We're open all weekend and through the holiday – and can promise plenty of new arrivals!
Orrin Evans
Evolution Of OneselfSmoke Sessions, 2015.
CD...$12.99
17.99
The title here is very apt – as Orrin Evans is a pianist who seems to be in a constant state of evolution these days – from his wonderful work on larger projects, to his completely sublime sounds in a trio like this! Evans' notes seem even more fluid and cascading than ever – set ... CD
Lalo Schifrin, Don Ellis, Jerry Fielding, & Others
Mission Impossible – The Television Scores (6CD set)La La Land, Late 60s/Early 70s. 6CD
An amazing package of music – not just the original two albums of Lalo Schifrin music that were issued from the Mission Impossible TV show – but a massive 6CD collection that brings together work from all seven seasons of the program – a huge amount of material that's never been ... CD
Digitmovies (Italy), 1968. 2CD
A hugely expanded version of this excellent film score from Gianni Ferrio – one that adds in a full bonus disc of material that wasn't on the original album! Ferrio's perfectly balanced here between all of his best modes – a bit of grooviness, a bit of tension, and these shifting, ... CD
Ed Piskor
Hip Hop Family Tree Book 3 – 1983-1984Fantagraphics, 2015.
Book...$19.99
27.99
A mighty nice third volume of this excellent series – one that's getting better and better with each new book, and a lot more focused too! This time around, Ed Piskor hones in on the key hip hop years of 1983 and 1984 – a time when New York acts were breaking big nationally, local ... Book
Aldo Piga
Mark Donen Agente Zeta 7Beat (Italy), 1966.
Aldo Piga is one of the lesser-known composers of the 60s Italian film score scene – but also an artist who does a wonderful job on this very groovy spy soundtrack – with a lot more flair and variety than you might expect! Sure, there's plenty of great jazzy numbers – with those ... CD
Cavril Payne
Cavril SingsRuval/Production Dessinee (Japan), 1971.
A rare gem from Cavril Payne – the sister of saxophonist Cecil Payne, and a wonderful singer who works in an equal blend of jazz and soul! The mode's a bit like Nancy Wilson, but Cavril's a lot more loose and free – and the tunes are often a lot more upbeat, too – with this ... CD
Natural Information Society & Bitchin Bajas
AutoimaginaryDrag City, 2015.
A totally great, totally spacey set from the contemporary Chicago scene – played by a group that includes Joshua Abrams on bass and other instruments – and with this spiritual current that's a lot like some of Abrams' other recent music! Yet the set is clearly a collaborative effort, ... LP, Vinyl record album
Kent (UK), 1970s/Early 80s.
One of the most supremely soulful compilations we've heard in years – and easily the deepest in this series to date! From the start, Kent's Masterpieces Of Modern Soul collections have been all about bringing rare gems to fresh ears, and they've really outdone themselves here. A solid ... CD
Various
Dramatic Funk Themes Vol 4 – Unreleased Rare Grooves – Action, Tension & Drama Rhythms 1972 to 1982Show Up (Germany), 1970s/Early 80s.
A great installment in one of our favorite sound library series ever – one of the few we can really trust for consistently funky, consistently soulful work every single time – with a top-shelf level of grooves like this! These guys really dig hard to get past the obvious – and ... CD
Wilson Pickett
Mr Magic Man – The Complete RCA Studio Recordings (Mr Magic Man/RCA/Real Gone, Early 70s. 2CD
CD...$21.99
22.98
A treasure trove of deep soul material from the mighty Wilson Pickett – four full albums recorded for RCA Records in the 70s, plus a number of singles too! Pickett's probably best known for his early work at Atlantic, but the singer really continued to grow on these records – working ... CD
Souljazz Orchestra
ResistanceStrut (UK), 2015.
CD...$13.99
14.99
Hard to resist the groove of a group this great – one of the longer-running Afro Funk combos around, and one of the best too! The group definitely have a touch of the soulful jazz promised by their name – thanks to strong solos on alto, tenor, and baritone – which often break out ... CD
Isaac Hayes Movement
Disco ConnectionABC/Stax (UK), 1975.
Don't hold the "disco" in the title against Isaac – because the album's still a really nice one, and by no means a cheap sell-out affair! The set was recorded in Memphis, with backings by the classic Movement combo – and although the tunes do have a "sweetened" ... CD
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
Stompin' At The Savoy – LiveWarner/Big Break (UK), 1983.
One of the last albums that Rufus and Chaka Khan ever recorded together – and one of the best, as well! The set's a surprisingly great blend of live material and studio cuts – concert material taking up three sides of the 2LP set, and studio tracks on the last side – working ... CD
Francesco De Masi
La Morte Viene Da ManilaBeat (Italy), 1965.
A sweet little score for this 60s film set in the Philippines at the end of WWII – penned by Francesco DeMasi with a nice blend of dramatic elements and exotic touches! The initial sound is a bit like some of Francesco's western scores – but as the soundtrack progresses, lots of cool ... CD
Roulette/Warner (Japan), 1962.
Hardly the hits promised in the title – and instead a whole host of wonderful tunes from the Count Basie band – including a fair number of original compositions by Frank Wess, Frank Foster, Thad Jones, and other members of the group! The sound here is that perfect Basie sound on ... CD
Stones Throw, 2015. 3LP
LP...$33.99
34.98
Dam Funk does it again – really blowing us away with his crispy fresh version of funk – one that's a perfect fusion of old school modes from the 70s and 80s, and some of the more cosmic touches of the current century! The approach uses lots of splash on the keyboards and beats – ... LP, Vinyl record album
LJ Reynolds
Get To ThisMotor City Hits, 2015.
CD...$11.99
12.99
Great great great work from LJ Reynolds – a singer we've loved since his 70s work in the Dramatics, and one who's never let us down! Round these parts, Reynolds has had an extra special role as a solo artist whose later recordings have always been big on the steppers scene – and this ... CD
Pippo Caruso
Uccidente Johnny RingoDigitmovies (Italy), 1966.
A nicely different western score from Pippo Caruso – one that hits the genre at a moodier, mellower level – but still with all the flair you'd expect from a classic Italian film score from the 60s! Caruso sometimes uses strings or harmonica gently, to hint at a more sentimental ... CD
P Funk All Stars
Live At The Beverly Theater, In HollywoodWestbound (UK), 1983. 2CD
A nice live snapshot of a later P Funk incarnation, circa 1983 – with players like Dennis Chambers and Michael Hampton aboard the mothership with Clinton's family of funk all stars! The rest of the crew includes includes stalwarts Bernie Worrell, Eddie Hazel, Blackbird McKnight, Maceo Parker ... CD
Alain Lenoard & Alex Wank
Omaggio A Riz Ortolani (180 gram splatter vinyl)Cineploit (Austria), 2015.
A very cool tribute to the music of the great Riz Ortolani – not the full orchestral sounds that first got Riz noticed back in the 60s, but his later music for creepier, schlockier films of the late 70s and beyond – with a very cool range of crime and horror modes throughout! The music ... LP, Vinyl record album
Max Richter
From SleepDeutsche Grammophon (Germany), 2015.
Beautiful sounds from Max Richter – a record that does plenty to evoke the quality of its title, but all without ever sounding sleepy at all! Instead, Richter works here with that careful blend of subtle sounds he's brought to other projects – mixing his own work on piano, organ, and ... CD
Baby Huey
Baby Huey Story – The Living LegendCurtom, Early 70s. Gatefold (reissue)
Fantastic! The lost link in the Chicago soul scene of the 60s was Baby Huey – and he was a pretty darn big link too, if you've ever seen him in pictures! Weighing in at about 300 pounds, Baby Huey was sort of a rockin' soul star who played clubs on both sides of the city, to audiences of ... LP, Vinyl record album
Fania All-Stars
Spanish FeverColumbia, 1978. (reissue)
LP...$32.99
39.98
A fresh new groove from The Fania All Stars – one that definitely has them picking up some of the Spanish elements mentioned in the title – the fusing them into the tight mix of Latin, club, and jazz they were doing at Columbia Records in the late 70s! These new elements are often ... LP, Vinyl record album
Sospetto
Quattro Specchi OpachiCineploit (Austria), 2015.
