En Vogue - Funky Divas (1992) (320)

En Vogue are only one on a long list of great R & B girl groups from the nineties. Their second album, Funky Divas, is a throwback to a time when pop R&B had instrumentation and harmonies, not rap beats and guest verses. Not that I mind some of today's popular R&B hits, but the music of En Vogue and their peers, such as SWV, Zhane, TLC, and a slew of others was empowering, sex-positive, funky, and light. They also wield sludge hammers. Highlights of this album are the singles, "My Lovin (You're Never Gonna Get It)" and "Free Your Mind", as well as two Aretha Franklin covers, which make up for a pretty disappointing rendition of "Yesterday".

1. This Is Your Life
2. My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)
3. Hip Hop Lover
4. Free Your Mind
5. Desire
6. Giving Him Something He Can Feel
7. It Ain't Over Till The Fat Lady Sings
8. Give It Up, Turn It Loose
9. Yesterday
10. Hooked on Your Love
11. Love Don't Love You
12. What Is Love?
13. Thanks/Prayer

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Mastodon - Blood Mountain (2006) (320)

"The hero of the gods,
the crossing of the threshold,
the belly of the whale,
refusal to return."

Maybe the coolest opening lyrics to a metal album, ever.

How does a band one-up themselves after they put out a concept album based on Moby Dick? Mastodon's brilliant 2004 album, Leviathan, brought the group to more mainstream consciousness, and is in a way a departure of their previous sound. Earlier releases, such as 2002's Remission as well as their Call of the Mastodon compilation embrace a more abrasive, chaotic, and when it comes down to it, heavier sound. Through the years their style became more eclectic, and some might say smarter, including complex arrangements and time signature changes. The band today sounds little like when they began.

But to address my first question, Mastodon followed Leviathan with 2006's Blood Mountain, disregarding any existing folklore in favor of creating their own mythical world. The listener must "guide a truth, prevail, and RIDE!!!" in search of the Crystal Skull (without Indiana Jones, no less), heed the word of the Cysquatch, and journey through the Colony of Birchmen. Very Lord of the Rings, right? Well metal and Tolkien are commonly associated (Middle Earth has provided band names for groups such as Gorgoroth and Amon Amarth).

The compositions of Blood Mountain are musically-challenging but accessible to the listener. Mastodon's time signature changes seem effortless, playing cool riffs and grooves in 7/8 and 6/8. Drummer Brann Dailor is a solid rhythmic enforcer who can keep time and go apeshit on the kit at the same time. The tempos are diverse, from the frantic "The Wolf Is Loose" to the sludging "Sleeping Giant", to the moody album closer, "Pendulous Skin". To me Blood Mountain is the middleground between Mastodon's early sound and their next album, 2009's Crack the Skye, which leaned towards a classic rock sound. Mastodon are seen as a band that appeals to people who don't even like heavy metal, and Blood Mountain might be the right place to start.

Tracklist:

1. The Wolf Is Loose
2. Crystal Skull
3. Sleeping Giant
4. Capillarian Crest
5. Circle Of Cysquatch
6. Bladecatcher
7. Colony Of Birchmen
8. Hunters Of The Sky
9. Hand Of Stone
10. This Mortal Soil
11. Siberian Divide
12. Pendulous Skin

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Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One (1997) (320)

The term "indie rock" can throw people for a loop, especially in a day and age which emphasizes the expression of everybody's "independent" or "individual" spirit for the whole world to perceive. Most, however, think of the 1990s as the golden age for a certain "indie" or, I cringe at the term, "college rock" sound which has since scattered to include almost anyone playing unique (read: everyone). This was the heyday of Pavement, Guided By Voices, Sebadoh, and a slew of others including the pioneer indie threesome, Yo La Tengo. This gem of an album sounds like 1997e for this reason, but still rules, going from noisy lo-fi rocking on songs like "Sugarcube" and "Green Arrow", to slow heart-wrenchers like "Damage" and "Shadows", to perfectly imperfect pop songwriting on "Stockholm Syndrome" and "Autumn Sweater". Other highlights are the shoegaze Beach Boys cover,"Little Honda" and the slightly odd revamp of Anita Bryan's "My Little Corner of the World", which has far surpassed the originally in popularity. The album is a striking example of an indie band at its fullest coherency, riding the waves of shoegazey distortion, downright rock and roll, feelingsy pop and electronic soundspheres.

Tracklist:

1. Return to Hot Chicken
2. Moby Octopad
3. Sugarcube
4. Damage
5. Deeper into Movies
6. Shadows
7. Stockholm Syndrome
8. Autumn Sweater
9. Little Honda
10. Green Arrow
11. One PM Again
12. The Lie and How We Told It
13. Center of Gravity
14. Spec Bebop
15. We're an American Band
16. My Little Corner of the World

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John Coltrane - Lush Life (1958) (320)

The recording of John Coltrane's Lush Life took place in three sessions, two in 1957 and one in 1958. The first three tracks are performed in a trio setting, beginning with the ballad "Like Someone In Love". Here Trane combines a slow, smooth tone with fast melodic runs. The second number, "I Love You", opens with an exotic drum and bass rhythm. Bassist Earl May and drummer Arthur Taylor move between this rhythm for Trane's melody and straight swing for the improvisation. After the third piece, "Trane's Slo Blues", Lush Life moves in a new direction. Trane's arrangement of the Billy Strayhorn piece is much longer than the other selections on the album, and features solos from pianist Red Garland and trumpeter Donald Byrd. The rhythm section explores different ways of playing under the improvisers, sometimes with very minimal accompaniment. Lush Life is a fantastic example of Trane's mastery of straight-ahead chord changes.

