J.J. Cale – Really (1972) New 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

January 18, 2013, 11:27 am

≫ Next: J.J. Cale – Naturally (1972) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

This album captures Cale in his most creative period, and reveals why his obscure sound is so often imitated by those in the know. Really flows like an album should, with its own distinctly mellow vibe.

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J.J. Cale – Naturally (1972) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

January 18, 2013, 11:36 am

≫ Next: Donovan – Donovan In Concert (1968) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: J.J. Cale – Really (1972) *New* 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Naturally is the debut album by J. J. Cale. First released in 1972, it includes his song "After Midnight" which was first recorded by Eric Clapton in 1970. The album showcased Cale's distinctive, understated style, and it successfully established his solo recording career which continues to the present day.

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Donovan – Donovan In Concert (1968) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

January 20, 2013, 5:14 pm

≫ Next: Eric Burdon & The Animals – Eric Burdon & The Animals (1976) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: J.J. Cale – Naturally (1972) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

The hippy mysticism and flower power poet is everywhere here. This isn't rock star excess at all, but an organic, drenched-in-sunshine concert full of gentleness with a premium on good vibes...‘Donovan In Concert’ is one of the great live albums of the '60s.

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Eric Burdon & The Animals – Eric Burdon & The Animals (1976) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

January 23, 2013, 10:41 am

≫ Next: Donovan – Sunshine Superman (UK) (1967) *New* 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Donovan – Donovan In Concert (1968) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Burdon was lead singer of The Animals, formed during 1962 in Newcastle, England...By late 1966 the other original members, including keyboardist Alan Price, had left. Burdon and drummer Barry Jenkins reformed the group as Eric Burdon and The Animals. This group's hits included the ballad "San Franciscan Nights", the grunge–heavy metal-pioneering "When I Was Young", "Monterey", the anti-Vietnam anthem "Sky Pilot" and the progressive cover of "Ring of Fire".

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Donovan – Sunshine Superman (UK) (1967) New 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

January 23, 2013, 10:52 am

≫ Next: The Kinks – Soundtrack from the film "Percy" (1971) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Eric Burdon & The Animals – Eric Burdon & The Animals (1976) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

The UK issue of this landmark album paired half of the US release with half of the Mellow Yellow album and featured totally different artwork. However it's still a strong album dominated by tracks that mixed Donovan's earlier folk style with acid rock psychedelia.

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The Kinks – Soundtrack from the film "Percy" (1971) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

January 24, 2013, 4:23 pm

≫ Next: Donovan – Donovan’s Greatest Hits (1969) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Donovan – Sunshine Superman (UK) (1967) *New* 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Ray Davies and company had already participated in one failed television musical when the movie Percy came along -- it wasn't as original as Arthur, nor did Davies have nearly as much to do with its creation, but he still outdid himself given the material at hand.

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Donovan – Donovan’s Greatest Hits (1969) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

January 24, 2013, 4:45 pm

≫ Next: Mantovani & his Orchestra - An Album of Favourite Tangos (1953) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: The Kinks – Soundtrack from the film "Percy" (1971) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

In March 1969 (too soon to include "Atlantis"), Epic and Pye released Donovan's Greatest Hits, which included four songs previously only available as singles – "Epistle To Dippy", "There is a Mountain", "Jennifer Juniper" and "Laléna", as well as re-recorded versions of "Colours" and "Catch The Wind" and specially-mixed stereo versions of "Sunshine Superman" and "Season of the Witch". It became the most successful album of his career; it reached #4 in the US, became a million-selling gold record, and stayed on the Billboard album chart for more than a year.

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Mantovani & his Orchestra - An Album of Favourite Tangos (1953) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

February 8, 2013, 10:27 am

≫ Next: Galliard – Strange Pleasure (1969) *New* 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Donovan – Donovan’s Greatest Hits (1969) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

On both sides of this record you will find Tangos of varying tempos, moods and nationalities. Mantovani's orchestration of them is brilliant and tasteful...

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Galliard – Strange Pleasure (1969) New 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

February 8, 2013, 11:01 am

≫ Next: Galliard – New Dawn (1970) *New* 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Mantovani & his Orchestra - An Album of Favourite Tangos (1953) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Much of Galliard's albums are like a Happening. A pop band who've gone progressive are performing at the same time as a brass section who were soul but have now got into free-style jazz; or like listening to two radios, one tuned to pop, one tuned to jazz (but without the discordance). It's a great mix… In my humble opinion these are two of the best, most powerful, most vibrant albums of the era.

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Galliard – New Dawn (1970) New 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

February 8, 2013, 11:10 am

≫ Next: Gene Page – Hot City (1974) *New* 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Galliard – Strange Pleasure (1969) *New* 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Galliard were in on the ground floor of the British progressive rock movement, releasing their debut album, Strange Pleasure, in 1969 and mixing jazz, rock, folk, and psychedelic influences. The following year, New Dawn pretty much picked up where its predecessor left off, with one key exception: a whole brace of additional horn players had been brought in to augment the sound. The striking thing is just how good Galliard were at all of the varied styles they attempt on New Dawn, but sadly, it was to be their last album.