Totally great work from Sospetto – the group's third album, and their best so far! The approach here follows in Sospetto's previous mode of remaking older soundtrack styles – but the album's even more elaborate and involved, given that the group create four different mini film scores ... CD
Human Body
Cosmic Round UpElektra (Japan), 1985.
There's a Roger Troutman groove all over this album from Human Body – no surprise, since Roger plays guitar, keyboards, and bass – and even produced the album himself! The style's kind of a left-of-center take on the Zapp groove of the time – a bit rougher and more street-consciou ... CD
Method Man
Meth LabTommy Boy, 2015. 2LP Gatefold
LP...$26.99
29.98
Method Man's first proper album of his own in quite a few years – and it's a strong one! Meth continues to be an active creative force on numerous fronts, be it Wu Tang affiliated records and tours, acting gigs, etc. – so it's not like we've been missing his presence, but a solid proper ... LP, Vinyl record album
Jackson C Frank
Complete Recordings Vol 1 to 3 (3CD set)Ba Da Bing, Late 50s/1960s/Early 70s/Mid 90s. 3CD
Stunning work from Jackson C Frank – an artist who's mostly known for his one crucial 60s album on Columbia Records – but who gets a huge amount of exposure here in a full series devoted to his recordings! That legendary self-titled album was issued in 1965 – and has that ... CD
Quarter Street
Quarter StreetHope Street (Australia), 2015.
CD...$12.99
13.98
Fiercely percussive, heavily soulful Latin sounds from Quarter Street – cut from the cloth of the classic, hard hitting 70s NYC salsa of Fania and Tico – and convincingly carrying that vibe in the contemporary Melbourne scene! It takes a depth of talent to retrace the past and sound ... CD
Statale 66
StracultBeat (Italy), 2015.
A very cool contemporary group – and one who do a perfect job of recreating the Italian film score magic of the 60s! Unlike some of the other recent wave of retro soundtrack lovers, these guys don't go for the darker side of older film work – but the more mod, groovy sounds that ... CD
Foreign Exchange
Tales From The Land Of Milk & HoneyHBD, 2015.
The deepest work yet from Foreign Exchange – and as hard as it is for us to believe, a record that unofficially kicks off the second decade of the one-time transatlantic partnership of Nicolay and Phonte – which has evolved into a bonafide indie soul supergroup with Zo!, Tamisha Waden ... CD
Robbie Basho
Twilight Peaks (with bonus download)Smeraldina Rima (Belgium), 1984.
Incredible work from guitarist Robbie Basho – a player who finally seems to be getting the same sort of due as his sometime-labelmate John Fahey! Basho's style is quite different, but equally sublime – this effortless cascading of notes on the acoustic guitar – played at a level ... LP, Vinyl record album
Light/E One, 1975/1978/1984. 3CD
CD...$12.99
13.98
A trio of classic albums from gospel legend Walter Hawkins – packaged as mini-LP sleeves in one nicely-priced set! Love Alive was one of the biggest gospel albums of the 70s – a record that has Hawkins working with the Love Center Choir, in this righteous mode that helped to re-infuse ... CD
Scientist
Scientist Wins The World CupGreensleeves/Dub Mir, 1982. (reissue)
A stone classic from Scientist – part of his magical run of records in the early 80s – each with a cool cartoony cover, and unparalleled selection of dubs! The work on this set is so heady, there's not even titles for most tracks – billed simply as "Ten Dangerous ... LP, Vinyl record album
Romero Lubambo
Setembro – A Brazilian Under The Jazz InfluenceSunnyside, 2015.
CD...$15.99
16.98
There's definitely a lot of jazz influence going on here – as the way Romero handles his guitar brings out some of the careful, chromatic phrasing you might hear from a jazz guitarist of the 50s or 60s – but in a format that's still filled with lots of Brazilian elements too! The ... CD
Armando Trovajoli
Il Commisario PepeRCA/Production Dessinee (Japan), 1969. Gatefold (reissue)
A tremendous Italian soundtrack from the 60s – one of those "must own" records that grabs us at the very first note! We're already pretty partial to the sweet grooves of Armando Trovajoli, but he's really outdone himself here – pulling together the sweet keyboard lines of Il ... LP, Vinyl record album
Perigeo
Genealogia (with bonus CD)RCA/Schema (Italy), 1974. Gatefold (reissue)
A heavy-hitting, full-on prog fusion record from this Italian group – and probably their tightest effort of the early years! The band is in great form throughout, with a talent for time and chord changes that displays many years spent woodshedding solos from their biggest influences. ... LP, Vinyl record album
Piero Umiliani
La Ragazza Fuori Strada (with bonus CD)Schema (Italy), 1975. LP & CD
One of the coolest Italian soundtracks we've heard in a long time – a wonderful set of tunes that moves from slinky, to easy, to groovy, and beyond! The tunes start out bubbling very spare and slow – with floating piano, moog, and other nice bits – and as the record progresses, ... LP, Vinyl record album
Violinaires
Groovin With JesusChecker/Safety Zone, Early 70s.
CD...$13.99
18.99
Damn funky gospel from The Violinaires – easily one of the hippest spiritual albums you could ever hope to find on Chess! The groove here is gritty Chicago funk, put together by Gene Barge with lots of heavy bass on the bottom – in a blend that's somewhere between the Cadet/Concept ... CD
Johnny Otis
Johnny Otis ShowCapitol (Japan), 1958.
One of the coolest earliest albums from the great Johnny Otis – a late 50s set that was issued on Capitol's grittier Dig subsidiary – and which features the full range of the Otis revue, captured surprisingly well! Yes, work for other labels at the time often featured Johnny with some ... CD
Dell Vikings
Come Go With MeDot/Universal (Japan), Late 50s.
A 60s album from the Dell Vikings – but a set that seems to include all the great early work that the group recorded for Dot Records in the 50s – that is, the second version of the group, which included Chuck Jackson for a time! The style here is still plenty raw – with a ... CD
Ovular (Germany), Late 60s/Early 70s.
Great grooves from a host of Pakistaki soundtracks from the late 60s and early 70s – the kind of hard-stomping, party-romping tracks you might know from Bollywood scores of the same time! The drums are nice and heavy on most numbers, and although vocals come into the mix, there's also a fair ... LP, Vinyl record album
Joe Magnarelli
Three On TwoPosi tone, 2015.
CD...$11.99
15.98
A killer from trumpeter Joe Magnarelli – an artist we've already begun to appreciate a lot for his recent work on the Posi-tone label – but a player who really wins us over with this sweet little set! The record sparkles right from the start with contributions from key labelmates ... CD
Liquid Liquid
Optimo/99 Records/Superior Viaduct, 1983. (pic cover, reissue)
Seminal work from Liquid Liquid – one of the coolest, funkiest groups on the New York scene at the start of the 80s! The approach here is a blistering blend of different percussion modes – from batucada jamming to funky drums – all tied together with these basslines that really ... 12-inch, Vinyl record
Idrissa Soumaoro
AmpsaMississippi, 1978. (reissue)
A beautiful album from Idrissa Soumaoro and L'Eclipse – one recorded during a time of great political unrest in Mali, and a set that was never commercially issued – but just originally given away by the Malian Association for the Blind! The album's got all the power of earlier albums ... LP, Vinyl record album
RCA/Schema (Italy), 1973. Gatefold (reissue)
Wonderful work from this hip 70s Italian ensemble – partly jazz fusion, partly prog – with a freewheeling groove that's all its own! The material here isn't as funky as on later Perigeo albums – and often has this slow-building sound texture that's really nice – as if all ... LP, Vinyl record album
Piero Umiliani
Il Corpo – Original Soundtrack (with bonus CD)Schema (Italy), 1974. LP & CD
Sweetly funky and very slinky – this is one of the best early 70s scores by the great Italian composer Piero Umiliani! The record has lots of bubbling electric piano, rumbling electric basslines, warm acoustic percussion, and moody wordless vocals. At some level, the album sounds a lot like ... LP, Vinyl record album
Tom Harrell
Number Five (180 gram pressing)High Note, 2012.
