The Ugly Ducklings were probably the best-known Canadian garage rock group of the mid-'60s. Formed in Toronto's famed Yorkville area in 1965, the band flourished in the many coffeehouses around the Yorkville district as a Rolling Stones cover band before becoming the Ugly Ducklings and attracting the attention of the local independent Yorktown Records label. The band recorded a single, "Nothin'," which became a Canadian hit, and opened for the Rolling Stones in 1966 when the Stones played Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens. The bandmembers were quickly becoming local heroes, and in 1967 the album Somewhere Outside was released on Yorktown. The album contained nine original compositions as well as two cover songs…

Recorded During American Tour, Red Rocks, Denver, 5/06/83.

The blues of Lurrie Bell comes from a turbulent place, but there's no denying the man can play. This album brings together tracks from three different sessions, the bulk being held in 1997. Supported by a spartan rhythm section, Bell sprays kamikaze guitar licks over a bevy of old standards like "Five Long Years," "Who Do You Love," "Mean Old Frisco," and "You're the One." The last four songs on the album are the real treat; cut in 1995 at the Mercurial Son sessions, this is just Lurrie and his electric guitar running through raw, soulful, and sometimes whacked-out versions of everything from "Rollin' and Tumblin'" to "If I Had a Hammer." If you've wondered what all the fuss is about, grab this CD and turn on to the blues world of Lurrie Bell.

The tracks that make up Straight Life had been sitting in the Blue Note vaults since they were recorded on June 22, 1961, representing the only recorded output that year by Jimmy Smith and his trio of the era, which included guitarist Quentin Warren and drummer Donald Bailey. Somehow these ten songs got lost in the shuffle between the 1960 Blue Note date Crazy! Baby and Smith's leap into the national spotlight with his first Verve release, Bashin', in 1962. The trio swings along on six standards and three originals "Straight Life," "Jimmy's Blues," and two versions of "Minor Fare." Although not in the same league as Midnight Special or Prayer Meetin', it's great to hear this long lost hard bop session from the master of the Hammond B-3.

Even though Vladimir Ashkenazy is most often celebrated for his brilliantly virtuosic interpretations of Romantic repertoire, his skills in playing works of the Classical era are just as worthy, as proved by this 10-disc set from London of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's piano concertos. These performances span a period from 1966 to 1988, capturing a youthful and vigorous Ashkenazy playing and conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra and the English Chamber Orchestra from the keyboard, in approved Mozartian fashion. All of the keyboard concertos are here, including the official 27 concertos for piano and orchestra, the Concerto for two pianos in E flat major, K. 365, the Concerto for three pianos in F major, K. 242, as well as the two Rondos K. 382 and K. 386. Ashkenazy's elegant playing has been highly praised by critics and placed on a level with his esteemed contemporaries Murray Perahia, Daniel Barenboim, and Alfred Brendel, all past masters of Mozart's primary medium of expression.

The JB Horns – I Like It Like That (1994) is a funk-driven album featuring key members of James Brown’s legendary backing band — including Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, and Pee Wee Ellis. Released in 1994, the album delivers tight grooves, soulful horn sections, and infectious rhythms that stay true to the classic funk sound they helped pioneer. Blending jazz, soul, and R&B influences, I Like It Like That showcases the enduring energy and musicianship of the JB Horns, making it a standout for fans of funk and instrumental soul.

VA – Gomorra: La Colonna Sonora (2008) is the official soundtrack to Matteo Garrone’s award-winning film Gomorra. Released by Radio Fandango, it features a mix of Italian neo-melodic songs, atmospheric instrumentals, and international tracks, including artists like Alessio, Enigma, and Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja. The music captures the film’s gritty tone and the harsh realities of life in Naples under the shadow of organized crime. It’s a haunting, emotionally charged collection that complements the film’s raw storytelling.

Iconic singer, songwriter and Grammy-nominated artist Sophie B. Hawkins offers this immensely bold, raw set of acoustic reinterpretations of songs from her 1995 breakthrough album Whaler! Unfiltered and surprisingly vulnerable, these recordings bring the audience closer than ever to Hawkins' passionate, artistic heart with these fresh takes on such memorable songs as "As I Lay Me Down," "Right Besdie You," "Only Love (The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty), and more! Hawkins has been wowing audiences across the UK in recent months including a special appearance at the legendary Glastonbury Festival and is set to kick off a NA tour in October with Paula Cole!