Tracklist:

1. Like Someone In Love
2. I Love You
3. Trane's Slo Blues
4. Lush Life
5. I Hear A Rhapsody

Personnel:

John Coltrane, tenor saxophone
with
On #1-3
Earl May, bass
Arthur Taylor, drums

Other selections:
Donald Byrd, trumpet (#4)
Red Garland, piano
Paul Chambers, bass
Louis Hayes, drums (#4)
Albert "Tootie" Heath, drums (#5)

Supervision by Bob Weinstock
Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ on May 31 (#5) and August 16 (1-3), 1957; January 10, 1958 (4).

Mastering - Joe Tarantino (Fantasy Studios, Berkeley)
Cover photo - Esmond Edwards

Prestige
Prestige PRSA-7188-6

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The Temptations - Solid Rock (1972) (320)

There's some disagreement about whether The Temptations were ever able to rock the psychedelic soul sound that Norman Whitfield insisted on when producing some of their albums in this era. Although the singers themselves were never really that into it, it doesn't show in records like this and Pschedelic Shack. The lineup for Solid Rock features the glaring absence of vocalists Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks, the former who had broken down from alcoholism-related complications and the latter who had been the complement to increasing tension with Whitfield and the label. Richard Street and Damon Harris tried to fill the shoes, but the vocals are outshined by the funky psychedelic solos and swell sounds that characterize much of the album. Indeed, one occasionally tires of the relentless falsetto. Yet the singing shines through on "What It Is" and "Take a Look Around", and the cover of "Ain't No Sunshine" is one of the better renditions that tune has seen (and there are many). The whole album seems torn between two thoughts, the psychedlic funk which Whitfield was forcing the singers to embrace and the friendly grooves they rightly own, like "It's Summer". Regardless, it's a pity that the drama surrounding the album (bitterness towards Kendricks is almost tangible in "Superstar") has led many listeners to discount one of my first favorite Temptations records. Do give it a shot.

Tracklist:

1. Take a Look Around
2. Ain't No Sunshine
3. Stop The War Now
4. What It Is
5. Smooth Sailing From Now On
6. Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)
7. It's Summer
8. The End Of Our Road

Gordy, 1972

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John Coltrane - Giant Steps (1960) (320)

Giant Steps might be the best showcase for Coltrane's virtuosity and incredible harmonic vocabulary. Trane burns through the title track, a piece with a chord progression so complex that it has become infamous over the years, and since dubbed "Coltrane changes". His solo in "Giant Steps" seems effortless despite the difficult progression and fast tempo. Contrast this with his playing in "Naima", a ballad Trane wrote for his first wife, Juanita Naima (he married Alice in the mid-60's). The recording sessions of Giant Steps span a couple months of 1959, and Coltrane uses several different lineups.

Tracklist:

1. Giant Steps
2. Cousin Mary
3. Countdown
4. Spiral
5. Syeeda's Song Flute
6. Naima
7. Mr. P.C.
8. Giant Steps (Alternate Version 1)
9. Naima (Alternate Version 1)
10. Cousin Mary (Alternate Take)
11. Countdown (Alternate Take)
12. Syeeda's Song Flute (Alternate Take)
13. Giant Steps (Alternate Version 2)
14. Naima (Alternate Version 2)
15. Giant Steps (Alternate Take)

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Personnel:

Recorded May 4 and May 5, 1959: main take tracks 1–5, 7; alternative take tracks 10–12, and additional alternative track 15.

John Coltrane — tenor saxophone
Tommy Flanagan — piano
Paul Chambers — bass
Art Taylor — drums

Recorded December 2, 1959: main take track 6

Wynton Kelly — piano
Jimmy Cobb — drums

Recorded April 1 (March 26 according to Rhino liner notes) 1959: alternative tracks 8 and 9, and additional alternative tracks 13 and 14

Cedar Walton — piano
Lex Humphries — drums

Cam'ron - Purple Haze (2004) (320)

Remember when Dipset was running shit? When purple furs accompanied "no homo" and vice versa? When 8th graders in Harlem imagined a better educational system? Although the Diplomats released plenty of ill-conceived, even downright irrational music throughout the years (Dipset X-Mas for starters) the shiny, anthemic style which Cam and his crew perfected is at its peak on this album. Cam'ron's extended and at times bizarre rhyme choices are in delicious harmony with the absolutely ludicrous claims regarding a) cocaine and b) wealth. Almost every track is a winner, but highlights include pre-asshole Kanye production on "Down and Out" and "Dipset Forever", the anthem-turned-storytelling-rap track "Harlem Streets", the gallant "Killa Cam" and of course the single that started more than a year's hype, "Get 'Em Girls". This album is also a reminder why hip hop skits are at once unbearable and necessary (e.g. "I'm A Chicken Head")

