live in the studio. Waves of Peace was created to facilitate relaxation, meditation, healing, and awakening for the body, mind, heart and soul. Let the rhythmic waves of the ocean nourish and inspire you to find your peace within”. - Aziz Paige, 2022

Formed in 1984 by bassist Takuya Nishimura and erhu player and singer Chie Mukai is Che-SHIZU. Their debut on the indie record label Zero records (also known for producing acts such as Shonen Knife, and Luna Park Ensemble) “Yakusoku wa Dekinai” (I Can’t Promise) drew attention for its uncompromising approach to simply making ‘songs’. With Tori Kudo (who’s recent analog release, Tangerine with Reiko Kudo, is making waves across the world) on guitar, ‘Yakusoku wa Dekinai’ is filled with songs that are simultaneously experimental and catchy. P-vine is proud to be reissuing this historic album for the first time ever on vinyl.

*Canadian singer/songwriter David Wiffen's 1971 self-titled album, originally released on Fantasy Records, is now reissued by 4 Men With Beards. The album is a showcase for David's rich baritone voice and his world weary, laid back songs. Standout tracks include the classic song "Driving Wheel" covered by Tom Rush, The Byrds, The Jayhawks, Roger McGuinn and The Cowboy Junkies among many others, plus the openly confessional "More Often Than Not" and "I've Got A Ticket." This is an underground folk/chamber pop classic reissued on 180-gram vinyl.

Vinyl LP pressing. 1976 album from the iconic singer-songwriter.

Vinyl LP pressing. 1973 album from the iconic singer-songwriter. Jimmy Buffett's third studio album, A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean, was released in 1973 and features "Why Don't We Get Drunk," and "He Went to Paris." Newly remastered and available for the first time on vinyl.

"Ethio Jazz" is an album released by the Ethiopian master musician Mulatu Astatke in 1974 on his homeland Ethiopia's Amha Records. It stands as a milestone not only in his career but also in the history of contemporary Ethiopian music, continuing to shine brightly. With melancholic melodies played by wind instruments, a polyrhythmic rhythm section creating robust waves, sultry vibes from the vibraphone, and smoky organ tones, the album is enveloped in the sounds of jazz inherited from the States. This work, where various musical elements are miraculously fused in perfect balance, undoubtedly reigns at the pinnacle of Ethio Jazz, showcasing Mulatu's ambitious creativity in seeking out new sounds.

The Silos, the still-kicking band Walter Salas-Humara co-founded in New York’s post-punk ‘80s scene played Alt-Rock, Alt-Country, and Americana before any critics coined those terms. They were named Best New Artist in the Rolling Stone magazine critics' poll in 1987 after the release of Cuba. The album has since been considered a stone-cold classic, being hugely influential in the so-called Americana or alternative country scene that followed in its wake. “Cuba is one of those albums that has become a kind of talisman among true music fans. Because you know that Cuba exists inside everyone, and this extraordinary album can take you there. It's a journey filled with longing and loss, warmth and wonder”. (Anthony DeCurtis) This gatefold double LP 35th anniversary special edition, includes the additional album The Bird Album Live On Kcrw. Recorded on April 18, 1990, shortly after the release of their self-titled third album for RCA Records, The Silos performed about 75 minutes of music for the Snap alternative music radio program. Broadcast on Kcrw in Santa Monica, California, near Los Angeles, it features versions of all but one song from that third album. Both of the singer-songwriter-guitarists from the band's early days, Walter Salas-Humara and Bob Rupe, were in the line-up for this broadcast which also included Graham Maby on bass, Brian Doherty on Drums, and Kenny Margolis on Keyboard. Salas-Humara’s legacy would seem secure; his name is on 24 albums, his Horse Paintings hang in homes and galleries around the world, and his WaltersDogs portraits even appeared in the film “Get Him to the Greek” (Nicholas Stoller, 20210). but he’s hardly ready to call it a day: The Silos have a new album out now called Family and are currently touring the world.

