Originally released in 1971 and masterfully remastered for Clinck Records' coveted 2015 high-fidelity CD reissue, African Rock is a monumental, earth-shaking masterpiece of global fusion led by legendary Japanese master drummer Akira Ishikawa. Standing as a definitive pillar of early-70s Tokyo avant-garde groove, the album captures Ishikawa and his Count Buffalos at their most experimental, seamlessly blending furious Afrobeat rhythmic foundations with fiery jazz-rock improvisation and heavy psychedelic rock textures. Driven by Ishikawa's relentless, complex polyrhythms and backed by blistering fuzz guitar solos, primal percussion layers, and soaring horn charts, the record builds an intensely raw, hypnotic listening experience. From the ritualistic, spiritual opening of Prayer / Sala (祈り) to the massive, open-ended drum showcases on Hunting / Mwindo (狩) and The Earth (大地), this pristine archive preserves a fiercely ambitious cross-cultural landmark that continues to captivate collectors of global rare groove and deep psychedelic jazz-funk.

Originally released in 1971 and masterfully revitalized on Nippon Columbia's 2013 high-fidelity CD reissue, Salute to Soul is a towering, rare holy grail of Japanese heavy soul-jazz and psych-tinged rhythm and blues. Fronted by the raw, deeply expressive, and powerhouse vocals of dynamic singer Sammy (Masami Chino), this album is backed by the elite instrumental powerhouse arrangement of The Freedom Unity. The project acts as an explosive, late-night tribute to classic Western blues, gospel, and soul standards, completely injecting them with a ferocious early-70s Tokyo underground energy. Driven by thick, syncopated basslines, smoky organ chords, and searing jazz-rock guitar solos, the album seamlessly bridges the gap between deep groove jazz-funk and high-intensity vocal soul. From the hypnotic opening reimagining of House of the Rising Sun (朝日のあたる家) and a heavy, brooding take on Summertime (サマータイム) to the gritty emotional depth of Al Kooper's I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know, this pristine digital archive preserves an indispensable milestone of Japanese crossover music history.

Originally released in 1979 and beautifully preserved on Nippon Columbia's 2015 high-fidelity CD reissue, Count Buffalo Plays Country Rock! is an incredibly unique and adventurous genre-bending project led by master Japanese percussionist Akira Ishikawa. Fronting his legendary outfit, the Count Buffalo Jazz Rock Band, Ishikawa takes classic Western country, pop, and folk melodies and completely transforms them into heavy, hypnotic grooves. The production seamlessly fuses thick, psych-infused jazz-rock arrangements, swirling vintage keyboards, and explosive drum breakbeats with underlying currents of deep psychedelic soul. Ishikawa's syncopated rhythm section breathes an entirely new, late-70s Tokyo funk identity into traditional songbooks, building an intriguing crossover sonic bridge. From the opening reimagination of Wichita Lineman (ウイチタラインマン) and the driving energy of By the Time I Get to Phoenix (恋のフェニックス) to the relentless rhythmic motion of Harper Valley P.T.A. (ハーパーバレーP•T•A), this high-fidelity digital archive captures a stellar team of legendary session musicians reshaping sonic boundaries with pure instrumental power.

Originally released in 1983 and presented here on Columbia's rare 1989 CD reissue, JAM TRIP 1800 – Lupin III is a high-octane, rhythm-heavy jazz-funk explosion from legendary master drummer Akira Ishikawa and his powerhouse ensemble, the Count Buffalos. Part of Columbia's famous "Jam Trip" series, this album serves as a volcanic re-imagining of Yuji Ohno's iconic themes from the Lupin III anime franchise. Ishikawa drives the group with his signature heavy, propulsive drumming, laying down a monstrous foundation of thick breakbeats and Latin-infused percussion loops. Blending blazing big band horn arrangements with gritty jazz-rock guitar solos and brilliant synthesizer work, the ensemble morphs familiar soundtracks into serious dancefloor grooves. From the legendary Lupin III Theme (ルパン三世のテーマ) and the relentless pace of Magnum Dance (マグナム・ダンス) to the smooth, sultry soul of Love Squall (ラヴ・スコール), this high-fidelity archive perfectly captures an explosive intersection of vintage Japanese anime culture and elite instrumental jazz fusion history.