LP...$16.99
18.98
A bold quintet set from trumpeter Tom Harrell – one that's a bit more back to basics than some of his other recent outings – with an especially strong focus on horn solos spiraling out over the rhythms! Harrell's got a nice bit in his trumpet, and plays some moodier flugelhorn too ... LP, Vinyl record album
Kool & The Gang
In The Heart (with bonus tracks)De-Lite/Big Break (UK), 1983.
A sweet set that's part of a big early 80s run from Kool & The Gang – a time that saw the funk legends really hitting the mainstream, and winning over a huge new audience in the process! Given that the Gang virtually invented ensemble funk at the start of the 70s, they're perfectly ... CD
Nina Simone
High Priestess Of SoulPhilips/Verve, 1966. (reissue)
LP...$22.99
24.99
Classic work from Nina Simone – and an album that definitely lives up to its title! Nina Simone certainly emerged as the high priestess of soul during her monumental stretch for Philips Records in the 60s – as she moved way past jazz, way past some of the folk she'd begun tapping into, ... LP, Vinyl record album
Jimmie Haskell
Count DownImperial/Sonitron (Spain), Late 50s. (reissue)
Space age rock and roll! The great Jimmy Haskell is one of the hippest arrangers of the 50s and 60s – and he penned more than a few great charts in his day for rock and roll oriented films and TV shows. This rare album has him writing some cool spaced-out instrumentals that basically take a ... LP, Vinyl record album
Nino Nardini
Jungle ObsessionNeuilly/Fifth Dimension (Germany), 1971.
Mad mad work from the great Nino Nardini – one of the greatest keyboard players to ever grace the sound library scene! This album was never officially issued, but is an incredibly strong bit of "commercial music", created initially for use by radio and TV stations, but just as good ... CD
Ashford & Simpson
Is It Still Good To Ya (with bonus tracks)Warner/Big Break (UK), 1978.
Ashford & Simpson don't need to ask at this point – their in full 70s soul stride here, and it's not good, it's great! By this point in the late 70s, Nick and Valerie are firmly holding the foreground as artists in their own right after many years of acting as songwriters for other soul ... CD
Now Again, 1970.
A stunner of a record – the first-ever album by The JBs, never issued back in the day – and lost for years until it recently resurfaced on a test pressing! The set features a leaner, more stripped-down version of the group – one that features Bootsy Collins on bass, and which ... LP, Vinyl record album
Various
Rough Guide To Psychedelic SambaRough Guide, Mid 60s/1970s/1980s/1990s/2000s/Mid 2010s.
CD...$13.99
14.98
A heady batch of psychedelic samba from the 60s onward – and some wonderful modern takes on the style, too! Compiler John Armstrong took special care here to include a number of fairly recent numbers that very strongly represent the diverse Brazilian tropical psychedelia of the 60s & 70s ... CD
Scientists
Blood Red River (with download)Numero, 1983. (reissue)
LP...$14.99
19.98
Swaggering Aussie underground rock from The Scientists – a real blast from the early 80s that's as vital as ever! The group evolved a bit here from their rawer, more classifiably punkish self-titled record. This one manages to presage some of the great indie rock of the 90s and beyond, with ... LP, Vinyl record album
LHI/Light In The Attic, Late 60s.
One of the coolest groups to ever recorded for Lee Hazlewood Industries – a Texas-bred quintet with a sound that's every bit as groovy as their name – kind of a sideways-skewed take on 60s modes of the time! At first listen, these guys have lots of Sunshine Pop elements in the mix ... CD
Joao Donato
Blue Bossa – The Collection Of StandardsKing (Japan), 2015. 2 CDs
A wonderful double-length set from this bossa piano legend – and a set that doesn't just feature the familiar standards promised in the title, but includes a number of bossa classics too! Joao's piano is right out front in the mix – working in a jazzy quartet that also includes really ... CD
Howard Hewett
Forever & Ever (with bonus tracks)Elektra (Japan), 1988.
Howard Hewett's got a smooth look on the cover, but the album's got a nice degree of crackle all the way through – that snappy, soulful style that Hewett did so well back in the day – working here as almost a one-man powerhouse on production and arrangements too! The tunes are catchy, ... CD
Jorge Ben
Ben (LP sleeve edition)Philips/Dusty Groove, 1972.
CD...$11.99
18.98
A stunner of a record from the mighty Jorge Ben – and a record that catapulted the Brazilian singer to international fame at the time! Ben had already been making magic for almost a decade down in Brazil – and his compositions and grooves left an undeniable impact on the scene in the ... CD
Cleftones
Heart & SoulGee/Warner (Japan), 1961.
A group with a great approach – one that balances their one female singer along with four other male members – in a style that makes some of their music very unique! There were a few other groups that had this mode at the time – early Miracles, The Sensations, and a few others ... CD
Procol Harum
Salty Dog (2CD edition – with bonus tracks)Deram/Esoteric (UK), 1969. 2 CDs
Maybe our favorite album from Procol Harum – a set that adds in some wonderful use of strings to the group's unique style – almost moving forward on the promise of the earlier single "Whiter Shade Of Pale", moving into much deeper territory overall! There's something about ... CD
Ohio Players
Mr Mean/Mercury/BGO (UK), 1976/1977.
Two 70s gems from the Ohio Players – back to back in a single set! Mr Mean is a lesser-known 70s album by The Ohio Players – tunes recorded for the soundtrack of the late blacksploitation film Mr Mean, but also very much in the tight funk format of the group's Mercury work! Tracks are ... CD
Hank Ballard & The Midnighters
Midnighters – Their Greatest Hits (180 gram pressing)King/Sundazed, Early 50s. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
21.98
One of the hardest-hitting early albums on King Records – a full set of tracks from Hank Ballard & The Midnighters – a group who could easily blow away most of their vocal group contemporaries in the 50s! Hank's lead vocals always have this nasty, sexy sort of vibe – a style ... LP, Vinyl record album
Ataraxia (Mort Garson)
Unexplained – Electronic Musical Impressions of the OccultRCA/Fifth Dimension (Germany), 1975. (reissue)
One of the spookiest albums we've ever heard from moog maestro Mort Garson – way darker and more complex than his Wozzard Of Id or moogy horoscope projects – with a feel that's much more like his legendary Black Mass album! Like that one, there's a fair current of supernatural running ... LP, Vinyl record album
5 Royales
Five Royales (180 gram pressing)King/Sundazed, 1959. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
21.98
A stone killer from the legendary 5 Royales – one of the greatest groups to ever record for King Records in the 50s, and a key force in helping move things forward from doo wop to soul! The balance between Lowman Pauling's lead and the harmonies is amazing – a big inspiration on the ... LP, Vinyl record album
Mercury/BGO (UK), 1979/1980. 2CD
Massive music in a wonderful package – three funky classics from The Gap Band! First up is the group's self-titled album from 1979 – the start of the legendary second chapter for the Gap Band – the point when the group had reemerged as the tight funky trio of the Wilson Brothers, ... CD
Roger Damawuzan & Les As Du Benin
Wait For MeHot Casa (France), Late 70s. 2LP Gatefold
Roger Damawuzan looks a bit like an American soul singer on the cover of this excellent collection – and his music often comes across in the same way, with a nice undercurrent of funk in the rhythms, and very powerful vocals from the leader! The set's the first we've ever seen to focus on ... LP, Vinyl record album
Speedometer with James Junior
No Turning BackFreestyle (UK), 2015.
Speedometer unleash a great new talent for this excellent album – singer James Junior, who helps the group hit even greater funky heights than before! James isn't just one of those fake retro-styled vocalists who are thrown into the mix as an extra element – but a well-schooled, UK ... CD
CBS/BGO (UK), Late 60s. 2 CDs
Some of our favorite work ever from the mighty Georgie Fame – key tracks from his years on CBS – when he was really moving past straight jazz, into a whole great style of his own! First up is the full album Georgie Does His Thing With Strings – a set that has Georgie Fame singing ... CD
John Hulburt
Opus IIIClarence/Tompkins Square, 1972.