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. More Gangsta Music (feat. Juelz Santana)
3. Get Down
4. Welcome to Purple Haze (Skit)
5. Killa Cam
6. Leave Me Alone pt. 2
7. Down and Out (feat. Kanye West & Syleena Johnson)
8. Harlem Streets
9. Rude Boy (Skit)
10. Girls (feat. Mona Lisa)
11. I'm A Chicken Head (Skit)
12. Soap Opera
13. O.T. (Skit)
14. Bubble Music
15. More Reasons (feat. Jaheim)
16. The Block (Skit)
17. The Dope Man (feat. Jim Jones)
18. Family Ties (feat. Nicole Wray)
19. Adrenaline (feat. Twista & Psycho Drama)
20. Hey Lady (feat. Freekey Zeekey)
21. Shake (feat. J.R. Writer)
22. Get 'Em Girls (feat. J.R. Writer)
23. Dipset Forever
24. Take 'Em To Church (feat. Juelz Santana & Un Kasa)

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John Coltrane - Blue Train (1957) (320)

I've been on a John Coltrane binge recently, so I'll be uploading a few of his recordings in the near future. My collection focuses more on his later, Impulse! years, but I decided to post Blue Train first. This album features some of Trane's best hard bop playing. The title track has become a classic blues number: Coltrane and trombonist Curtis Fuller playing the recognizable melody before Lee Morgan comes in with the harmony. When the rhythm section joins, they start swinging, and Trane soars over the changes with his opening solo. Coltrane gets help from some phenomenal players on this session: Lee Morgan burns on the fast bop numbers, showing off his range and incredible chops. And Curtis Fuller kills it, too, proving that jazz trombone should really be more commonplace. The trombone harmonies add a fullness to the sound, and Fuller can keep up with the fast changes as well. Fuller also plays a smooth solo on the ballad "I'm Old Fashioned" (the only piece on the album that Coltrane did not compose). It's interesting to compare this recording to the later Coltrane, where he works outside the melodic rules that he displays mastery of on Blue Train. This version has two extra tracks, alternate versions of "Blue Train" and "Lazy Bird".

Tracklist:

1. Blue Train
2. Moment's Notice
3. Locomotion
4. I'm Old Fashioned
5. Lazy Bird
6. Blue Train (Alternate Take)
7. Lazy Bird (Alternate Take)

Personnel:

John Coltrane, tenor saxophone
Lee Morgan, trumpet
Curtis Fuller, trombone
Kenny Drew, piano
Paul Chambers, bass
Philly Joe Jones, drums

Produced by Alfred Lion
Recorded on September 15, 1957 at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey
Originally recorded and remastered in 2003 by Rudy Van Gelder
All transfers from the analog tapes to digital were made at 24-bit resolution
Reissue produced by Michael Cuscuna
Cover photograph: Francis Wolff
Cover design: Reid Miles
Liner photographs from the actual session by Francis Wolff © Mosaic Images

#1-5 originally issued as BST 81577

Blue Note Records
7243 4 95326 2 5

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Marvin Gaye - I Want You (1976) (320)

I have mixed feelings about I Want You, in which Marvin makes a departure from the sounds that had made him famous with Motown and on What's Going On and Let's Get It On. I initially copped it because of the cover art, Ernie Barnes' Sugar Shack, and was almost disappointed at the distinctly lighter, almost disco groove. Like Let's Get It On, the album is best enjoyed alone with someone you love. Largely composed of slow jams, it's definitely a mood record, but it's one of Marvin's most intimate performances. The sincerity of his voice throughout songs like "Since I Had You" and the obvious highlight of the album, the title track "I Want You" shines brilliantly. On some of the more sensual jams, like "All the Way Round" and "Feel My Love Inside", his voice borders on the whiny, but this is definitely one of the records to keep ready for after the candle-lit dinner.

Tracklist:

1. I Want You
2. Come Live With Me Angel
3. After The Dance
4. Feel All My Love Inside
5. I Wanna Be Where You Are
6. I Want You (Intro Jam)
7. All The Way 'Round
8. Since I Had You
9. Soon I'll Be Loving You Again
10. I Want You (Jam)
11. After The Dance

Tamla, 1976

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Miles Davis - Workin' With The Miles Davis Quintet (1956) (320)

This 1956 recording features Miles and his first Classic Quintet: John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones. Miles' famous Harmon mute playing can be heard on two pieces: "It Never Entered My Mind" (also covered by Frank Sinatra on In The Wee Small Hours"), as well as the standard "In Your Own Sweet Way". On "It Never Entered My Mind", Red Garland's piano solo is sandwiched by Miles's beautiful stylization of the melody. The ballad exemplifies Miles' distinct playing - his tone and style are instantly recognizable even playing a simple melody. Two blues numbers are featured: "Trane's Blues", composed by John Coltrane, followed by "Ahmad's Blues", composed by one of Miles' favorite pianists, Ahmad Jamal. The album has its intermission with "The Theme" (Take 1), and concludes with "The Theme" (Take 2). The following year, Trane would release his debut for Prestige.