Originally released in 1981 and presented here on the stellar 1999 Unidisc CD reissue, Standing Together is the crucial sophomore studio album from the legendary American electro-funk ensemble Midnight Star. Serving as a foundational early chapter in their discography, this record beautifully documents the band's transition from traditional, horn-heavy underground funk and sweet soul toward the high-gloss, synth-driven electronic dance grooves that would define their massive mid-80s commercial breakthrough. Spearheaded by the songwriting brilliance of the Calloway brothers and Reggie Calloway's sharp production, the album highlights their tight rhythm section, punchy vocoders, and dynamic vocal arrangements. From the infectious dancefloor pulse of the title track Standing Together and the deep slap-bass groove of Tuff to the melodic charm of I've Been Watching You, this high-fidelity archive captures a legendary group capturing their signature sonic footprint. Expanded with multiple rare radio edits, this collection is an indispensable document of early 80s urban music history.

Originally released in 1976 and remastered for this stellar 2018 Victor Entertainment reissue, Inugamike No Ichizoku (The Inugami Clan) is a legendary cinematic masterpiece composed by the brilliant Japanese jazz pianist and arranger Yuji Ohno. Serving as the original motion picture soundtrack for Kon Ichikawa's landmark mystery film, this record is an exquisite blending of haunting cinematic traditionalism and gritty, late-70s Tokyo jazz-funk. Driven by Ohno's unmistakable arranging style—which would soon achieve global fame through his work on the Lupin III series—the tracks alternate between dark, brooding psych-rock tensions and lush, melancholic orchestration. The iconic opening track Love Ballad (愛のバラード) stands as a monument of Japanese instrumental pop, featuring sweeping melodies layered over a tight, deep groove. Preserved here in an audiophile-grade high-fidelity archive, this reissue is an absolute must-own milestone for collectors of vintage cinematic grooves and Japanese jazz fusion history.

Originally released in 1977 and presented here on the highly sought-after 1995 RCA CD reissue, Twilight Zone is a towering masterpiece of Japanese City Pop, soul, and jazz-funk fusion. Produced by Minako Yoshida alongside the legendary Tatsuro Yamashita, the album represents a milestone in the late-70s Tokyo sound. Yoshida's exceptionally expressive, soulful vocals are backed by a virtuosic studio band including Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruomi Hosono, and Shigeru Suzuki. The album effortlessly balances sophisticated chord progressions with deep, danceable grooves, best exemplified by the iconic, horn-drenched floor-filler Shooting Star Of Love (恋は流星) and the sublime groove of Uptown. Preserved in a pristine high-fidelity archive, this reissue is an essential cornerstone for audiophiles and serious collectors exploring the golden era of Japanese jazz-soul crossover music.

Originally released in 1972 and presented here as a rare 1998 unofficial reissue by the Euroton label, Vol. 4 is a monumental, earth-shattering masterpiece that captures the founding fathers of heavy metal, Black Sabbath, at their absolute creative and sonic zenith. Recorded in Los Angeles amidst a haze of notorious excess, the album marks a massive evolutionary leap forward, expanding the band's trademark crushing doom riffs with unexpected orchestral arrangements, acoustic textures, and sonic experimentation. Driven by Tony Iommi's iconic, down-tuned guitar architecture, Geezer Butler's driving bass, Bill Ward's jazz-inflected power drumming, and Ozzy Osbourne's haunting vocal delivery, the record yields timeless heavy staples like Supernaut, Cornucopia, and the snow-dusted anthem Snowblind, contrasted beautifully against the piano-led ballad Changes. This high-fidelity archive also includes the classic bonus cuts Evil Woman and Wicked World, making it an essential, high-octane document of definitive hard rock history.

Released in 2016 by Sony Music and Epic, Original Album Classics is a massive, definitive 5CD box set chronicling the peak, genre-defining era of Venice, California's crossover thrash titans, Suicidal Tendencies. Anchored by the iconic, rapid-fire vocal delivery and socio-political commentary of frontman Mike Muir, this collection highlights the band's brilliant evolution from raw, underground hardcore punk into a technically dazzling, funk-infused heavy metal powerhouse. Spanning 1988 to 1993, the set includes the thrash milestones How Will I Laugh Tomorrow… and Controlled By Hatred, the absolute masterpiece Lights… Camera… Revolution!, the highly melodic, gold-certified alternative experimentation of The Art Of Rebellion, and the blistering 1993 re-recordings of their classic debut material on Still Cyco After All These Years. Featuring the stellar instrumentation of guitar virtuoso Rocky George and future Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, this pristine high-fidelity archive serves as an essential, high-octane monument for collectors of skate punk, hardcore, and thrash history.