Recorded at Relight Studios in the Netherlands in March 1977, the album was the band’s second for the recently established Oyster Records (formed by Deep Purple member Roger Glover).
The album starts off promisingly with the moody and expansive "Burning for Me"; Dave Cousins sings with restraint over a somber repeating theme on piano and strings, and it ends with a hint of a Moog solo. Alas, later numbers like "Keep on Trying" turn out to be a limply insincere sort of "positive pop," which is all the more grating given the sincere moodiness of the band's earlier work. "Back in the Old Routine" is a patronizing mimicry of the working bloke, a sort of folky watering down of their old hit "Part of the Union." Cousins at least gets back a bit of his old bile in "Alexander the Great," where he gives a sour kiss-off to music critics - who, at this point, probably weren't listening anyway.

Lucky Dube – The Rough Guide To Lucky Dube (2001) is a compilation album that celebrates the legacy of the South African reggae legend. Known for blending reggae with African rhythms and socially conscious lyrics, Lucky Dube’s music addresses themes of love, struggle, and unity. This collection offers a curated selection of his best tracks, giving listeners an accessible overview of his impactful career. Released as part of the Rough Guide series, it’s perfect for both new fans and longtime followers wanting to explore his influential sound.

Coming almost three years after their excellent, unexpected, and infectious LP Electric, 2016's Super is the second album where the Pet Shop Boys call themselves "electronic purists," holing up in the studio with returning producer Stuart Price and a mess of PCs, drum machines, and synths. The musical landscape is the same and still, it's not a sequel or a very proper follow-up. It feels confident, loose, and free like a swaggering epilogue, like the smaller Quantum of Solace following the epic Casino Royale. At first, everything is in its place, as nostalgic single "The Pop Kids" acts as this album's "Being Boring" with alluring house music and quintessential PSB lyrics ("I studied History while you did biology/To you the human body didn't hold any mystery"). "The Dictator Decides" is this album's "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously" with focus shifted to the 2016 political landscape ("My facts are invented, I sound quite demented")…

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Crush (1985) is a seminal synthpop album by the British band OMD. Known for its polished production and catchy melodies, Crush features hits like “So in Love” and “Secret.” The album blends electronic synth textures with pop songwriting, showcasing the band’s evolution toward a more polished, radio-friendly sound. Its romantic and introspective themes resonated with fans worldwide. The CD-Rip format means this is a high-quality digital copy sourced from the original CD, ideal for collectors and synthpop enthusiasts.

OBK – Extrapop (2001) is an album by the Spanish synthpop band OBK, known for their melodic electronic sound and poetic lyrics. Released in 2001, Extrapop features catchy synth-driven tracks blending pop sensibilities with dance beats, reflecting themes of love, introspection, and modern life. The album helped cement OBK’s status as pioneers in the Spanish electronic music scene. A CD-Rip indicates a high-quality digital copy made from the original CD, preserving the album’s sound for easy listening and sharing.

Mesh – We Collide (2006) is a standout album by the British synthpop duo Mesh, known for their emotive lyrics and lush electronic soundscapes. Released in 2006, the album combines dark synth textures with catchy melodies, exploring themes of love, conflict, and personal struggle. Tracks like “Crash” and “You Didn’t Want Me” showcase their signature blend of driving beats and heartfelt vocals. We Collide is celebrated by synthpop fans for its polished production and emotional depth, solidifying Mesh’s place in the electronic music scene.

Today, Robert Plant announces the release of Saving Grace: the first album featuring a new band of distinguished players, which he calls “a song book of the lost and found.” Arriving September 26 on Nonesuch Records, the genesis of Saving Grace began during the lockdown in “The Shire,” when Plant’s customary wandering was all but forbidden. While his recent adventures have centred around Nashville, having reunited with Alison Krauss for 2021’s chart-topping, multi GRAMMY-nominated Raise The Roof, it was in the English countryside that Robert Plant connected closely to this diverse group of musicians, who through their own experiences had a shared lean towards his much-loved corners of evocative song. Together, Plant and Saving Grace – vocalist Suzi Dian, drummer Oli Jefferson, guitarist Tony Kelsey, banjo and string player Matt Worley, cellist Barney Morse-Brown – have spent the past six years growing into a wide-ranging workshop of styles and personalities, weaving through time and circumstance with joy and abandon.Following his previous acclaimed releases on Nonesuch Records – 2014’s lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar and 2017’s Carry Fire – Saving Grace brings yet another chapter of Robert Plant’s ceaseless roar into the daylight. Produced by Robert Plant and Saving Grace – and recorded between April 2019 and January 2025 in the Cotswolds and on the Welsh Borders – Saving Grace breathes fresh life into a collection of century-old music. A treasury of songs featured back in time by Memphis Minnie, Bob Mosley (Moby Grape), Blind Willie Johnson, The Low Anthem, Martha Scanlan, Sarah Siskind, and Low.