Tracklist:

1. It Never Entered My Mind
2. Four
3. In Your Own Sweet Way
4. The Theme (Take 1)
5. Trane's Blues
6. Ahmad's Blues
7. Half Nelson
8. The Theme (Take 2)

Personnel:

Miles Davis, trumpet (except #6)
John Coltrane, tenor saxophone (except #6)
Red Garland, piano
Paul Chambers, bass
Philly Joe Jones, drums

Supervision by Bob Weinstock
Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ; May 11, 1956. ("Half Nelson" recorded October 26, 1956.)
Cover photo - Esmond Edwards
Mastering engineer - Shigeo Miyamoto under supervision of Tamaki Beck for JVC Studios
This album is remastered using 20-bit A/D converter with digital K2 Interface.

Prestige
PRCD-7166-2

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Mac Dre - Thizzelle Washington (2002) (320)

This is one of the classic albums by the original hyphy pioneer, the late Mac Dre. Thizzelle Washington is perhaps one of the more focused albums of the genre, and Mac Dre expertly negotiates his stature as a gangsta rapper and a complete goofball. Though the spotlight track "Thizzelle Dance" shines as a proper hyphy anthem, "Boss Tycoon" and "Dollalalala Lotsa Paypa" bounce in a similarly silly way. "Monday Through Sunday" and "Big Breaded" remind me how hard Dre can go and how surprisingly articulate he can be, though he's not necessarily a lyrical wizard. I'm not positive who did the production on each of these tracks-- I know dude did a lot of stuff for himself-- but you can hear why this stuff became the soundtrack for ricocheting hordes of dreaded teenagers on ecstasy in hoods all over the Yay Area... Shit knocks.

Tracklist:

1. Intro (feat. Yukmouth)
2. Monday Through Sunday
3. Stuart Littles
4. Help Me (feat. Freako, Rydah J. Klyde)
5. The Mac Named Dre
6. Dam I Used to Know That
7. Boss Tycoon (feat. Yukmouth)
8. 4 Myself (feat. Devious & Dubee)
9. C.U.T.T.H.O.A.T. (feat. Cutthoat Committee)
10. Han Solo (feat. Syko)
11. Rap Life (feat. Sleep Dank)
12. Thizzelle Dance (feat. Chuck Beez)
13. Soom Lama (Interlude)
14. Big Breaded (feat. Luni Coleone)
15. Dollalalala Lotsa Paypa (feat. KC Bobcay, Sauce)
16. Miss You

Thizz, 2002

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Kraftwerk - Computer World (1981) (320)

I've always known Kraftwerk for Trans Europe Express and fun on the Autobahn because of these albums' heavy influence on early electro-funk and hip hop, but recently I've been loving a lot of their follow-ups, hearing the directions they went. Computer World was released in 1981, by which time American electronic music had progressed and diversified considerably. Kraftwerk prove here that they are still the German OGs, with plenty of repetitive, atmospheric, bleepy-bloopy fun and a well-thought out computer/technology theme. Besides the vocals, the album is pretty much all electronic. It's important to note that this, like other Kraftwerk albums, was released simultaneously in several languages, all with their separate vocals, and often notably different lyrics and mixes. This is the English language version.

Tracklist:

1. Computer World
2. Pocket Calculator
3. Numbers
4. Computer World (Continued)
5. Computer Love
6. Home Computer
7. It's More Fun To Compute

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Main Source - Breaking Atoms (1991) (320)

"He puts the needle to the wax, and just...atoms." - Nas

The best release from Wild Pitch, Main Source's Breaking Atoms features Large Professor and co. putting down some of the greatest production in hip hop. The rapping is good as well, but the layers of sampling are what make this one stand out. "Live At The Barbeque" features a guest verse from a young Nas, with the famous line, "When I was 12, I went to hell for snuffin' Jesus." This is a classic.

Tracklist:

1. Snake Eyes
2. Just Hangin' Out
3. Looking At The Front Door
4. Large Professor
5. Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball
6. Scratch & Kut
7. Peace Is Not The Word To Play
8. Vamos A Rapiar
9. He Got So Much Soul (He Don't Need No Music)
10. Live At The Barbeque (Feat. Nas, Joe Fatal & Akinyele)
11. Watch Roger Do His Thing
12. Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball (Remix)

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Dinah Washington - Dinah Washington Story (320)

I picked this up after seeing Charles Burnett's Killer of Sheep, which uses her song, "This Bitter Earth". Burnett's choice of soundtrack is phenomenal. Other artists used include Paul Robeson, Louis Armstrong, and Faye Adams. Employing such a diverse soundtrack (gospel, jazz, R&B) complements Burnett's depiction of the black experience in America.