CD...$13.99
14.98
A beautiful solo set from John Hulburt – a little-known Chicago guitarist in the early 70s, and almost our city's answer to the beauty of John Fahey at his best! Hulburt's music is a bit more straightforward, and his tunes a little shorter – but the overall sense of conception is ... CD
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Freedom – Atlanta Pop Festival (200 gram pressing)Legacy, Late 60s. 2LP Gatefold
LP...$31.99
36.98
A legendary performance from Jimi Hendrix – recorded at the second Atlanta Pop Festival just ten short weeks before Jimi's death, and a searing set throughout! The concert was the biggest that Hendrix ever played in the US – about 200,000 people in attendance – but the recording ... LP, Vinyl record album
Eric Alexander
Real ThingHigh Note, 2015.
CD...$14.99
16.98
A real high point for tenorist Eric Alexander – whose recordings for High Note to date have all been very impressive – and they just keep getting better and better! He's working here with frequent collaborators Harold Mabern on piano, John Webber on bass, and Joe Farnsworth on drums ... CD
Various
Birth Of Funk – Low Down & DirtyHistory Of Soul (UK), Late 50s/Early 60s.
LP...$28.99
36.99
A set that definitely lives up to its title – and brings together tracks from the earliest years of funk – and the earliest years of soul as well! These tunes are funky – but not in a late 60s James Brown mode, or in the smoother, tighter styles of the 70s – and instead, ... LP, Vinyl record album
William Parker
For Those Who Are – Still (3CD set)Aum Fidelity, 2015. 3CD
CD...$29.99
32.98
A beautiful box of work from bassist William Parker – and a set that actually features three very different projects, all brought together in a single set! First up is a CD that features a long piece commissioned by The Kitchen – "For Fannie Lou Hamer" – with music by ... CD
Universal (UK), 1960s. 7 x 7 inch
A very special, very limited set – one that includes seven Chess Records 45s – all pressed up here as special versions for the package, so that every track's a winner! All these cuts are Northern Soul classics – most of them quite rare and hard to find in the original, which ... 7-inch, Vinyl record
Temptations
Touch MeGordy (Japan), 1985.
Mid 80s magic from the Temptations – a record that shouldn't be as great as it is, given the lame title and cover image – but which still has the group working at a top level! There's a lot of strong generational interplay here between the talents of Otis Williams and Ali-Ollie Woodson ... CD
Fats Domino
Fats Domino SwingsImperial/Universal (Japan), 1958.
Fats Domino Swings – a total of 12 million records, according to the cover! We're not sure if that claim's accurate or not, but we can say that the album's got a million dollar sound, and is a perfect demonstration of the genius that made Domino unlike anyone else back in the day – a ... CD
Jemini The Gifted One
Scars & Pain EP (with bonus tracks)Mercury/Octave (Japan), 1995.
A nice little mid 90s EP by Jemini The Gifted One – which was never originally released as far as we know, except briefly in a rare promo pressing – fleshed out here with bonus tracks! It's strong work, so we're not sure why it was bureid back in the day, but seeing as it's aged so ... CD
Bernie Worrell
Funk Of AgesGramavision/Warner (Japan), 1990.
Maybe not the funk of ages, but a mighty nice solo set from Bernie Worrell – done at a key stretch when he was working away from George Clinton and the P-Funk universe! The set's got Bernie opening up in a blend of jazz and funk – and some tracks feature lead vocals, in a style that ... CD
Dick Hyman
Moon GasMGM/Captain High (Germany), Mid 60s. (reissue)
One of the greatest albums that Dick Hyman ever recorded – a mad mix of keyboards that more than lives up to its name and its wonderful cover! The album has Dick playing instruments that include electronic organs, keyboards, and ondioline – working in a "moon" oriented style ... LP, Vinyl record album
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Away We A Go GoTamla (Japan), 1966.
A key set in the second chapter of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – that time when the group moved from the mellow ballads that were their first early strength, into some dancefloor stormers that easily made them one of the most favored Motown acts of the time! Smokey definitely takes ... CD
Guido & Maurizio DeAngelis
Torso (I Corpi Presentano Tracce Di Violenza Carnale)Dagored (Italy), 1973. 2LP Gatefold
A surprisingly sweet little soundtrack at times – with tunes that are nicer than you might expect from the title or the image on the cover! Some of the material here is definitely in keeping with the horror setting of the movie, but other tracks have a slinky, almost jazzy feel – bits ... LP, Vinyl record album
Darius Jones
Le Bebe De Brigitte (Lost In Translation)Aum Fidelity, 2015.
CD...$13.99
14.98
A very unusual album from reedman Darius Jones – a special project dedicated to the legendary French vocalist Brigitte Fontaine, with vocals that definitely recall the singer at some of her most adventurous moments! Fontaine's no stranger to the racks at Dusty Groove – as we've loved ... CD
Black Solidarity (UK), Early 80s.
Robert Ffrench may not be the biggest name in Jamaican music, but he really stands out here on a host of rare cuts for the Black Solidarity label – all done in a mix of late roots and early dancehall styles! Ffrench has this very laidback, soulful sound that's really wonderful – a ... LP, Vinyl record album
Herbie Mann
Herbie Mann & Fire IslandAtlantic (Japan), 1977.
A sweet little disco set from Herbie Mann – recorded in collaboration with the Fire Island soul vocal trio! The group's got a sound that's kind of compelling – not as sweet or smooth as some of the other disco trios of the time, and with an approach that almost has the voices moving in ... CD
Zapp
VibeWarner (Japan), 1989.
A set that's late in the classic Zapp run from the 80s, but a record that's still very much head and shoulders above the competition – including the many acts who were trying to cop Roger Troutman's groove, but never got things this right! There's still plenty of bass at the bottom, re-fitted ... CD
Cadillacs
Fabulous CadillacsJubilee/Warner (Japan), 1957.
Totally wonderful work from one of our favorite doo wop groups of all time – easily one of the most dynamic outfits on the east coast at the time – able to spin off complicated harmonies with effortless ease! These guys are best known for their upbeat, catchy tunes – especially ... CD
Drifters
Rockin' & Driftin'Atlantic (Japan), 1958.
One of the first full albums by the legendary Drifters – all early material cut for Atlantic Records in the immediate years after Clyde McPhatter left the group, and the quintet opened up into a wonderful second chapter of their career! Some tunes still have that raspy lead vocal standout ... CD
Violinaires
You Can All Join InChecker/Safety Zone, Early 70s.
CD...$13.99
18.99
A damn funky album from the Violinaires – a set that's every bit as sharp, hard, and gritty as the best deep soul from the time – with some surprisingly monstrous backings too! The vocals are wonderful –with breakout leads that have plenty of raw soul, but some great harmonies ... CD
Wondaland (Janelle Monae)
Wondaland Presents The Eephus EPEpic, 2015.
CD...$4.99
5.98
A pretty great project from the Janelle Monae side of the universe – a set that features Janelle on vocals on one track, and also helming the set as executive producer – along with key creative talents Rocket Wonder and Chuck Lightning! The album's got a very unified feel, but is a ... CD
King/Sundazed, 1960. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
21.98
A monster from the great John Lee Hooker – an artist who isn't usually associated with King Records, but who issued this mighty collection of sides for the label at the start of the 60s! Most of the work dates from a few years before – gritty tracks that have Hooker at his best postwar ... LP, Vinyl record album
Ola Belle Reed & Others
Ola Belle Reed & Southern Mountain Music On The Mason Dixon Line (hardcover book & 2CDs)Dust To Digital, 2015. 2CD & Hardcover Book
A massive folkloric project – one that really shows how much the fom has evolved since the early days of recording! This huge book-length collection looks at the rich legacy of Appalachian music as it moved north towards the Mason-Dixon line – from roots in Virginia and Tennessee, to ... CD
Amii Stewart
Amii StewartRCA/FTG, 1983.
CD...$12.99
13.98
A surprisingly obscure album from 70s disco diva Amii Stewart – a set that was recorded for RCA in the early 80s, but never issued in the US at the time! Stewart works here in a mode that's a nice change from her previous clubby music – with more focus on midtempo tunes that offer up a ... CD
Ral Donner
Takin Care Of BusinessGone/Warner (Japan), 1961.
Ral Donner definitely takes care of business on this sublime early album for the Gone label – singing in a style that's much more deep-voiced and expressive than you might guess from his look on the cover! Ral's going farther than teen pop here, and almost brings out some sneering moods from ... CD
Tom Scott
Desire/Columbia/BGO (UK), 1982/1983.
