Having played straightforward hard rock with Mr. Big since the tail end of the '80s, bass virtuoso Billy Sheehan formed Niacin as an outlet for his jazz fusion and prog rock inclinations during the mid-'90s. The trio also featured keyboardist John Novello and drummer Dennis Chambers, both musicians who had crossed frequently between the worlds of jazz and rock during their careers. With Niacin, Novello devoted himself especially to the Hammond B-3 organ, a longtime mainstay of both jazz and prog rock.

Although universally acknowledged as a true musical genius, Ray Charles was equally a pioneer of a musical genre that flourished during the 1950s, almost exclusively due to his sonic experimentation and development of previous styles. Initially a jazz performer and musician, by the late 1940s Ray had seen enough as a sideman and ventured out under his own name. But it was his signing to Atlantic Records in 1952 which proved the catalyst for Ray Charles to pioneer a new style, soon to be labelled soul music. It was his fusion of R N B, blues, jazz, gospel, with a hint pop and country, that he would develop throughout the decade to create arguably the most dynamic, home grown American music genre in history. This 3 CD set contains every track Ray released during the 1950s - and thus provides the definitive collection of Ray Charles material, and therefore by definition, the ultimate early

Metallica is the definitive heavy metal band, the group that brought the gnarly underground sounds of thrash metal into the mainstream, then reshaped the contours of heavy music and hard rock once they became the biggest rock band in the world after the release of their self-titled "black album" in 1991. By that point, Metallica already had experienced enough upheaval for two careers. Emerging from the feverish metal underground of the early '80s, Metallica became a word-of-mouth sensation with their indie releases Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning, records that helped them land a contract with Elektra.

Lenny Kravitz is still obsessed with the '70s, and for good reason: he's found endless inspiration in the work of Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder, and a decade's worth of soul men. Kravitz hasn't lost the funk on 5, but the sound here drifts dangerously close to the Me decade's shallowest end, when disco seemed to rob R&B of its soul. So the passion Kravitz has shown on early albums is strangely diluted (aside from the album-closing epic "Can We Find a Reason?"). 5 is the singer's first foray into digital technology, but despite a few modern effects at the edges, he's doing essentially the same as before–only colder.

The second reunion album (and the sixth and final overall by the original lineup) sees WA return to conventional songs after 1987’s Nouveau Calls’ all instrumentals approach. It does not see them return to their classic style - like Nouveau Calls, HTH is a modern album, full of 80s adult contemporary sounds. However, it is much better than Nouveau Calls, like an update on Front Page News with its focus on light pop rock. HTH sports some great toe tappers such as Keeper Of The Light, with its Andy Powell guitar riff, shimmering production and hook-filled Martin Turner vocal. Witness To Wonder may be the softest of soft rock but gets away with it thanks to drummer Steve Upton’s atmospheric percussion and a gorgeous blend of chiming guitars and relaxing synths. There is an instrumental here in In The Case and it does sound like it could’ve been on Nouveau Calls but good work from Martin and Powell make it more charismatic…

An outstanding artiste on the Chicago musical scene, Carey, in addition to guiding his sons Lurrie, Steve and James towards the blues, did not fossilise his style into the urban one, but often enjoyed leaving the electric cage to perform acoustically in a duo. Although the results have been late in arriving, in spite of the occasional presence of famous musicians such as Louisiana Red, everything has changed after the issue of this CD. First of all the work is almost free of the usual standards, with the exception of ‘'Good Morning Little Schoolgirl’’ and ‘Stop Breaking Down’, and the parts between Bell and the guitarist/singer Spike Ravenswood (a linear and expressive partner, without instrumental egocentricities which are useless in the economy of work), are equally divided…

Mike Tramp, the unmistakable voice and principal songwriter of White Lion, concludes his heartfelt trilogy with 'Songs of White Lion Vol. III' - a powerful and deeply personal tribute to one of the most iconic bands of the 1980s melodic hard rock scene. In this final installment, Tramp revisits and reimagines ten more essential songs from the White Lion catalog, bringing them back to life with the passion, perspective, and authenticity that only decades of experience can deliver. Songs of White Lion is a trilogy of albums by Mike Tramp's White Lion featuring new re-recorded versions of White Lion songs, released via Frontiers Music.

Martin Carthy MBE (born 21 May 1941) is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, and later artists such as Richard Thompson, since he emerged as a young musician in the early days of the folk revival.

