This 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition includes the original studio album, ten previously unreleased live tracks that were recorded during the band s three-night stand at the Los Angeles Forum in October 1976. Presented in an 11 x 11 hardbound book, the set also features rare and unseen photos from the era, a replica tour book, and three stand-alone posters.
The Eagles took 18 months between their fourth and fifth albums, reportedly spending eight months in the studio recording Hotel California. The album was also their first to be made without Bernie Leadon, who had given the band much of its country flavor, and with rock guitarist Joe Walsh. As a result, the album marks a major leap for the Eagles from their earlier work, as well as a stylistic shift toward mainstream rock…

In the liner notes to these carefully packaged reissues, all four of the Incredible String Band principals– co-founder Clive Palmer, core duo Mike Heron and Robin Williamson, and Elektra records executive Joe Boyd– offer their insights in separate essays. Three of them mention the smell of patchouli. Such were the times, certainly, but the ISB are loved equally by avant-garde musicians, psychedelia enthusiasts, and those slightly dweeby young gentlemen who hang around music shops on college campuses. The reissue of their first four albums probably put to rest any notion that the ISB were a properly great band, releasing just one true classic, but they were rarely anything less than brave, inspired, and profoundly weird.

Here's Brownie and Sonny's gospel album, recorded in 1957 at Jenny Lind Hall in Oakland, California. Those used to hearing this duo stomp and hoot the blues will be surprised as they tackle material like "What a Beautiful City," "I Shall Not Be Moved," "If I Could Hear My Mother Pray," and Gary Davis' "Get Right Church" in their own inimitable style. But an even bigger surprise comes with the liner notes, penned by major league baseball player Orlando Cepeda! By far the most interesting of all the many recordings this twosome made during their time together.

The overflowing talent of a young man, the ultimate songbook is now available. All of Brian's works & followers & influences are included! The Brian Wilson Songbook has already been published by us (ODR6962-63), but we have reconstructed his fertile mind in a way that does not duplicate a single song. We have not only shed light on Brian's work and his followers, but have also taken a multifaceted look at the songs that may have influenced him. Beginning with Jan & Dane's M1, the first part of the album continues with Brian's work, followed by two good covers of Beach Boys songs, and then we come to his ally Gary Usher. The all-star cast is then introduced with M11 by Van Dyke Parks, M12 by Sagittarius, and M13 by Bruce & Terry. In the middle section, Brian's followers lined up, with the sad M17, followed by the hidden masterpiece M18, which also featured Ian Matthews, and a series of good tunes. M19.20, which talked about his affinity with the hilarious soul of the Philadelphia Soul, picked up Yellow Balloon and Sunrays from the many groups influenced by the Beach Boys, and the story came to a climactic conclusion.

Celebrated violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter introduces a new concerto by her friend and frequent collaborator John Williams, with the legendary composer himself conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Composed especially for Anne-Sophie Mutter, John Williams's Violin Concerto No. 2 is the culmination of several years of collaboration and friendship between two of the world's most celebrated musical artists.

Though recorded on one day, at standard length for an LP, this is really two albums in one sleeve, showcasing two rather different formats this highly original guitarist pursued. "The Blues Sonata" is set up in a pseudo-classical three-movement manner, with a polonaise, ballad, and scherzo, and the liner notes refer to a sonata form of development. The classical trappings, if any exist, are worn very lightly by Byrd, his bassist Keter Betts, and drummer Buddy Deppenschmidt. "Polonaise Pour Pietro" is a very blues workout. "Ballade in B Minor" is Chopin-esque in melodic influence only, including the brush-stroked improvisation segment, and "Scherzo for an Old Shoe" sets up as a Latin-tinged number, then stays on one chord with an Andalusian strain…

Over the last half-decade, The Pineapple Thief - led by musical polymath Bruce Soord and bolstered by the involvement of master drummer Gavin Harrison - has rapidly ascended to the upper echelons of Europe’s Alternative Rock scene.

Seasick Steve releases his new album, Love and Peace, via Contagious Records. The album sees Steve mixing up all of his much-loved ingredients to deliver a fresh new record that offers the perfect antidote for the troubled times in which we live. Full of hope for the future, it’s a great mix of boogie, blues, rock, Americana and folk – all delivered in Seasick Steve’s unique style. It’s a sizzler of an album.

Birth Control's second album, Operation, stands as one of the band's finest recordings, getting the vote as the second best album of 1971 by one of Germany's leading music magazines. Operation has Birth Control employing a nine-piece string section as well as a smaller brass entourage in order to produce a larger sound, and while their progressive air is just beginning to flourish, a rather large difference in musical strength and instrumental craft is noted right away. Not fully abstract or left-of-center just yet, the powerful crunch of Bruno Frenzel's guitar surely leads the way, dominating the rhythms of every track while complimenting the aeronautics of the keyboard passages. With the tempos quicker because of the stern synthesizer work, the entire album moves along at a brisk pace…

Known best as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, American jazz trombonist Curtis Fuller also contributed to many classic jazz recordings, but, crucially, was a fine bandleader in his own right whose late 1950s and early 1960s output remains his best work. This four CD set features music from the era during which Curtis Fuller was at his musical prime, and when he released the strongest records of his career as leader or co-leader. Featuring eight such records in perfect re-mastered sound, this collection is an ideal starting place for newcomers to the great man's music and a fine reminder of his talent and creativity for everyone else.

A new 4CD clamshell box set by the acclaimed British ‘retro rockers’ Cats in Space. This special collection features the band’s first four albums with original singer Paul Manzi, Too Many Gods, Scarecrow, Cats Alive! (Recorded At The Motorpoint Arena In Cardiff) and Daytrip To Narnia.

This 4 CD set brings together eight original albums from Ben Webster, on which he collaborates with a host of other Jazz Greats. Ideal as both a starting point for those new to Webster's work, and as a compilation more diverse in it's content than the more traditional anthology, this selection is certain to delight fans new and old of one of the greatest sax-players to have ever blown a note.

Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of a newly re-mastered, re-mixed and expanded 3 disc clamshell box edition of the classic album, “Barclay James Harvest and Other Short Stories”. Recorded and released in 1971, the album was the third by BJH and was recorded at Abbey Road studios and was co-produced by the band and ex-Pretty Things member Wally Allen. Widely regarded (along with “Once Again”) as one of the band’s early masterpieces, “…Other Short Stories” featured such classic tracks as ‘Medicine Man’, ‘Ursula (The Swansea Song)’, ‘The Poet’ and the epic ‘After the Day’. The album was critically acclaimed upon its release by Harvest Records and was also issued by Sire Records in the United States with some remixed versions of tracks. The album also featured the Barclay James Harvest symphony orchestra conducted by Martyn Ford and arrangements by Toni Cooke and Martyn Ford.

Alex G's Headlights is his tenth full-length album and his first with RCA Records. The album was written by Giannascoli and recorded across various locations in Philadelphia and New York. It was co-produced alongside his longtime collaborator Jacob Portrait. Headlights is a gorgeous collection of surreal storytelling over twelve new songs. Giannascoli delves further into the reality-bending terrain that has made him one of the twenty-first century's most celebrated and influential musical architects.

Acclaimed trumpeter Hugh Pascall brings his quintet back to Dean St. after last year’s sold out show, presenting brand new music alongside selections from his two albums as bandleader. Described as “An outstanding soloist” with “the most beautiful, elegant and melodic delivery” by London Jazz News, his unique, lyrical, exciting approach to post-bop jazz is of “remarkable fluency and assurance” (- The Jazzmann).