This collection goes chronologically from 1943 through 1961, close to the end of Washington's career. She possesses a fantastic vibrato, and has a unique way of gliding into notes. There are a number of blues and ballads, but the keyword here is soul. The accompaniment is mostly big band, and some selections have strings.

Tracklist:

Disc 1:
1. Evil Gal Blues
2. Salty Papa Blues
3. Embraceable You
4. A Slick Chick (On The Mellow Side)
5. Postman Blues
6. That's Why A Woman Loves A Heel
7. Walkin' and Talkin'
8. Record Ban Blues
9. (What Can I Say, Dear) After I Say I'm Sorry?
10. I'll Wait (Master Take)
11. Good Daddy Blues
12. I Only Know
13. Baby Get Lost
14. It Isn't Fair
15. I'll Never Be Free
16. I Wanna Be Loved
17. Time Out For Tears
18. I Won't Cry Anymore
19. New Blowtop Blues
20. Wheel Of Fortune
21. Trouble In Mind
22. I Cried For You
23. TV is the Thing This Year
24. Am I Blue?
25. Blue Skies

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Disc 2:
1. Love For Sale
2. I've Got You Under My Skin
3. I Don't Hurt Anymore
4. Crazy He Calls Me
5. Lover Come Back To Me
6. Teach Me Tonight
7. Blue Gardenia
8. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
9. If I Had You
10. Sometimes I'm Happy
11. Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now
12. Back Water Blues
13. All Of Me
14. What A Difference A Day Makes
15. Unforgettable
16. Baby (You've Got What It Takes)
17. A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around And Fall In Love)
18. A Bad Case Of The Blues
19. This Bitter Earth
20. September In The Rain
21. Mad About The Boy

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My Bloody Valentine - Loveless (1991) (256)

Largely considered one of the shoegaze masterpieces and certainly Kevin Shields' most popular album. Distorted and psychedelic guitar swells wash over obscured vocals and smatterings of tremolo.

Tracklist:

1. Only Shallow
2. Loomer
3. Touched
4. To Here Knows When
5. When You Sleep
6. I only Said
7. Come In Alone
8. Sometimes
9. Blown a Wish
10. What You Want
11. Soon

Creation, 1991

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Goblin - The Goblin Collection 1975-1989 (320)

Goblin are probably best known for their soundtracks for Dario Argento films. This collection includes selections from Suspiria, Deep Red, Tenebrae, Phenomena and others.

Tracklist:

1. Profondo Rosso (Main Title)
2. Profondo Rosso: Death Dies M32
3. Profondo Rosso M15
4. Profondo Rosso M31
5. Wampyr (Finale)
6. Chi? Part 1
7. Chi? Part 2
8. Patrick M32 Bis
9. Patrick M1
10. Patrick M34/34 Bis/35
11. Suspiria (Main Title)
12. La Via Della Droga M1 IV
13. La Via Della Droga M2
14. La Via Della Droga M6
15. La Via Della Droga 31
16. Zombi: L'Alba Dei Morti Viventi
17. Buio Omega M6
18. Buio Omega M25
19. Buio Omega (Main Title)
20. St. Helen (Love Theme)
21. Contamination M3
22. Contamination M8
23. Tenebre (Main Title)
24. Notturno: Bass Theme
25. Phenomena M12
26. Phenomena M15 (Alternate Version)
27. La Chiesa

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Ill Al Skratch - Creep Wit' Me (1994) (256)

Tracklist:

1. They Got Love For Us
2. Where My Homiez (Come Around My Way)
3. This Is For My Homiez
4. I'll Take Her (feat. Brian McKnight)
5. Chill With That
6. Where My H omiez? (Come Around My Way) (Dub Version)
7. Creem Wit' Me
8. Get Dough
9. The Brooklyn Uptown Connection
10. Classic Shit (Ill's Sold)
11. Summertime (It's All Good) (Al's Sold)
12. I'll Take Her Back (Brian's Flow)

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Edu Lobo - Cantiga de Longe (1970) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Casa forte
2. Frevo de itamaracá - come e dorme
3. Mariana, Mariana
4. Zum-zum
5. Aguaverde
6. Cantiga de longe
7. Na feira de santarém
8. Zanzibar
9. Marta e Romão
10. Racho de ano novo
11. Cidade nova

Elenco, 1970

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Hank Mobley - No Room For Squares (1963) (320)

Tracklist:

1. No Room For Squares
2. No Room For Squares [Bonus-Alternate Take]
3. Three Way Split
4. Comin' Back
5. Me 'n You
6. Carolyn [Bonus-Alternate Take]
7. Carolyn
8. Syrup And Biscuits

Personnel:

Lee Morgan, trumpet
Hank Mobley, tenor sax
Andrew Hill, piano
John Ore, bass
Philly Joe Jones, drums

Produced by Alfred Lion
Produced for release by Michael Cuscuna
Recording by Rudy Van Gelder
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on October 2, 1963
Cover photo by Francis Wolff
Cover Design by Reid Miles
Digital transfers: Ron McMaster