Sweet sax from the great Tom Scott – two early 80s Columbia albums in a single package! Desire is proof that Scott could still make an electric jazz album sound more soulful than most of his mainstream contemporaries! There's a really great sense of balance here – production that's ... CD
Harmless (UK), 1980s. 3 CDs
An excellent overview of the legendary Sleeping Bag label – one of our favorite soul indies from the 80s – and a company we could always trust for groundbreaking hip hop and super-fresh soul! More than most labels at the stime, Sleeping Bag really had their ears to the ground on the ... CD
Tin House
Tin House (with bonus 7" single)Epic/Lion, 1971. (reissue)
A hard rock trio with a hell of a sound – heard here on their one and only album from the 70s – a surprising major label debut on Epic Records, with top-shelf production from Rick Derringer! The album's got a searing burn right from the start – quite a heady brew for this young ... LP, Vinyl record album
Isley Brothers
Complete RCA & T-Neck Masters 1959 to 1983 (23CD set)Sony, Late 50s/1960s/1970s/Early 80s. 23 CDs
CD...$152.99
179.98
Get ready to throw away your entire Isley Brothers collection and start from scratch – because this beautiful box brings together most of their classic albums, each as separate CDs – plus loads of bonus tracks, rare studio material, and more! All the classics are here, but some of the ... CD
Ann Sexton
BeginningSound Stage 7, Early 70s. (reissue)
One of the greatest female soul records over! The album's a gem all the way through – our favorite (and the rarest) cut by southern soul diva Ann Sexton, produced with a smooth style that's a lot different than some of her other work. It's got great arrangements by Clayton Ivey, who gives ... LP, Vinyl record album
Universal (UK), Late 60s. 7 x 7 inch
A stunning selection of Northern Soul tracks from Capitol Records – a label that's mostly known for bigger hits by The Beatles and Beach Boys in the 60s, but a surprisingly strong powerhouse of soul as well! The package brings together specially-pressed 45s in a very limited box – and ... 7-inch, Vinyl record
Omnivore, Early 70s. 3 LPs
LP...$28.99
31.98
All 3 volumes in Omnivore's excellent Music City Sessions compilation series – all featuring rare Bay Area funk and soul from the 1970s – in a 3LP bundle! Full of rare gems recorded at Music City in Oakland, with a vibe that matches some of the more famous funk of the time – and ... LP, Vinyl record album
Heavenly Sweetness (Netherlands), 1960s/1970s/1980s. Gatefold
A deep selection of grooves that are warm and breezy, but also nicely tripped out at times – way more than a simple compilation of sunny sounds – and instead a globe-spanning set of diverse gems! Volume 3 includes sun toasted sounds from tropical climates, plus similar-minded numbers ... CD
Time Lag Records/Out-Sider (Spain), 1968. (reissue)
Raw sounds from the US underground, circa 1968 – by a group who clearly grew in the garage, but sprung forth with a whole range of new ideas too! Sometimes the Bachs can have this bite that's almost pre-punk, but other moments have this warmly harmonic feel that's quite a surprise – ... LP, Vinyl record album
Lum Guffin
Lum Guffin – The Walking VictrolaMississippi, 1973. (reissue)
Rootsy blues from Lum Guffin – a musician who's got way more to offer than you might guess from the title! "Walking Victrola" makes us think of some sort of gimmicky artist – and instead, Lum's got this down home approach to acoustic blues that's every bit as great as some of ... LP, Vinyl record album
Tru Thoughts (UK), 2015.
LP...$16.99
19.99
A long-awaited follow up to one of our favorite compilations ever released by Tru Thoughts, and certainly one of the most straight-up fun – in which all stars from the label's roster of underground funk, soul and global groove eclecticists put their own spin on a great batch cover tunes! ... LP, Vinyl record album
Ken Tone/Dub Store (Japan), 1965.
A night in Jamaica, circa 1965 – but a record that's got more than enough Latin touches to be titled A Night In Havana, too! Pianist Cecil Lloyd steps away from more familiar Jamaican styles of the time, to work with small combo backing that's much more in the mode of the best Latin pianists ... CD
Gabriel Alegria Afro Peruvian Sextet
10Zoho, 2015.
CD...$14.99
16.99
A great little record that celebrates a decade's worth of music from the Afro Peruvian Sextet – but which also brings in a host of other jazz artists for the festivities too! The core sound is from the group led by trumpeter Gabriel Alegria – a well-balanced combo that begins in ... CD
Congos
Congo AshantiVP, 1979. (reissue)
LP...$10.99
11.98
A sweet 70s classic from the Congos – billed here as just Congo on the cover, but working with that warm trio groove that made them so great in the first place! The instrumentation is smooth, without ever being uptight – nice undercurrents of soul that bubble in the mix, and work well ... LP, Vinyl record album
Hama
TorodiMississippi/Sahel Sounds, 2015.
Very cool keyboard work from this keyboardist from the Republic Of Niger – all work composed and created on a Yamaha PSR 64, but done with a style that really links back to older West African traditions too! The music is hardly the cold keyboards you might expect from the instrument – ... LP, Vinyl record album
Warner/BGO (UK), Late 80s. 2CD
Three albums from the late 80s – all of which show Earl Klugh still going strong, and very much at the top of his game! Soda Fountain Shuffle is a set that's got plenty of electric elements in the rhythms, mixed with lots of acoustic interplay from Earl over the top! Klugh's touch on the ... CD
Naomi Beckwith & Dieter Roelstraete
Freedom Principle – Experiments In Art & Music 1965 to NowMuseum Of Contemporary Art, 2015.
Book...$28.99
35.00
A beautiful book from the Museum Of Contemporary Art in Chicago – done in collaboration with a great exhibit on the AACM and AfriCobra arts movements of the 60s! The former is very well-known to Dusty Groove customers – the musical movement that gave focus to the ideas and energies of ... Book
Z Records (UK), 2015. 2CD
The 90s was a huge decade for dance music, but it was also a time in which some of the best work often got overlooked next to the hits – especially the kind of cool underground tracks compiled here! Back in the day, Joey Negro was making lots of great music like this – so he's a ... CD
Jakky Boy & The Bad Bunch
Jakky Boy & The Bad BunchAtlantic (Japan), 1985.
The second set from Jakky Boy & The Bunch – an overlooked group with a great 80s groove – one who started things out during the later years of Salsoul, and sound equally nice here on Atlantic! The album's a bit more polished than the group's debut, but still has all that street ... CD
Champion Jack Dupree
Blues From The GutterAtlantic, Early 60s. (reissue)
Blues from the gutter, with a nice current of jazz, too – thanks to participation from a hip group who really make this album from Champion Jack something special! Dupree himself sings and plays piano – often with plenty of rootsy currents – but the combo also features excellent ... LP, Vinyl record album
Darol Anger & Barbara Higbie
Live At MontreuxWindham Hill/Adventure, 1985.
CD...$12.99
15.98
A beautiful little record from this overlooked Windham Hill team – pianist Barbara Higbie and violinist Darrol Anger – working here in an open live setting that really lives up to the best spirit of the label! Both instruments are used in very fresh ways – moving through that new ... CD
Liquid Liquid
Successive Reflexes EP99 Records/Superior Viaduct, 1981. (pic cover, reissue)
An incredible piece of percussive work by the always-enigmatic Liquid Liquid! The record is one of their sparest, and has more hard drumming than others – less of a dance-oriented groove, and a very experimental vibe that reminds us of the group's unique role on the New York scene! There's ... 12-inch, Vinyl record
Steve Arrington's Hall Of Fame
Steve Arrington's Hall Of Fame IAtlantic (Japan), 1983.
A great solo classic from Steve Arrington – who continued to make excellent music long after leaving Slave, thanks to records like this! The Hall Of Fame sound is almost a refinement of the earlier Slave groove – a bit more focused and stripped down for the 80s, with a definite ... CD
Kent/Ace (UK), Late 50s/Early 60s. 2CD
The start of a wonderful label – the legendary LA imprint Kent Records – home to some excellent soul, blues, and R&B in its early years – plus a handful of rockers, too! The label is one that often worked in budget territory, but had some killer talent – and their early ... CD
Aleem featuring Leroy Burgess
ShockAtlantic (Japan), 1987.
