What began as Lou Reed’s backing in the seventies stepped out on its own as Everyman Band, recording this self-titled debut for ECM in 1982. If a group is only as good as its musicians, then the name is a contradiction: not everyone possesses the firepower of Michael Suchorsky on drums, David Torn on guitar, Bruce Yaw on bass, and Marty Fogel on saxophones. The latter brings his idiomatic flair with three originals. Torn steals the show in “Lonely Streets,” a smoldering trek through nocturnal fires and other hidden conflagrations. Fogel spikes this punch with his own choice poisons. Yaw keeps up at every turn of phrase, and keeps us “On the Spot” with a memorable bass line, around which Fogel herds Torn’s flock in tight circuits. “Fatt Blatt” weighs in with a heavy tenor solo before the quartet pulls its best funk off the rack in a monochromatic swing. Yaw has his moment in the sun before diving back into the vamp with a vengeance.

City in the Sky, the final LP that the Staple Singers made with Stax Records, features the same socially conscious lyrics and powerful singing that had become their trademark before the album's 1974 release. While the original recording didn't have the kind of explosive singles like "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There" that helped them become legends of soul music, this is by no means a weak album. The opener "Back Road Into Town" seethes with energy and anger-tinged pride, while "Washington We're Watching You" combines that same message of anger and pride with organ and horn-driven funk.

The Staples' finest single album, containing three Top Ten R&B hits, "Respect Yourself," "I'll Take You There," and "This World." The first two also were pop Top 20s, "I'll Take You There" going all the way to number one. AllMusic Review by Rob Bowman

Their second Stax release was similar to Soul Folk in Action. The album's highlight is Randall Stewart's "When Will We Be Paid?" AllMusic Review by Rob Bowman

The best and most famous cuts from their glory years at Stax. Includes their massive hits "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There"; less famous but similar gospel-funk fusions like "Touch a Hand (Make a Friend)" and "Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom)"; and less expected items like a cover of "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay." It does not, however, have their 1975 number one single "Let's Do It Again," which they recorded just after cutting their ties to Stax. AllMusic Review by Richie Unterberger

Messiah, HWV 56 (1992 Remastered Version) , Part 1: And the glory of the Lord (chorus: Andante), King's College Choir, Cambridge/Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Sir David Willcocks.

Gospel-soul pioneers the Staple Singers will have their storied Stax years commemorated with the December release by Craft Recordings of six individual albums. Featuring: Soul Folk in Action, We’ll Get Over, The Staple Swingers, Be Altitude: Respect Yourself, Be What You Are and City in the Sky.

These great high-end renditions of Dave Brubeck’s most memorable recordings were recorded ‘off-the-floor’ in 2 tracks at 15 ips, using the purest audiophile analog techniques, capturing the energy and joy of three brilliant young L.A. musicians playing together as one, seizing the well-known tunes, making them freshly their own.

Celebrating the 70th anniversary of Prestige Records, the selection presents the quintet’s marathon sessions for the iconic jazz label, recorded between 1955–56, which resulted in classic albums such as Cookin’, Relaxin’, Workin’, and Steamin’.

For more than six decades, Jack Jones has been recognized as one of America's premier vocalists. Frank Sinatra called him "one of the major singers of our time," while Paul Williams noted, "He doesn't perform a song; he lives it." Williams would know, as one of the writers of Jones' immortal theme to The Love Boat. But "The Love Boat" and beloved hits like "Wives and Lovers" and "Lollipops and Roses" merely scratch the surface of Jones' remarkable career. One of the crown jewels of his impressive discography is 1964's The Jack Jones Christmas Album.

Sun City was a 1985 album that contained several versions of the Steven Van Zandt-led Artists United Against Apartheid's "Sun City" protest song against apartheid in South Africa as well as other selections in the same vein from that project.

By the early '70s, despite a roster that included the Dramatics and Isaac Hayes, Stax Records was winding down. The Staple Singers, signed to the label in the late '60s, always provided hit singles and respected album efforts. Despite their gospel beginnings, the Staple Singers' biggest draws became Pops Staples' blues-based "devil's music" guitar and Mavis Staples' breathy and sexy vocals.

The legendary 101 Strings Orchestra brings the audience on an easy cruise through the Mediterranean on this wonderful legacy release. 101 Strings Orchestra was a brand for a highly successful easy listening symphonic music organization, with a discography exceeding 150 albums and a creative lifetime of around 30 years beginning in 1957. 101 Strings had a trademark sound, focusing on melody with a laid-back ambiance most often featuring strings. Their LPs were individualized by the slogan "The Sound of Magnificence." The 101 Strings orchestra included 124 string instruments, and was conducted by Wilhelm Stephan.

E-Street Band guitarist Steve Van Zandt left the band following the recording of Born In The U.S.A. and released his own album, Voice Of America. It was Van Zandt's second album, after his prior release Men Without Women, and he was again backed by the Disciples Of Soul, including bassist Jean Beauvoir, and drummer Dino Danelli. Van Zandt himself handled vocals and guitars, as well as writing and producing the record's ten songs (the 1991 reissue included two bonus cuts). Voice Of America is a straight-ahead rock record with punk underpinnings and strong percussive rhythms. Van Zandt is a bit thin and reedy as a singer, but manages to carry through on passion and bravado.

' Remastered from original tapes. ' Bonus disk of unreleased demos, outtakes and alternate mixes. ' Co-released by band's own label Duophonic UHF Disks and Warp Records. ' Fold-out poster insert with lyrics and sleevenotes from Laetitia Sadier and Tim Gane.