Blue Note Records
CDP 7 84149 2

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A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders (1993) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Midnight Marauders Tour Guide
2. Steve Biko (Stir It Up)
3. Award Tour
4. 8 Million Stories
5. Sucka Nigga
6. Midnight
7. We Can Get Down
8. Electric Relaxation
9. Clap Your Hands
10. Oh My God
11. Keep It Rollin'
12. The Chase, Part 2
13. Lyrics To Go
14. God Lives Through

Jive, 1993

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Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out! (1966) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Hungry Freaks, Daddy
2. I Ain't Got No Heart
3. Who Are The Brain Police?
4. Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder
5. Motherly Love
6. How Could I Be Such a Fool?
7. Wowie Zowie
8. You Didn't Try To Call Me
9. Any Way the Wind Blows
10. I'm Not Satisfied
11. You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here
12. Trouble Every Day
13. Help I'm A Rock
14. The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet

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The Magnetic Fields - Get Lost (1995) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Famous
2. The Desperate Things You Made Me Do
3. Smoke and Mirrors
4. With Whom to Dance
5. You and Me and the Moon
6. Don't Look Away
7. Save a Secret for the Moon
8. Why I Cry
9. Love Is Lighter Than Air
10. When You're Old and Lonely
11. The Village in the Morning
12. All the Umbrellas in London
13. The Dreaming Moon

Merge, 1995

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David Bowie - Hunky Dory (1971) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Changes
2. Oh! You Pretty Things
3. Eight Line Poem
4. Life On Mars?
5. Kooks
6. Quicksand
7. Fill Your Heart
8. Andy Warhol
9. Song For Bob Dylan
10. Queen Bitch
11. The Bewlay Brothers

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Originoo Gunn Clappaz - Da Storm (1996) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. Calm Before Da Storm
3. No Fear
4. Boom Boom..... Fuckin' Prick
5. Gunn Clap
6. Emergency Broadcast System
7. Hurricane Starang
8. Danjer
9. Elements of Da Storm
10. Da Storm
11. Wild Cowboys in Bucktown
12. God Don't Like Ugly
13. X-Unknown
14. Elite Fleet

Duck Down, 1996

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Albert Ayler Trio - Spiritual Unity (1964) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Ghosts: First Variation
2. The Wizard
3. Spirits
4. Ghosts: Second Variation

Personnel:

Albert Ayler, saxophone
Gary Peacock, bass
Sunny Murray, percussion

Recorded in New York City on July 10, 1964

ESP-Disk'
ESP 1002

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Frank Sinatra - In The Wee Small Hours (1954) (320)

Tracklist:

1. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
2. Mood Indigo
3. Glad To Be Unhappy
4. I Get Along Without You Very Well
5. Deep In A Dream
6. I See Your Face Before Me
7. Can't We Be Friends?
8. When Your Lover Has Gone
9. What Is This Thing Called Love
10. Last Night When We Were Young
11. I'll Be Around
12. Ill Wind
13. It Never Entered My Mind
14. Dancing On The Ceiling
15. I'll Never Be The Same
16. This Love Of Mine

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Beanie Sigel - The Broad Street Bully (2009) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Beanie
2. Why Wouldn't I?
3. Tear Drops
4. Where's My Opponent? (Feat. Omilio Sparks & Freeway)
5. Ready for War (feat. Freeway & Young Chris)
6. All For It
7. Sicker Than Your Average (feat. Freeway)
8. Run To The Roc (feat. Young Chris & Omilio Sparks
9. Bang Bang (feat. Murda Mill)
10. Return of the Chain Gang (feat. Young Chris)
11. You Over Did It (feat. Young Chris & Murda Mill)
12. The Ghetto

Siccness Records, 2009

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Eric Dolphy - Out There (1960) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Out There
2. Serene
3. The Baron
4. Eclipse
5. 17 West
6. Sketch Of Melba
7. Feathers

Personnel:

Eric Dolphy, alto saxophone, flute, B-flat and bass clarinets
Ron Carter, cello
George Duvivier, bass
Roy Haynes, drums

Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ; August 15, 1960.
Supervision by Esmond Edwards
Remastering, 2005: Rudy Van Gelder (Van Gelder Studio)

Prestige
PRCD-810102

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Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted/Kill At Will [EP] (1990) (320)

Tracks 1-16 make up the original AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted release. This version includes Cube's 1990 Kill at Will EP (17-23).

Tracklist:

1. Better Off Dead
2. The Nigga Ya Love To Hate
3. AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
4. What They Hittin' Foe?
5. You Can't Fade Me/JD's Gaffilin'
6. Once Upon A Time In The Projects
7. Turn Off The Radio
8. Endangered Species (Tales From The Darkside)
9. A Gangsta's Fairytale
10. I'm Only Out For One Thang
11. Get Off My Dick & Tell Yo Bitch To Come Here
12. The Drive-By
13. Rollin' Wit The Lench Mob
14. Who's The Mack?
15. It's A Man's World
16. The Bomb
17. Endangered Species (Tales From The Darkside) (Remix)
18. Jackin' For Beats
19. Get Off My Dick & Tell Yo Bitch To Come Here (Remix)
20. The Product
21. Dead Homiez
22. JD's Gaffilin', Pt. 2
23. I Gotta Say What Up!!!
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Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop (1973) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Nappy Dugout
2. You Can't Miss What You Can't Measure
3. March To The Witch's Castle
4. Let's Make It Last
5. Cosmic Slop
6. No Compute
7. This Broken Heart
8. Trash A Go Go
9. Can't Stop The Strain
10. Cosmic Slop (Single Edit) Westbound 218 (1973)