Cult Classic LP BY Legendary Egyptian Guitarist Omar Khorshid, First Released ON THE Label 'voice OF Lebanon' IN 1974 AND Reissued Here ON Vinyl FOR THE First Time With Original Artwork AND Remastered Audio Plus NEW Liner Notes BY DJ Ernesto Chahoud.

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the reissue of Omar Khorshid's highly sought after instrumental album 'Giant + Guitar' originally released in 1974 in Lebanon and recorded at Polysound Studio by famed Lebanese engineer Nabil Moumtaz. The album features Khorshid's unique electric guitar sound mixed with arabic melodies over superb psych arrangements. The album has been newly remastered and comes with the original 'Voice of Lebanon' artwork and a 2 page insert featuring liner notes by DJ Ernesto Chahoud. Wewantsounds' series of Arabic music reissues are curated by Mario Choueiry from Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris. Omar Khorshid's life, if short (he died age 36 in a road accident), was extraordinary. Blessed with a great talent for music, the Egyptian musician and actor became one of the best guitarists of the Arab World accompanying the greatest stars of the 60s and 70s, including Oum Kalthoum, Abdel Halim Hafez and Farid El Atrache. To avoid the political troubles of the time in Egypt, and to fulfil his artistic ambitions, Khorshid moved to Beirut in Lebanon in 1973 and started recording a string of superb albums experimenting with Oriental music. ?He recorded for several labels including Voice of Lebanon, one of the key Lebanese labels of the time. He released his first album 'Giant + Guitar' for the label in 1974 and it was an instantly popular in the Arab world. The album, which has a great ample sound, was recorded at the Polysound studios overseen by engineer Nabil Moumtaz. The front cover sees Khorshid on his motorcycle in the busy street of Hamra, one of the most vibrant Beirut neighbourhoods where he was playing most nights in residence. (The album was also released internationally as 'Rhythms from the Orient' with a different artwork focusing on belly dance) The sound of the album is both bold and accessible displaying Khorshid's unique guitar sound, accompanied by a small band mixing traditional and modern fuzzed up arrangements. The mesmerizing opening track, 'Rakset El Fadaa', composed by Lebanese musician Nour Al Mallah, is a perfect example of Khorshid's artistry. Starting with a long, hypnotic guitar intro, it then speeds up with the backing of a groovy organ, Oriental percussion and the psych sound of an early synthesizer to great effect. The album continues on the same mode blending traditional Oriental music with inventive arrangements as showcased by the Mohamed Abdel Wahab standard 'Leilet Hob' popularised by Oum Kalthoum, which sees Khorshid and his musicians shifting pace several times over eight minutes. One of the peaks of the album in terms of sonic experiments is undoubtedly Korshid's own composition, 'Taqassim Sanat Alfein', with Khorshid's superb guitar in full bloom accompanied by a few touches of synth. A truly innovative album which pushed the boundaries of Oriental music at the time, 'Giant + Guitar' has gained in stature over the years and has become highly sought after by many DJs and collectors. A hugely important album which Wewantsounds is happy to reintroduce to the international audience for the first time since the 70s

Cult Classic BY Often-sampled Arabic Diva Warda Recorded IN 1973 With Full Egyptian Orchestra ON THE Label Soutelphan. Reissued ON Vinyl FOR THE First Time, With Remastered Audio, Original Artwork AND TWO Page Insert With NEW Introduction

Wewantsounds is delighted to reissue 'Khalik Hena' recorded 1973 by legendary Arabic Diva Warda who has been sampled by Jay Z and J Dilla. The album recorded in public mixes traditional Arabic music with a tinge of 70s grooves. Here Warda delivers a hypnotic performance backed by her full-size orchestra featuring those unparalleled Arabic strings that made recordings by Oum Khalthoum, Farid El Atrache and Abdel Halim Hafez so famous. 'Khalik Hena' is one of her all-time classics, written by legendary composer Baligh Hamdi and the audio has been newly remastered. This release features the LP original artwork with a 2 page insert featuring a new introduction by Mario Choueiry from Institut du Monde Arabe who curates Wewantsounds' Arabic series of reissues.