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Gene Page – Hot City (1974) New 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

February 13, 2013, 1:38 pm

≫ Next: Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs (1972) *New* 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Galliard – New Dawn (1970) *New* 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

A majestic combination of everything from R&B and jazz to orchestral soul and classically-influenced easy listening – something Page was doing before those folks in Philadelphia got famous for the same thing.

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Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs (1972) New 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

February 13, 2013, 1:47 pm

≫ Next: Lindisfarne - Nicely Out of Tune (1970) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Gene Page – Hot City (1974) *New* 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Filled with multi-layered harmonies and complex arrangements, this, unfortunately overlooked, album of beautiful, flowing, and wonderfully recorded Irish folk-rock (originally released in 1972) has been a favourite of record collectors for years. Luckily, the strength of the music holds up beyond its scarcity.

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Lindisfarne - Nicely Out of Tune (1970) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

February 17, 2013, 8:29 am

≫ Next: Scientist v Prince Jammy - Big Showdown (1980) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs (1972) *New* 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Easily the best album the group ever recorded, Nicely Out Of Tune is one of the prettiest folk-rock albums of the late 1960s.

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Scientist v Prince Jammy - Big Showdown (1980) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

February 26, 2013, 2:12 pm

≫ Next: Scientist - Heavyweight Dub Champion (1980) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Lindisfarne - Nicely Out of Tune (1970) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Scientist burst onto the reggae scene in the early 80s with a reckless mixing style that seemed to outdo even King Tubby's wildest extravaganzas.

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Scientist - Heavyweight Dub Champion (1980) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

February 26, 2013, 2:24 pm

≫ Next: Manu Dibango - O Boso (1972) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Scientist v Prince Jammy - Big Showdown (1980) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

If maybe you're already into reggae and finding yourself drawn more into the 'roots & culture' area of dub, then there can't be a better place to start than with Scientist.

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Manu Dibango - O Boso (1972) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

March 2, 2013, 8:41 am

≫ Next: Bobby Womack, J.J. Johnson - Across 110th Street Original Motion Picture Score (1972) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Scientist - Heavyweight Dub Champion (1980) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Dibango is Cameroon’s, and perhaps Africa’s, best-known jazz saxophonist. Dibango recorded his first album, Manu Dibango, in 1968, followed by O Boso (1971) and Soma Loba (1972). Informed by jazz and R&B, all three albums were essentially in the same urgent – at times fantastically raucous – makossa mould, which Dibango successfully introduced to the international marketplace.

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Bobby Womack, J.J. Johnson - Across 110th Street Original Motion Picture Score (1972) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

March 2, 2013, 8:49 am

≫ Next: John Dummer's Famous Music Band (1970) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Manu Dibango - O Boso (1972) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

The soundtrack to a relatively little-known 1972 blaxploitation film featured songs written and performed by Bobby Womack, as well as a musical score by J.J. Johnson. Although the inconsistency of the approach precluded a musical statement along the lines of Superfly, it's an interesting find for those looking for little-heeded early-'70s soul with funk and rock influences.

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John Dummer's Famous Music Band (1970) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

March 12, 2013, 6:17 pm

≫ Next: Kevin Coyne - Marjory Razor Blade (1973) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Bobby Womack, J.J. Johnson - Across 110th Street Original Motion Picture Score (1972) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

If you like off-kilter, bluesy, jazzy, folky music, this album is well worth a listen...

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Kevin Coyne - Marjory Razor Blade (1973) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

March 20, 2013, 6:04 pm

≫ Next: Denny Gerrard with High Tide - Sinister Morning (1970) *New* 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: John Dummer's Famous Music Band (1970) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Of the four or five Kevin Coyne albums that fans routinely describe as his best ever, Marjory Razorblade is by far the best known in the wider world, a consequence not only of the enormous critical splash it made upon its original release in 1973, but also because of the ripples it continued sending out long after the fact. Four years later, Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten singled out the album's "Eastbourne Ladies" as one of his all-time favorite records, while the strumming, thrumming "Marlene" is one of those records whose failure to become a monster hit single continues to baffle and bewilder. (Even Virgin thought so, as they proved when they gave it a second chance in 1977.) Yet "Marlene" is just one highlight amid a storm-tossed sea of the things.

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Denny Gerrard with High Tide - Sinister Morning (1970) New 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

March 22, 2013, 11:23 am

≫ Next: Pete Dello and Friends (Honeybus) - Into Your Ears (1971) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

≪ Previous: Kevin Coyne - Marjory Razor Blade (1973) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Having overseen High Tide's critically acclaimed 1969 debut album, Sea Shanties, it was no surprise that when Denny Gerrard began work on his own debut, self-produced, full-length, High Tide were by his side. However, the resulting album, Sinister Morning, was far more a reflection of Gerrard's vision than Tide's sound. Much of the set has a folkie feel, accentuated by the prolific use of Gerrard's acoustic guitar and harmonica. Although kept on a tight leash, High Tide still bring an energy to the set, turning up the heat on virtually all the songs…

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