The great Leroy Burgess is still going strong on this later album from Aleem – shifting his sound to hit more of an 80s street soul groove, but one that's also got the tighter elements you'd expect from a major label set at the time! Burgess has a voice that's schooled in disco and indie ... CD
Kleeer
Intimate ConnectionAtlantic (Japan), 1984.
Tight 80s soul from Kleeer – one of the group's standout classics, and a set that's produced with kind of a jazzy finish by Deodato, who also plays some nice keyboards on the record! The Kleeer sound is at its height here – tight, warm, and filled with great harmonies on the vocals ... CD
Zapp
New Zapp IV UWarner (Japan), 1985.
Zapp at the height of their powers – a bit more focused than before, but every bit as funky! Roger's production here is impeccable – done with a great ear for the most soulful side of the group's talents, which keeps them far from some of the more commercial groups who were copping ... CD
Ami Shavit
In Alpha MoodFinders Keepers (UK), 1977.
A rare mid 70s electronic LP by Israeli artist Ami Shavit! In Alpha Mood is a well-crafted, moody and oddly melodic effort, spacey as it is – recorded by Shavit in Tel Aviv on a variety of space age synth equipment. It bears the influence of nascent synth rock and pop experimenters like ... LP, Vinyl record album
Syl Johnson
Complete Twinight SinglesTwinight/Numero, 2LP Gatefold
LP...$18.99
25.98
All the incredible Syl Johnson cuts released as Twinight 45s back in the day – nicely assembled as an excellent 2LP compilation by the gentlemen of The Numero Group! If you have yet to take a dip into the Syl Johnson oeuvre, let us just say this is gritty, powerful vintage Chicago soul of ... LP, Vinyl record album
Michael Manring
Unusual WeatherWindham Hill/Adventure, 1986.
CD...$12.99
15.98
Warmly flowing sounds from bassist Michael Manring – one of the lesser-known talents of the Windham Hill scene of the 80s, but a great one too! Manring's got a way of letting his instrument flow out in these round, warm lines – a mode that seems to be a bit of an heir to a Gary Peacock ... CD
Roger (Roger Troutman)
Unlimited!Reprise (Japan), 1987.
Plenty of beats here from Roger Troutman – going for a sound that's maybe even more electro than some of his earlier solo work, at a level that really seems to be pushing the Zapp sound further for the 80s! The style is funky, but touched with lots of elements that have wended their way from ... CD
Liquid Liquid
Liquid Liquid EP99 Records/Superior Viaduct, Early 80s. (pic cover, reissue)
A groundbreaking little record – and one that's hardly ever been matched again! Liquid Liquid sprang onto the scene with this amazing debut EP for 99 Records – a set that's got a wicked blend of funky drums, post-punk darkness, and this cool criss-crossing of modes that perfectly sums ... 12-inch, Vinyl record
Qwanqwa
Volume TwoFPE, 2015.
A wonderful contemporary combo with an amped up take on traditional Ethiopian music! The quartet features Mesele Asmamaw on electric krar, Dawit Seyoum on electric bass krar, and percussionist Samson Sendekou – all from Ethiopia – with American violinist Kaethe Hostetter of Boston-based ... CD
Modern Lovers
Modern Lovers (with download)Beserkley/Sanctuary, 1976. (reissue)
LP...$21.99
22.99
The great city of Boston lost Babe Ruth in 1920, and it was pretty much all downhill until the Modern Lovers showed up at the end of the 60s. The two chord proto-punk, pomposity-busting brilliance of Jonathan Richman and his organ-heavy (courtesy of pre-Talking Head Jerry Harrison) Modern Lovers ... LP, Vinyl record album
Marvin Gaye
MPGMotown/Universal (Japan), 1969.
Great late 60s work from Marvin Gaye – a pre-What's Going On set that still shows him picking up some of the hipper, deeper themes bubbling under at Motown – a bit of the heavier bass and politics of Norman Whitfield camp, touched with some of the sweeter soul from earlier years! The ... CD
Replacements
Twin Tone Years (4LP box set)Twin Tone/Warner, Early/Mid 80s. 4LP
LP...$69.99
74.98
The first 4 records by The Replacements – the underrated Sorry Ma, Forgot The Take Out The Trash and Stink, plus the classics Hootenanny and Let It Be – recorded for Twin Tone in the first half of the 80s, and compiled here in a handsome 4LP box set! Early in their run, on the first 2 ... LP, Vinyl record album
Athens Of The North (UK), 1970s. 2LP
One of the coolest collections of music we've ever heard from the legendary TK Records in Miami – a company that was a powerhouse of 70s hits and disco classics – but which also cut some wonderful underground soul at the time! This sublime set looks at that great lesser-known legacy of ... LP, Vinyl record album
Tom Ze
Tom Ze (1970)RGE/Mr Bongo (UK), 1970. (reissue)
One of Tom Ze's greatest records – and an album that proves that the Tropicalista spirit didn't die once Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil went into exile! The cover is a bit standard, in comparison to the artier look of other Tom Ze albums – but the sound is very forward-thinking, and ... LP, Vinyl record album
Prefuse 73
Every Color Of Darkness EP (with download)Temporary Residence, 2015.
Sweeping atmosphere, glitchy beatcraft and unpredictable twists and turns that somehow hold together in a hypnotic whole – yes indeed, it's great to have the first proper Prefuse 73 record in a while! The sound is distinctly Prefuse, but that's not to say he's rehashing past triumphs – ... LP, Vinyl record album
Dusty Springfield
Come For A Dream – The UK Sessions 1970/Atlantic/Real Gone, Early 70s.
CD...$15.99
16.98
Lesser-known material from the great Dusty Springfield – all recorded back home in the UK, but far less circulated than her Atlantic Records sides cut in the US! On other albums for the label, Dusty recorded in Philly and Memphis – but here, she's working in London with the great ... CD
Larry Coryell & The Eleventh House
Live at the Jazz WorkshopHi Hat (UK), 1975.
A rare live set from guitarist Larry Coryell – working here with his Eleventh House group, a combo that features Mike Lawrence on trumpet, Mike Mandel on keyboards, John Lee on bass, and Alphonse Mouzon on drums! The set begins with a beautiful acoustic solo from Larry, then builds into a ... CD
Bettye Swann
Make Me YoursMoney, Late 60s. (reissue)
A beautiful deep soul record from Bettye Swann – one of the best female vocalists of the late 60s, who unfortunately never got nearly as much credit she deserved! Make Me Yours was recorded for the legendary Money/Cash label in LA, and it has the same raw production sound that graced the ... LP, Vinyl record album
John Simon & Others
You Are What You EatColumbia (Japan), 1967.
A really tripped out little soundtrack – one that mixes bits of folk, instrumental, electronic, and groovy rock styles together – all as a biazzare sound collage that's a perfect accompaniment to this very weird film! There's a definite hippie dippy vibe going on here – but one ... CD
Johnny Cash
Sings The Songs That Made Him FamousSun/ORG, Late 50s. (reissue)
LP...$21.99
22.98
Iconic early Cash at Sun Records – and while there is truth in the title, as it does indeed include a few of his trademak tunes, it'd be even more accurate to say it's the SOUND that made him famous – that perfect mix of his authoritative voice, unvarnished boom-chicka-boom backdrop ... LP, Vinyl record album
Maceo & The Macks
Cross The Tracks (We Better Go Back)/People/Get On Down, 1975. (reissue)
7-inch...$9.99
10.98
Both killers! "Cross The Tracks" is Maceo's standout funky classic – a back-forth chugger with an instantly infectious groove, and that top-shelf, all-pro instrumentation that you'd expect from any James Brown produced track at the time! "Boogie N Twist" on the flip is ... 7-inch, Vinyl record
Fire (UK), Mid/Late 70s. 4LP
LP...$88.99
99.99
Pere Ubu's incredible mid-to-late 70s run – with the essential Modern Dance and Dub Housing LPs, plus The Hearpen Singles (1975-1977) and Manhattan (Live at Max's Kansas City 1977) – in a great 4LP box set! The Modern Dance is one of the seminal albums from the American underground of ... LP, Vinyl record album
Walter Strerath Trio
Fly To Brazil (with bonus tracks)Be! (Germany), 1975. 2CD
A rare bossa jazz session from 70s Germany – recorded with a very fluid groove! We'll be honest in saying that we only know pianist Walter Strerath from this one album – but he's a heck of a great talent on the keys, with a style that's at once highly rhythmic and warmly lyrical – ... CD
Weldon Irvine
Live At Dean StreetSquatty Roo, 1992.