Warda is one of the undisputed divas of the Arab world. Born in the Paris suburb from an Algerian Father and a Lebanese mother, she was discovered at 11 by Ahmed Hachlaf, Pathe Marconi's heads of A&R specialising in Arabic music. having honed her singing skills at her father's cabaret in the Latin Quarter, the Tam-Tam (for Tunisia - Algeria - Morocco) she quickly found recognition in the Arabic music circles.

The family relocated to Beirut in the late 50s after the police found arms in her father's cabaret destined to the political group fighting for Algeria's independence and was swiftly discovered there by an Egyptian film producer who brought her to Cairo to record and play in his films. From there, her career took a meteoric rise and she became a star working with Egyptian such stars as Abdel Halim Hafez and composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab.

However, in the early 60s a traditional marriage in Algeria stopped her career for a decade to be a housewife until Algerian President Boumediene asked her to perform for the 10th anniversary of the Nation's independence in 1972. This was an epiphany and after a divorce she was back to Egypt for a triumphant comeback.

'Khalik Hena' recorded in public in 1973 dates back to these glory days. Teaming up with her new husband, legendary composer Baligh Hamdi, she recorded a string of classic albums - hypnotic tour-de-forces stretching over two sides in an almost trance-like mode, enhancing Warda's powerful vocal and ability to mesmerise audiences. Blending traditional and modern instrumentations (electric guitar, organ), the music is both complex and groovy, 'Khalik Hena' is one of her best LPs, sought after by Arabic diggers and collectors alike. An undisputed classic of Arabic Music, which Wewantsounds is glad to reissue on vinyl for the first time since the 70s.

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce an ambitious Makoto Kubota reissue program with his three albums recorded with The Sunset Gang between 1973 and 1977. The albums feature Haruomi Hosono (who also co-produced ‘Hawaii Champroo’ and ‘Dixie Fever’) and also include Minako Yoshida, Taeko Ohnuki and Tatsuo Hayachi to name a few. Makoto Kubota has been one of Japan’s true musical innovators and following his involvement with Les Rallizes Dénudés in the early 70s, he developed a unique sound bringing American, Hawaiian and Okinawan music influences to his own Japanese folk music mix. Starting with the reissue of 'Hawaii Champroo' recorded in Honolulu in 1975 and co-produced by Haruomi Hosono, Wewantsounds will then release 'Sunset Gang' from 1973 followed by Dixie Fever from 1977. All albums have been newly remastered by Makoto Kubota and they each come with original artwork, OBI and the original japanese inserts. This is the first time the albums are released outside of Japan.

Recorded in 1975 at the famed Sounds of Hawaii studio in Honolulu, Hawaii Champroo was co-produced by Haruomi Hosono and marks the start of Kubota's keen interest in Hawaiian and Okinawan music (Champroo is derived from Chanpuru, the traditional Okinawan stir-fry dish). A companion album to Hosono's own 'Tropical Dandy' and 'Bon Voyage Co.' albums(on which Kubota plays), the album was at the forefront of a tropical musical movement started in Japan in the mid-70s. The core Sunset Gang consists of Kubota on Guitar, Takashi Onzo on bass, Yosuke Fujita on guitars and mandolin, Keni Inoue on lead guitar and Hiroki Komazawa on pedal steel guitar. They are joined on the album by Hosono on drums and Teriyuki Kokubu on piano. Having travelled to the United States in the early 70s, Makoto Kubota had fallen in love with American music and had brought back many influences from his sojourn on the East and West coast. these are evident from the tracks covered by the band on 'Hawaii Champroo', including Jesse Fuller's 'San Francisco Blues', The Rooftop Singers' 'Walk Right In' (an old Gus Cannon ragtime) or The Texas Playboys' classic 'Steel Guitar Rag.' 'Hawaii Champroo' also features originals such as the funky 'Shanghai Gaeri' and a nod to the Hula Hawaiian dance 'Moonlight Hula'. One of the highlights of the album is the classic 'Haisai Ozisan', the Okinawan 1972 cult classic by Shoukichi Kina which has become a standard in Japan. All in all, 'Hawaii Champroo' is a timeless classic and one of the key Japanese albums from the 70s which Wewantsounds is happy to introduce outside of Japan for the first time.