In his recording of Bach's 48 Colin Tilney, unlike his fellow competitors in the same repertory, plays both a clavichord (Book 1) and a harpsichord (Book 2). Why not? Bach's title for the first book of 24 preludes and fugues, The Well-tempered Clavier leaves both this issue and that of tuning wide open. The clavichord was a favourite instrument of Bach's, so was the harpsichord and the organ; indeed, I am sorry that Tilney does not include a chamber organ since some of the pieces, the E major Prelude and Fugue (Book 2), for instance, seem well-suited to it. Tilney's performance of the 48 differs again from almost if not all others in the sequence which he adopts in playing the preludes and fugues. But an apparently random approach is in fact nothing of the kind, but one that is directly linked with tuning. We know that Bach himself was a master in matters of tuning as he was in all other aspects of his craft. What we do not know is the exact nature of his tuning.

In celebration of Mick Jagger's 80th birthday, we invite you to rediscover another aspect of the Rolling Stones singer's career through his solo albums and his many duets and collaborations with David Bowie, Peter Tosh, Tina Turner, Dave Stewart, The Chieftains and many others.

Al Green's first four albums on 2 CDs, the first of three mid-priced sets that will encompass all twelve of his studio albums for Hi Records. Originally issued between 1969 and 1972, these albums Include the hits 'I Can't Get Next To You', 'Tired Of Being Alone', 'Let's Stay Together', 'Look What You Done For Me' and 'I'm Still In Love With You', as well as the classic tracks 'How Can You Mend A Broken Heart', 'Love And Happiness', 'Simply Beautiful' and many more. Authoritatively annotated by Tony Rounce, the forty-track package includes three bonus non-album b-sides, featuring Green's amazing reading of The Beatles 'I Want To Hold Your Hand'. Al Green's 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th albums on 2 CD's, the second of three mid-priced sets that encompass all 12 of his studio albums for Hi Records. Originally issued between 1972 and 1974, these albums include the Top 5 hits 'You Ought To Be With Me', 'Call Me', 'Here I Am (Come And Take Me)', 'Livin' For You', 'Let's Ger Married' plus 'Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)', 'L-O-V-E (Love)', 'Oh Me', as well as the classic tracks 'Take Me To The River', 'Funny How Time Slips Away' and many more.

Blondie is perhaps the quintessential new wave band: an art-pop group who made the leap from punk to the Top 40, polishing their spiky curves while simultaneously broadening their musical purview beyond trashy AM pop to encompass disco, reggae, and hip-hop. They brought underground sounds into the mainstream with a sly, knowing wink and the incandescent star power of Debbie Harry, the lead singer who co-led the group with guitarist Chris Stein. Blondie's blend of girl-group pop and garage rock first took hold in the U.K., when "Denis" and "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear" reached the Top Ten in 1978, but when the group collaborated with Mike Chapman – a producer who was a powerhouse in glam – they crafted Parallel Lines, a sleek, modernist masterpiece anchored by the glitter-ball pulse of "Heart of Glass." Parallel Lines turned Blondie – and especially Harry – into superstars and the number one singles came furiously in the next two years.

Considered one of the best vocalists of the 80/90s, Whitney Houston sold more than 200 million albums worldwide. "The Voice", as she was known, made her way through the decades from pop to R'n'B with great success. She passed away on February 11, 2012.

A bit more electric than you might guess from the "natural" in the title - but a great set of keyboards from the mighty Richard Tee - one of his few albums as a leader back in the day! The set's produced by Bob James, and has a groove that's not unlike some of James' own smoother fusion from the end of the 70s - a style that still has a fair bit of jazz in the mix, but which also shines with some warmer R&B touches as well. Players on the set include Tom Scott on saxes, Eric Gale on guitar, and Steve Gadd on drums - and some of the best numbers have a nicely stripped-down approach.

Genesis spread their music over four decades. Founded originally by singer Peter Gabriel, they quickly gained a following and began to ride the wave of progressive rock. Peter Gabriel later left to begin a brilliant solo career, he was replaced by drummer Phil Collins as the group continued to be very successful. Collins also later left the group to start his own impressive solo journey, but Genesis kept going and continued producing music. Genesis have a rich discography with many famous tracks, which are full of variation and complex changes in structure and tempo. They were also able to write simpler songs which took them to the top of the Charts without affecting their ambitions style. Take a stroll through the different stages of one of the biggest bands ever with this Genesis playlist. Photo © Genesis 1974