CD...$9.99
14.99
A rare live set from Weldon Irvine – recorded during his last few years on the planet, when the keyboardist was experimenting with a whole range of new ideas! Irvine had been off the scene for a number of years, but returned in the 90s with renewed energy, thanks to the appreciation of a big ... CD
Quantic Presents The Western Transient
New ConstellationTru Thoughts (UK), 2015.
A tremendous new project from Quantic – a set that has him moving into spiritual jazz territory, with all the depth and care he brought to previous funk and Latin projects! The music here is a mix of electric and acoustic modes – played by Will Holland on guitar with a group that also ... CD
Legacy, Mid 50s/1960s/Mid 70s. 4CD
CD...$43.99
49.98
Not just Miles Davis live at Newport – but Miles at Newport over the course of 20 years, in the space of eight different live performances – almost all of which are previously unreleased! Apart from the 1958 and 1969 Newport material here, most of the 4CD set features all-new, all-great ... CD
Liquid Idiot/
Liquid Idiot/Superior Viaduct, 1978/1980. (reissue)
Pre-Liquid Liquid work from Richard McGuire – a pair of different groups that both have a much more outside vibe than his more famous material! The Liquid Idiot tracks are from 1978, and have a definite No Wave vibe – almost improvised jazz at times, and definitely fairly avant – ... LP, Vinyl record album
David Porter
Into A Real Thing (with bonus tracks)Enterprise/Stax (UK), 1970.
A definite real thing from the mighty David Porter – one of his killer solo albums for Stax Records, after splitting his partnership with Isaac Hayes at the end of the 60s – and a record that really matches some of Ike's classic solo sets for sheer ambition and power! Porter's approach ... CD
Soul Time (UK), Late 60s/Late 70s. 3 CDs
An unusual mix of material put together in support of the legendary Wigan Casino – one of the biggest venues for Northern Soul in the 70s, and owner of a short-lived record label too! This box recreates three full albums of music issued under the Casino Classics banner – mostly the ... CD
Lizzy Mercier Descloux
Press Color (colored vinyl – with bonus tracks)Ze/Light In The Attic, 1979. 2LP Gatefold (reissue)
LP...$21.99
24.98
A brilliant and overlooked gem from the glorious post-disco years of the New York scene – the first album recorded by Lizzy Mercier Descloux, a French native who'd relocated to America in the late 70s, and soaked up a huge array of influences from the scene at the time! The album's a really ... LP, Vinyl record album
Tubby Hayes
Syndicate – Live At The Hopbine 1968 Vol 1 (180 gram pressing – with bonus download code)Gearbox (UK), 1968.
A very very cool live set from the great tenorist Tubby Hayes – one that has him working in an unusual quartet with Louis Stewart on guitar – a setting that makes a really nice change for Hayes! The track are all very long and open – three of the four are past the ten minute mark ... LP, Vinyl record album
Willie Dixon & Memphis Slim
Willie's BluesPrestige/Bluesville, 1958. (reissue)
LP...$16.99
19.99
A mighty pairing of talents – the great Willie Dixon on bass and vocals, plus Memphis Slim on piano – captured together in a lean quintet that also features Wally Richardson on guitar and Al Ashby on tenor sax! The approach here is great – more folksy and unfettered – with ... LP, Vinyl record album
Small Faces
PlaymatesAtlantic (Japan), 1977.
A late 70s gem from the revived version of the Small Faces – a group who seem to have gone through the same maturity and richer understanding of their roots as the Faces – but who come across here in an even more sophisticated way! Steve Marriott's at the helm – on guitar and ... CD
Hi Records/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1974.
The great Syl Johnson – doing his thing for Hi Records on a record that's more shiny diamond than it is rough – his second album for the label and a truly underappreciated gem from the Chi soul great! Diamond In The Rough is a much sweeter set of tunes than Syl's Chicago work on ... CD
EMI/Edsel (UK), 1972.
Spare genius from the legendary Labi Siffre – a record without categorization, and one that sits beautifully between soul, folk, and singer-songwriter styles of the early 70s! The record balances perfectly between simple tunes that just feature voice and guitar, and more complicated ones ... CD
Joe Haider
Cafe Des PyreneesBe! (Germany), Mid 70s. (reissue)
Beautiful work from Joe Haider – a lesser-known pianist on these shores, but an important force in the German scene – best remembered for some wonderful music on the Ego Records label! This set captures Joe in a very similar setting – working on both acoustic piano and Fender ... LP, Vinyl record album
Womack & Womack
Love Wars/Elektra/Robinsongs (UK), 1983/1985. 2 CDs
A double dose of Womack & Womack – two Elektra albums back to back! Love Wars is a stone classic from Cecil and Linda Womack – and an album that may well have given the duo their biggest hit in the title track! Cecil is the brother of Bobby Womack – a former member of his ... CD
James Brown
PopcornKing/Universal (Japan), 1969.
A tremendous turning point in the career of James Brown – and an album that points the way strongly to the even deeper funk of the 70s! The album's a hard-wailing batch of instrumental tracks played by the legendary James Brown Band of the late 60s – the pre-JBs ensemble that's gone ... CD
Swamp Dogg
I'm Not Selling Out I'm Buying InTakoma (UK), 1981.
A well-circulated early 80s effort by Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams – a set that has him making a joke on commerciality in music with the title, and which still stays pretty true to his roots overall! The album's not out to break any new ground in Dogg's career, but it does maintain ... CD
Labi Siffre
Labi Siffre (with bonus tracks)EMI/Edsel (UK), 1970.
The first ever album from Labi Siffre – and the brilliant start of a short but great run of excellent records from the early 70s! Siffre's got a sound that's unlike anyone else we can think of – partly the compressed, clever modes of more popular singer-songwriters of his era – ... CD
Bonnie Dobson
Dear CompanionPrestige/Big Beat (UK), 1960.
Beautiful early work from Bonnie Dobson – an artist you might know from later crossover pop-folk work, but who's recorded here in a stripped-down setting that's really amazing! The approach really fits with the deep folkloric style that Prestige Records was using on their releases of this ... CD
Joyce
CoolSony (Japan), 2015.
Plenty cool sounds from Joyce – a lady who's always been the definition of the world used in the title – thanks to her totally unique, totally wonderful style! The album's one of a number of recent gems that have Joyce really going back to basics – hitting that soaring blend of ... CD
Ashford & Simpson
Stay Free (with bonus tracks)Warner/Big Break (UK), 1979.
Great stuff! From Motown songwriters to world-class superstars, the trip was a well-deserved one for Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford – and this album's perhaps their crowning achievement in sophisticated club soul! The record's got a great groove that offers a more soulful version of disco ... CD
Labi Siffre
For The Children (with bonus track)EMI/Edsel (UK), 1973.
A really wonderful album from singer/songwriter Labi Siffre – a set that has him exploring a few more righteous themes than before, but still mostly stepping along in that more compressed pop of his earliest albums! The tunes are catchy, compelling, and done in that great blend of acoustic ... CD
Gabor Szabo
1969Skye/Muzak (Japan), 1969.
One of Gabor Szabo's amazing late 60s albums for the Skye label – trippy, jazzy, and with a mod exotica vibe that would never be matched again! Gabor's playing guitar in a two-guitar frontline, which makes for lots of dreamy interplay between the strings – a shifting pattern of sound ... CD
Eje Thelin
Jazz Jamboree 62 Vol 2 (10 inch LP)Be! (Germany), 1962. (reissue)
Sublime early work from the great Eje Thelin – a Swedish trombonist who made some excellent music in the 60s and 70s, but who hardly ever got his due on this side of the Atlantic! That's a crime, too – as Thelin's a musician with an amazing command of tones and styles – at this ... LP, Vinyl record album
Def Jam, 1991. 2LP Gatefold (reissue)
LP...$24.99
29.99
Maybe one of the last moments of genius from Public Enemy – and a set that still has their power and politics very much at the top of their game! The message may even be more powerful than the music at points – no surprise for Chuck D and crew at this point in their career – but ... LP, Vinyl record album
Binker & Moses (Binker Golding/
Dem Ones (180 gram pressing – with bonus download)
Gearbox (UK), 2015.