Wewantsounds is closing its Makoto Kubota reissue series with the release of "Dixie Fever" recorded in Hawaii in 1976 and co-produced by Haruomi Hosono. Like its predecessors, 'Sunset Gang' and 'Hawaii Champroo', 'Dixie Fever' continues to explore American and Island music through a Japanese prism with a skilful mix of blues, swamp funk and America adding an exotic edge to the whole. It is the first time the album is released outside of Japan and the LP features original artwork with OBI and insert plus remastered audio by Makoto Kubota himself.

A year after the release of their highly-acclaimed album 'Hawaii Champroo' in 1975, Makoto Kubota and The Sunset Gang reunited at Sounds of Hawaii studios with co-producer Haruomi Hosono to record a new album, 'Dixie Fever'. They used pretty much the same ingredients that had made the success of Champroo - an effortless mix of Japanese folk and american roots music with some tropical influences. The same mix that Haruomi Hosono was applying to his own albums, especially ''Tropical Dandy which was experimenting with the same ideas - In fact the front cover of both 'Tropical Dandy' and 'Dixie Fever' are illustrated by Yasuo Yagi. ?As per 'Hawaii Champroo' and 'Sunset Gang', 'Dixie Fever' includes a mix of original compositions and covers. On the album, you spot The Lovin' Spoonful's 'Wild About My Lovin' and a funked up version of UK singer songwriter Ralph McTell's song 'When i Was a Cowboy'. They feature the Gang's usual musicians (Keni Inoue on guitar, Yosuke Fujita on slide guitar and Takashi Onzo on bass and keyboards) complemented by a handful of guests including Tin Pan Alley drummer Tatsuo Hayashi, Motoya Hamaguchi on percussion and New Orleans pianist and Dr. John friend, Ronnie Barron. Together they play a superb brew made of blues, soul, Hawaiian music and southern swamp rhythms. One of the highlights of the album is undoubtedly 'Hoshikuzu' (Stardust) which has become a cult classic over the years on the international City Pop scene and whose sunshine mid-tempo vibe is the perfect reflection of the group's musicianship. The track perfectly adds to the album's charm which Wewantsounds is happy to release for the first time internationally.

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the reissue of Ziad Rahbani's cult album, "Bennesbeh Labokra...Chou?" released in Lebanon only and mixing arabic music with Jazz, Bossa Nova and other western influences. Hailed as an absolute classic, the album is the soundtrack to his eponymous play and has been highly sought-after by DJs and collectors around the world. Curated by Lebanese-born music expert Mario Choueiry from Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, the album is reissued on vinyl for the first time since 1978, featuring original gatefold sleeve, remastered audio and a 2 page insert with a new introduction by Choueiry. When Ziad Rahbani released "Bennesbeh Labokra... Chou?" he was only 22 years old. He had started to make an impression on the Lebanese cultural scene a few years before, while still a teenager, composing and releasing albums under his own name. Born into an illustrious musical family - his mother is the legendary Lebanese Diva Fairuz and his father, Assi Rahbani, was a renowned composer and part of one of the most famous Lebanese groups, The Rahbani Brothers - Ziad quickly gained exposure as a gifted composer and producer. When his father fell ill in the mid 70s, he took over as Fairuz's producer which led to a fruitful collaboration starting with the 1979 album "Wahdon." ?Highly influenced by other genres of music, Rahbani had started bringing modern western influences to traditional arabic music. 1978 saw the release of two key albums by the young musician, the Disco 12-inch "Abu Ali" which went on to become one of the most sought-after Arabic albums on the international DJ scene and "Bennesbeh Labokra... Chou?" which follows "Abu Ali" closely in many diggers' want-list. ?A soundtrack to Rahbani's eponymous play, the album "Bennesbeh Labokra… Chou?" gathers all the musical interludes heard during the play, a social diatribe about the Beirut society underlining the difficulties of living in the tense social and political climate of the Lebanese civil war. Written by and starring Rahbani, the play follows the everyday life and problems of a young couple running a cafe in the heart of Beirut. The play underlying Rahbani's leftist sensitivity was an immense success and the album was released the same year (the complete play was also released over three LPs). ?"Bennesbeh Labokra… Chou?" is a skilful blend of Arabic music and Bossa-nova ("First Introduction" - the recurring theme of the album), groove with the funky beat of "Second Introduction" and the jazz vibe of "Variation 3" and "Variation 4." It's also interesting to hear an early version of "Al Bosta" which would grace Fairuz's 1979 album "Wahdon" in a faster, funkier version also produced by Rahbani." ?with a knack for cinematic orchestrations reminiscent of Lalo Schifrin, Ziad Rahbani also brings more complex arrangements to the album on such tracks as "Variation 5" making the album such a rich listening. Undoubtedly one of the most important albums recorded in the Middle East which Wewantsounds is glad to reissue in its full glory with remastered audio and original artwork.