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The Isley Brothers - It's Our Thing (1969) (256 VBR)

Tracklist:

1. I Know Who You Been Socking It To
2. Somebody Been Messin'
3. Save Me
4. I Must Be Losing My Touch
5. Feel Like The World
6. It's Your Thing
7. Give The Women What They Want
8. Love Is What You Make It
9. Don't Give It Away
10. He's Got Your Love

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Brian Eno & David Byrne - My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts (Remastered) (1981) (320)

Tracklist:

1. American Is Waiting
2. Mea Culpa
3. Regiment
4. Help Me Somebody
5. The Jezebel Spirit
6. Very, Very Hungry
7. Moonlight In Glory
8. The Carrier
9. A Secret Life
10. Come With Us
11. Mountain Of Needles
12. Pitch To Voltage
13. Two Against Three
14. Vocal Outtakes
15. New Feet
16. Defiant
17. Number 8 Mix
18. Solo Guitar With Tin Foil

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8Ball & MJG - On Top of the World (1995) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. Pimp In My Own Rhyme
3. What Can I Do?
4. For Real
5. Funk Mission
6. Kick That Shit
7. Friend or Foe (Feat. E-40, Mac Mall, and Big Mike)
8. Hand of the Devil
9. On Top of the World
10. What Do You See (Feat. Nuckle Heads)
11. In the Line of Duty
12. All in My Mind (Feat. South Circle)
13. Comin' Up
14. Space Age Pimpin' (Feat. Nina Creque)
15. Break'em Off

Suave House, 1995

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TLC - Crazysexycool (1994) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Intro-Lude
2. Creep
3. Kick Your Game
4. Diggin' On You
5. Case of the Fake People
6. Crazysexycool (Interlude)
7. Red Light Special
8. Waterfalls
9. Intermission-lude
10. Let's Do It Again
11. If I Was Your Girlfriend
12. Sexy-Interlude
13. Take Our Time
14. Can I Get A Witness (Interlude)
15. Switch
16. Sumthin' Wicked This Way Comes

LaFace, 1994

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Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Moanin' (1958) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Warm-Up And Dialogue Between Lee And Rudy
2. Moanin'
3. Are You Real?
4. Along Came Betty
5. The Drum Thunder Suite
6. Blues March
7. Come Rain Or Come Shine
8. Moanin' [Alternate Take]

Personnel:

Lee Morgan, trumpet
Benny Golson, tenor sax
Bobby Timmons, piano
Jymie Merritt, bass
Art Blakey, drums

Produced by Alfred Lion
Recorded on October 30, 1958 at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey
Original recording and 1998 remastering by Rudy Van Gelder
All transfers from analog to digital were made at 24-bit resolution
Reissue produced by Michael Cuscuna
Cover photograph by Paul Hoeffler
Liner photographs from the actual session by Francis Wolff © Mosaic Images
#2-7 originally issued as Blue Note BLP 4003 and BST 84003

Blue Note Records: RVG Edition
7243 4 95324 2 7

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Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - Midnight Band: The First Minute of a New Day (1975) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Offering
2. The Liberation Song (Red, Black & Green)
3. Must Be Something
4. Ain't No Such Thing As Superman
5. Pardon Our Analysis
6. Guerrilla
7. Winter in America (Midnight)
8. Western Sunrise
9. Alluswe
10. A Talk: Bluesology/Black History/Jaws
11. Winter In America (Solo Version)

Arista, A-4030
1975

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Slayer - Reign In Blood (1986) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Angel Of Death
2. Piece By Piece
3. Necrophobic
4. Altar Of Sacrifice
5. Jesus Saves
6. Criminally Insane
7. Reborn
8. Epidemic
9. Postmortem
10. Raining Blood
11. Aggressive Perfector
12. Criminally Insane [Remix]

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Brian Eno - Another Green World (1975)(320)

Tracklist:

1. Sky Saw
2. Over Fire Island
3. St. Elmo's Fire
4. In Dark Trees
5. The Big Ship
6. I'll Come Running
7. Another Green World
8. Sombre Reptiles
9. Little Fishes
10. Golden Hours
11. Becalmed
12. Zawinul/Lava
13. Everything Merges With the Night
14. Spirits Drifting

Island, 1975

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Toots & The Maytals - Funky Kingston (1973) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Sit Right Down
2. Pomp And Pride
3. Louie Louie
4. I Can't Believe
5. Redemption Song
6. Daddy's Home
7. Funky Kingston
8. It Was Written Down