Just tenor and drums, coming together beautifully – the former from Binker Golding, the latter from Moses Boyd – a contemporary London duo who step out here in a soulful, almost spiritual mode! The music is loose, and very exploratory – yet never too free to swing – and ... LP, Vinyl record album
Billy Wooten
Woo Hoo BibiP-Vine (Japan), 2015.
Heavy vibes from the great Billy Wooten – an album that's definitely right up there with the best work from this Indianapolis legend! Billy's vibes are out front in the mix, but they're also woven together with some sweet keyboards, tight guitar, and occasional reed parts too – most ... CD
Joe Albany & Others
Low Down (180 gram pressing)Cinewax, 2015. Gatefold
LP...$21.99
24.98
A beautiful document of the late, great pianist Joe Albany – music put together in support of the film Low Down, and packaged here in a really lovely format! The movie is a poetic look at Albany – an important west coast player from the bop years onward, but one who never reached his ... LP, Vinyl record album
P-Vine (Japan), 2015.
Feelin jazzy, and feelin pretty darn soulful too – as the set's a collection of excellent contemporary soul tracks from the global underground – including a fair bit of work by artists who've never issued a full CD! The set's very much ahead of the curve – and really does a ... CD
Barry Mann
Who Put The Bomp (with bonus tracks)ABC/Universal (Japan), 1961.
An early full-length set from the great Barry Mann – issued at a time when he was trying more to break as a singer, than in his later greater fame as a writer in a partnership with Cynthia Weil! Barry's got a surprisingly nice voice – especially when augmented here by great early 60s ... CD
Ethiopians
Engine 54Trojan (UK), 1968.
A rocksteady classic from The Ethiopians – but a set that also has plenty more going on as well! The duo work here as a Jamaican counterpart to American soul groups – one of the first and best to hit the Kingston scene – but they also open themselves up to lots of other ideas in ... CD
Atco/Real Gone, 1960s. 2CD
CD...$31.99
34.98
Ben E King's complete singles for Atco/Atlantic from 1960 to 1966 – essentially his first 6 years as a solo star – and one of most glorious runs in soul music history! The legacy of his signature hit "Stand By Me" is enormous, and rightfully so – but it's really ... CD
Mark Soskin
Live At SmallsSmalls Live, 2015.
CD...$11.99
15.99
Pianist Mark Soskin's been making music for the past few decades, but emerges here with a wonderfully fresh sound in the setting of the Live At Smalls series – working in this open, unbridled way that seems to bring forth some of his best solos in years, and show off some wonderful group ... CD
Dusty Groove Coffee
Everybody Loves The Sunshine – 12oz bag (whole bean)Dark Matter/Dusty Groove Gear, 2015.
A wonderful coffee that lives up to its name – roasted especially by the folks at Chicago's Dark Matter for our coffee drinking needs here at Dusty Groove! The base component to this blend is a coffee from Mexico and grown and milled at a cooperative called El Eden – very unique for a ... Misc
Eje Thelin
Eje Thelin At The German Jazz FestivalMetronome/Be! (Germany), 1964. (reissue)
An amazing set from Swedish trombonist Eje Thelin – a live date, but a totally excellent session that stands as one of the best demonstration of his talents in the 60s! On the European scene at the time, Thelin was easily one of the most inventive players on the trombone – one of the ... LP, Vinyl record album
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Portrait Of An American Singer 1949 to 1960 (5CD set)Capitol/Bear Family (Germany), 1950s. 5CDs & Book
CD...$129.99
176.98
The first collection to ever do justice to one of our favorite singers of all time – the legendary Tennessee Ernie Ford, an artist so great he was practically a genre unto himself! Ford's music of this era is beyond compare – rooted in early country and hillbilly styles, but also open ... CD
Lee Ritenour
Captain's Journey/Columbia/BGO (UK), 1978/1979. 2 CDs
Sweet fusion from the great Lee Ritenour – three classic albums on two CDs! First up is Captain's Journey – a masterful fusion set from guitarist Lee Ritenour – one that expands his sound a bit more than usual by adding in vocals on a number of tracks – but in a way that ... CD
Pridjevi
PridjeviTrouble In Mind, 2015.
A stunner from Pridjevi – the dreamy joint project of a trio of Croatian songwriters, with influences that span the globe – recalling some of greatest psychedelia of the late 60s onward! It's held together by laidback male and female vocals floating by to hypnotic effect – over ... CD
Pavement
Secret History Vol 1 (with download)Matador, 1990s. 2 LPs
LP...$22.99
24.98
A collection of Pavement rarities from their early years, and it's truly worthy of their legacy – compiled from early b-sides, some great Slanted & Enchanted session recordings that didn't make the album for whatever reason, live tracks, Peel Sessions and more! It's not a stingy ... LP, Vinyl record album
Lightnin Hopkins
Blues In My BottlePrestige/OBC, 1961. (reissue)
LP...$16.99
19.99
One the best of the Lightnin Hopkins records for Prestige in the early 60s – unaccompanied here, just as a lot of his most ardent admirers prefer – and it really is deeply effective work! Truth be told, we love the records from the period in which he's got a spare bit of studio backing, ... LP, Vinyl record album
Blind Gary Davis
Harlem Street SingerPrestige/Bluesville, 1961. (reissue)
LP...$16.99
19.99
A deep, rootsy record for Bluesville by Blind Gary Davis – who sings and plays guitar on 12 spare songs with grit, soul and charm – on a mixture of traditional blues tunes and originals. Gary also recorded and performed as Reverend Gary Davis on stirring gospel blues records over the ... LP, Vinyl record album
Outta Sight (UK), Late 50s/Early 60s.
Late R&B, early soul music, and plenty of other great surprises – all pulled together in this excellent collection that focuses on rare gems from the late 50s and early 60s! Despite the "milestones" in the title, the set's more like "underground nuggets" – as ... LP, Vinyl record album
Ubiquity, 2015. 2LP
LP...$15.99
19.98
It's been almost a decade since the previous volume in the legendary Rewind series – but given the quality of the music, it's definitely been worth the wait! This edition may well be the coolest so far – as it really offers up some fresh versions of old school classics from the 60s and ... LP, Vinyl record album
Soul Jazz (UK), Late 70s. 2 CDs
Not disco hits or the overplayed classics you may know from too many weddings – but a wonderfully deep selection of underground cuts that shows that there's still plenty of rare gems to discover from the 70s club scene! The set's put together by the man who wrote the book on rare disco mixes ... CD
Justin Hurwitz
Whiplash (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)Varese, 2015.
LP...$16.99
19.99
One of the most drum-heavy soundtracks you'll ever hope to hear – filled with tight tunes that reflect the nonstop energy of the performance on the screen! The music here was mostly put together by Justin Hurwitz – and includes bigger band tracks in full performances, mixed with ... LP, Vinyl record album
Piero Umiliani
Intrigo A Los AngelesContempo (Italy), 1964. 2LP Gatefold (reissue)
Jazzy goodness from the wonderful Piero Umiliani – a set that's got some sweet instrumental touches from Chet Baker on trumpet, plus piano from Umiliani himself! The overall feel is very much in an early 60s crime jazz style – that best Italian groove before more mod and bossa-styled ... LP, Vinyl record album
If you're ever in Chicago, be sure to visit our Chicago record store!
1120 N Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60622
Open 10am-8pm daily.
All the great stuff appears here at our online record store first — but if you shop locally, you'll also get a chance to handle the goods before you buy!
1120 N Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60622
Open 10am-8pm daily.
All the great stuff appears here at our online record store first — but if you shop locally, you'll also get a chance to handle the goods before you buy!
We buy new and used LPs, 45s, vinyl records, and CDs
in the store from 11am-6pm daily. Feel free to stop by with used vinyl and sell or trade with us.We pay top prices for older jazz, soul, funk, hip hop, and other genres in good shape!
See why Dusty Groove is consistently rated one of Chicago's Best Record Stores!
We happily accept debit and credit cards!