The first official reissue of Dorothy Carter"s folk-music exegesis comes 46 years after its original release, 20 years after Dorothy passed, and 11 years before the centennial of her birth. Yet it seems right on time for a new celebration of her music. Appalachian folk tunes, old and ancient psalms and hymns, Scottish, Irish, French and Israeli melodies, and original tunes flow together effortlessly in hypnotic gardens of eternal world musics. A highly energized, alternately meditative and proselytic recital whose vitality has only burgeoned in the decades since it appeared. As it should be: the music of Dorothy Carter is akin to a portal, linking her and us with the eternal.This edition of Troubadour reproduces the original album package, adding an insert adorned with additional photos of Dorothy and her collection of instruments, as well as notes from Eric Demby exploring the era - his childhood - from a vantage point of some 50 years. This reissue is a long-held family dream come true, and it is dedicated in loving memory to Bob Rutman, Constance Demby, David Demby and Dorothy Carter.

Born in Lower Egypt in 1929, Abdel Halim Hafez became, during a relatively short career that ended with his death in 1977 aged 48, one of the giants of Egyptian Music and his legend has never stopped growing since. Alongside Oum Kalthoum, Warda, Farid el Atrache and Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Hafez revolutionised Egyptian music and became a hugely popular star across the whole Arab world. Blessed with stricking good looks, Abdel Halim Hafez started his career in the early 50s and quickly attracted the attention of one of the Egyptian radio's A&Rs who took him under his wing and invited him to perform on the radio. His career went from strength to strength and from 1953, he was associated with the Egyptian revolution led by Nasser. His music mixing tradition and modernity made him one of the most loved singers of the 1950s as he developed a romantic edge that became his signature style (he was dubbed "the dark-skinned nightingale"). In the mid 50s, hot on the heels of his success in music, he launched his acting career in the thriving Egyptian film industry and also became a hugely popular actor. Hafez worked with the greatest composers of their time including Mohammed Abdel Wahab and Baligh Hamdy who composed ‘Mawood’ ("Promised.") Recorded live in 1971 (as it was the norm at the time. Singer would rarely record studio albums), 'Mawood' is one of the singer's most recognisable standards. The song stretches over the two sides of the album and consists of several sections alternating instrumental parts and sung ones. The song, written by Egyptian poet Mohamed Hamza, sees Hafez talking to his heart, apologizing for driving it from failure to failure and concluding that, to find solace, one must keep love at bay. He's backed by his full orchestra featuring traditional instrumentation and those powerful strings that influenced the likes of Jean-Claude Vannier, together with modern instrumentation including organ and electric guitar by Omar Khorshid adding his unmissable twang to the ensemble. 'Mawood' mixes tradition and modernity and develops into a hypnotic epic full of groove with a superb soulful performance by one of the greatest singers of the 20th century. An undisputed Arabic Music classic which Wewantsounds it delighted to reissue on vinyl for the first time since the 1970s.