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Sonic Youth - Sister (1987) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Schizophrenia
2. (I Got A) Catholic Block
3. Beauty Lies In The Eye
4. Stereo Sanctity
5. Pipeline/Kill Time
6. Tuff Gnarl
7. Pacific Coast Highway
8. Hot Wire My Heart
9. Kotton Krown
10. White Cross
11. Master-Dik

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Stan Getz & João Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto (1964) (320)

Tracklist:

1. The Girl From Ipanema
2. Doralice
3. Para Machucar Meu Coração
4. Desafinado
5. Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)
6. Só Danço Samba
7. O Grande Amour
8. Vivo Sonhando
9. The Girl From Ipanema (45 rpm issue)
10. Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars) (45 rpm)

Stan Getz, tenor saxophone
João Gilberto, guitar, vocals
featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim, piano
with Tommy Williams, bass
and Milton Banana, drums
Tracks 1, 5, 9, and 10: Add Astrud Gilberto, vocals.

Recorded March 18 and 19, 1963 at A&R Studios, New York City
Original LP issue: Getz/Gilberto Verve V6-8545
Tracks 9 and 10 original 45 rpm issue: Verve 10322

Original recordings produced by Creed Taylor, cover painting by Olga Albizu

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Sun Ra - Sound of Joy (Recorded 1956, Released 1968) (320)

Tracklist:

1. El Is A Sound Of Joy
2. Overtones Of China
3. Two Tones
4. Paradise
5. Planet Earth
6. Ankh
7. Saturn
8. Reflections In Blue
9. El Viktor
10. As You Once Were
11. Dreams Come True

Personnel:

Sun Ra: Piano, Wurlitzer electric piano
Art Hoyle: Trumpet
Dave Young: Trumpet
John Avant or Julian Priester: trombone
Pat Patrick: Alto sax, tenor sax
John Gilmore: Tenor sax
Charles Davis: Baritone sax
Victor Sproles: Bass
William Cochran: Drums
Jim Herndon: Tympani, timbales

Supervision: Tom Wilson, Transition Records
Album Production: Robert G. Koester
Cover Photo and Design: Zbigniew Jastrzebski
Adaptation to CD, Art Direction: Kate Hoddinott

Delmark, DD-414

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Scarface - Mr. Scarface is Back (1991) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Mr. Scarface
2. The Pimp
3. Born Killer
4. Murder By Reason of Insanity
5. Your Ass Got Took
6. Diary of a Madman
7. Body Snatchers
8. Money and the Power
9. P. D. Roll 'Em
10. Good Girl Gone Bad
11. A Minute to Pray and a Second to Die
12. I'm Dead

Rap-A-Lot, 1991

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Funkadelic - Let's Take It To The Stage (1975) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Good To Your Earhole
2. Better By The Pound
3. Be My Beach
4. No Head, No Backstage Pass
5. Let's Take It To The Stage
6. Get Off Your Ass And Jam
7. Baby I Owe You Something Good
8. Stuffs And Things
9. The Song Is Familiar
10. Atmosphere

Westbound, 1975

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Astor Piazzolla - Unmixed (2005) (256 VBR)

Tracklist:

1. Concerto for Bandoneon, Guitar & string orch - Hommage à Liege, Tango
2. Vuelvo al Sur
3. El Tango
4. Luna
5. El viaje
6. Milonga del Angel
7. Milonga
8. Revirado
9. Tanguedia III
10. Verano Porteno
11. Resurreccion del Angel
12. Calambre
13. Ballada para Mi Muerte
14. Duo de Amor

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Big Daddy Kane - It's A Big Daddy Thing (1989) (320)

Tracklist:

1. It's a Big Daddy Thing

2. Another Victory

3. Mortal Combat

4. Children R the Future

5. Young, Gifted and Black

6. Smooth Operator

7. Calling Mr. Welfare

8. Wrath of Kane [Live]

9. I Get the Job Done

10. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now

11. Pimpin' Ain't Easy

12. Big Daddy's Theme

13. To Be Your Man

14. House That Cee Built

15. On the Move

16. Warm It Up, Kane

17. Rap Summary (Lean on Me) [Remix]

Cold Chillin' Records, 1989

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Goodie Mob - Soul Food (1995) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Free
2. Thought Process
3. Red Dog
4. Dirty South
5. Cell Therapy
6. Sesame Street
7. Guess Who
8. Serenity Prayer
9. Fighting
10. Blood
11. Live At The O.M.N.I.
12. Goodie Bag
13. Soul Food
14. Funeral
15. I Didn't Ask To Come
16. Rico
17. The Coming
18. Cee-Lo
19. The Day After

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Miles Davis - In A Silent Way (1969) (320)

Tracklist:

1. Shhh/Peaceful
2. In A Silent Way/It's About That Time

Personnel:

Miles Davis, trumpet
Wayne Shorter, soprano saxophone
Chick Corea & Herbie Hancock, electric piano
Joe Zawinul, organ
John McLaughlin, guitar
Dave Holland, bass
Tony Williams, drums

Recorded February 18, 1969, in 30th Street Studio B, New York City.

Original recordings produced by Teo Macero
Reissue produced by Bob Belden and Michael Cuscuna

Columbia/Legacy
CK 86556

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