On her self-titled debut, the legendary pop icon Janet Jackson delivers a bright, energetic, and highly charming masterclass that marks the historic, foundational document of her solo recording career. Originally released in 1982 by A&M Records (and preserved here via the crisp 1991 digital reissue), this album introduced the world to a sixteen-year-old Janet stepping out of her famous family's shadow to define her own sonic identity. Spanning nearly thirty-nine minutes of pristine, bass-heavy audio architecture, the 8-track landscape operates with a fluid, infectious kinetic energy, combining late-era disco grooves with forward-thinking early-80s synth-funk elements. The tracklist moves beautifully through shimmering dance floor gems, from the pulsating, electronic bass cadence of the opening anthem Say You Do and the driving pop-funk precision of Young Love to the bright, melodic rhythms of Don't Mess Up This Good Thing. Driven by punchy analog synthesizers, crisp drum-machine loops, and her sweet, youthful vocal delivery, this high-fidelity document remains an indispensable time capsule for R&B completionists and classic pop-funk purists alike.

On this exceptional, self-titled masterwork, the brilliantly talented and deeply missed American vocalist Curtis Hairston delivers a definitive, velvet-smooth blueprint of mid-1980s urban contemporary soul and electro-funk. Originally released in 1986 by Atlantic Records and beautifully preserved for audiophiles via this 2009 pristine reissue, the album captures a phenomenal Juilliard-trained artist operating at the absolute peak of his vocal capabilities. Renowned both for his solo success and his iconic contributions as the lead voice of the B. B. & Q. Band, Hairston bridges the gap between sophisticated late-night R&B ballads and high-energy dance-pop grooves. The tracklist is an immaculate showcase of boogie excellence, anchored by the irresistible, synth-driven bounce of Chillin' Out, the sweeping romantic depth of Let's Make Love Tonight, and the beautifully polished textures of (You're My) Shining Star. Driven by crisp drum machines, bubbling slinky basslines, and Hairston's impeccably smooth, expressive vocal phrasing, this album remains an essential, holy grail document for 80s soul collectors and groove purists worldwide.

On this self-titled masterwork, the legendary Southern soul queen Candi Staton delivers a brilliant, deeply emotional crossover statement that perfectly captures the pivotal transition from late-70s dancefloor kineticism to polished 1980s urban contemporary groove. Originally released in 1980 and beautifully preserved for audiophiles via this 2010 Wounded Bird Records reissue, the album spotlights a phenomenal artist executing with absolute vocal authority. Moving fluidly between horn-drenched funk arrangements, sun-drenched disco basslines, and deeply intimate mid-tempo soul, the record boasts pristine, sparkling analog production values. The tracklist is packed with groove-heavy highlights, from the driving, infectious dance hooks of Looking For Love and Halfway To Heaven to an incredibly smooth, sophisticated reinvention of the Marvelettes' classic The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game. Backed by a razor-sharp rhythm section and lush orchestral synthesizers, Staton's gritty, gospel-trained delivery remains the ultimate centerpiece. The result is a definitive, profoundly expressive soulful document that stands as an essential, hidden gem in the pantheon of modern soul and disco history.

Released in 2008 by the prestigious European imprint ECM Records, Life’s Backward Glances is a monumental, deeply poetic, and beautifully curated 3-CD box set retrospective that honors the pioneering seventies output of master jazz pianist and composer Steve Kuhn. Compiling three long-unavailable, landmark albums—the solo acoustic tour de force Ecstasy (1974), alongside his brilliant quartet statements Motility (1977) and Playground (1979)—the collection charts Kuhn's evolution into one of the most distinctive harmonic voices in modern creative music. Backed across the different dates by an elite circle of improvisers including multi-reed virtuoso Steve Slagle, bassists Harvie Swartz, and drum giants Michael Smith and Bob Moses, the sessions strike a flawless balance between post-bop intensity and pristine European impressionism. A crowning jewel is the inclusion of pioneering jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan on Playground, whose striking, instrumental-like delivery completely illuminates Kuhn's compositions. Moving seamlessly from the vast, crystalline solo architecture of The Saga Of Harrison Crabfeathers to the driving, multi-layered quartet movements of The Rain Forest and Deep Tango, this definitive reissue captures Kuhn operating at the absolute pinnacle of his lyrical, adventurous powers.

Anyone listening to this admirable set will gain an accurate impression of David Oistrakh’s overall playing style, his poise, composure, interpretative finesse, velvety tone and highly sophisticated musicianship. Various of the works programmed are - or have been - available in alternative Oistrakh recordings (the Tchaikovsky and Brahms concertos in around six versions apiece), but Melodiya’s selections are, in general, judiciously chosen.

This is an enjoyable date of Dixieland, emphasizing familiar warhorses. Trumpeter Bob Scobey is in his usual consistent form and is assisted in the frontline by trombonist Jack Buck and clarinetist Bill Napier. Banjoist Clancy Hayes has six excellent vocals (particularly "Curse of an Aching Heart" and "Travelin' Shoes"), and the spirit and high musicianship overcome the familiar repertoire.