Wewantsounds is closing its Makoto Kubota reissue series with the release of "Dixie Fever" recorded in Hawaii in 1976 and co-produced by Haruomi Hosono. Like its predecessors, 'Sunset Gang' and 'Hawaii Champroo', 'Dixie Fever' continues to explore American and Island music through a Japanese prism with a skilful mix of blues, swamp funk and America adding an exotic edge to the whole. It is the first time the album is released outside of Japan and the LP features original artwork with OBI and insert plus remastered audio by Makoto Kubota himself.

A year after the release of their highly-acclaimed album 'Hawaii Champroo' in 1975, Makoto Kubota and The Sunset Gang reunited at Sounds of Hawaii studios with co-producer Haruomi Hosono to record a new album, 'Dixie Fever'. They used pretty much the same ingredients that had made the success of Champroo - an effortless mix of Japanese folk and american roots music with some tropical influences. The same mix that Haruomi Hosono was applying to his own albums, especially ''Tropical Dandy which was experimenting with the same ideas - In fact the front cover of both 'Tropical Dandy' and 'Dixie Fever' are illustrated by Yasuo Yagi. ?As per 'Hawaii Champroo' and 'Sunset Gang', 'Dixie Fever' includes a mix of original compositions and covers. On the album, you spot The Lovin' Spoonful's 'Wild About My Lovin' and a funked up version of UK singer songwriter Ralph McTell's song 'When i Was a Cowboy'. They feature the Gang's usual musicians (Keni Inoue on guitar, Yosuke Fujita on slide guitar and Takashi Onzo on bass and keyboards) complemented by a handful of guests including Tin Pan Alley drummer Tatsuo Hayashi, Motoya Hamaguchi on percussion and New Orleans pianist and Dr. John friend, Ronnie Barron. Together they play a superb brew made of blues, soul, Hawaiian music and southern swamp rhythms. One of the highlights of the album is undoubtedly 'Hoshikuzu' (Stardust) which has become a cult classic over the years on the international City Pop scene and whose sunshine mid-tempo vibe is the perfect reflection of the group's musicianship. The track perfectly adds to the album's charm which Wewantsounds is happy to release for the first time internationally.

digitally remastered and for the first in 15 years on vinyl ... incl. free album download!

First released in 1989, these songs represent but a small sampling of the fruits of a flowering in Brazilian creativity. The innovations in structure, lyrics and arrangements, combined with a very restrained but heartfelt intensity, are unique to Brazilian pop music... and in their own way, are as radical, seductive and beautiful as the best english language pop

Closing Time foreshadows the distinctly lyrical storytelling and original blending of jazz, blues, and folk styles that would come to be associated with Waits. It is on this debut album that Waits performs enduring classics of his career “Ol’ 55” (famously covered by the Eagles), the heartbreaking “Martha” and the gentle acoustic folk of “I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You”. Reissued for the first time as a double LP to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the landmark debut with newly half speed mastering at Abbey Road Studios.

Such an elusive British artist, Christine Harwood was sailing the sea of lone folk singers with a sole album of rare beauty. Released in 1970 on small british label Birth, Nice To Meet Miss Christine is still an exercise in pure beauty, a dramatic/magic affair that materialized into thin air and suddenly was gone. Featuring a who’s who of the british prog and psych-folk scene – the late King Crimson alumni Ian McDonald on sax and flute, drummer extraordinaire Pete York, Nucleus and Jody Grind bass player Roger Sutton, Strawbs guitar player Dave Lambert – the album is more than a miraculous rendition of the (acid) folk revival venturing on more audacious territories, as shown in the rare groove of standout track Wooden Ships. Blue eyed soul and yacht rock fanatics take note !