Limited silver colored vinyl LP pressing. Lady Soul is a landmark statement of female empowerment and inspired vocal performance. Featuring massive hits such as "Chain of Fools," "(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Woman," "(Sweet, Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" and "Ain't No Way," Lady Soul topped the R & B charts and reached #2 on the Billboard 200. Aretha also provides her own unique and soulful interpretations of James Brown's "Money Won't Change You," Ray Charles' "Come Back Baby" and Curtis Mayfield's civil rights anthem, "People Get Ready." Rolling Stone recently named Aretha Franklin as the #1 Greatest Singer of All Time and it's all in evidence on Lady Soul.

The narrative of the last hours of Christ's life by the German poet Barthold Brockes inspired Telemann to write one of the most powerful Passion settings of the early eighteenth century. In 2009, Rene Jacobs revealed this somewhat neglected masterpiece in all it's splendor, arousing justified enthusiasm from press and music-lovers alike. This is now a benchmark version.

A contrafact is a method of composing a new melody and arrangement on a pre-existing musical composition using its chord progression. In jazz, one of the most famous examples is “Hot House” (Tadd Dameron) based on “What Is This Thing Called Love?” (Cole Porter). Baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan has been intrigued by this particular way of composition for a number of years. His first album on SteepleChase last year SCCD 31844 “Alternative Contrafacts” is a superlative example of his interest. Here on this new release “Our Contrafacts” is a collection of new contrafacts by contributed by each member of the trio. “While there are occasional short solos by Wong and Green, the focus throughout is on Smulyan, who has yet to record an unworthy record or play an uninspired chorus. His passionate sound and fresh ideas make Alternative Contrafacts a set well worth picking up, particularly by straight ahead jazz collectors.” (Scott Yanow – NYC Jazz Records on SCCD 31844)

This rare Guthrie recording is a fluke of sorts in that it's existence is linked somewhat ironically to the fortuitous collection of folklore on what today is considered an outmoded and virtually obsolete recording technology: wire recordings. The two wire recordings on which these historic performances were found were lost for more than half a century. Discovered in a storage closet in the Florida home of Paul Bravemian, the wire recordings were donated to the Woody Guthrie Archives in 2001.

Black Sabbath made a two-pronged comeback in 1980 and 1981 when Ronnie James Dio joined their ranks as their new lead singer for the platinum albums, Heaven And Hell and Mob Rules. On the 1982 Mob Rules U.S. tour, they decided to record shows to create the first official Black Sabbath live album. With material drawn evenly between songs written with Ronnie as well as older classics such as "War Pigs" and "Iron Man," when Live Evil was released at the end of 1982, it represented an accurate and powerful memento of Black Sabbath Mk2 on their second world tour. Although it was hailed by influential heavy metal magazine Kerrang! As "one of the greatest live albums of all time" in 1983, the band was never completely satisfied with the original mix. Now we are able to present a fresh, new 40th anniversary mix of the entire album, remixed from the original analog multi tracks by longtime associate of the band, Wyn Davis. The packaging will also include a 40-page hard back book featuring a newly commissioned 12,000-word essay, the new remix as a double LP, as well as the original double album, newly remastered in 2022 by Andy Pearce. The CD edition will also be four discs, with a 60-page hardback book.

Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. One of the truly timeless albums in soul music history and the one that launched the career of Isaac Hayes, putting him firmly on the map as a musical force to be reckoned with and a source on musical inspiration for generations to come. After writing and performing for Stax for years, Hayes broke out as a solo artist with this 1969 #8 smash. This sea of strings, funk and sensual vocals pave the way for '70s soul: his hit versions of "Walk On By" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and more featuring the Bar-Kays. Craft. This new vinyl reissue, complete with replica old-school style tip-on jacket, features audio remastered from the original analog tapes by leading engineer Dave Cooley.

Arwel Hughes (1909-1988) was the tenth son of a Welsh coal miner, and his progress through life was a remarkable one. Along the way, he studied composition at the Royal College of Music where his tutors were Gordon Jacob, Gustav Holst and, importantly, Vaughan Williams. During WWII, he worked for the BBC, becoming Head of Music for BBC Wales. He actively encouraged and supported the music of his Welsh contemporaries who included Daniel Jones, Grace Williams, Alun Hoddinott and William Mathias. Arwel Hughes composed a symphony, two operas, three string quartets, a mass, much choral music and shorter orchestral pieces. The oratorio Dewi Sant (Saint David) was composed for the festival of Britain in 1951 as the main Welsh contribution. The text was written by his friend and colleague at the BBC, Aneurin Talfan Davies. The text is based on the life of the patron saint of Wales, David (c520 - 588AD). Davies drew inspiration from the 11th century Latin Vita, by Rhygyfarch who was the son of a Bishop of St Davids. The sound world of the oratorio has flashes of Wagner and Vaughan Williams, and, similar the latter composer, never looses sight of the fact that this music should be performed by amateur performers as well as professional choruses and orchestras. It is a work of great skill, and is both melodious and dramatic. This recording, conducted by the composer's son, is the first recording in the original Welsh.

Double vinyl LP pressing. The Christmas Season's favorite prog-rock band delivers a 25th anniversary album of the second installation of their classic Christmas Trilogy, The Christmas Attic. Features annual favorites including "Music Box Blues," "Boughs of Holly," "Ghosts of Christmas Eve," and "Christmas Canon." This chapter tells the story of an angel that The Lord has challenged to visit earth to leave behind the one thing that would most benefit mankind.

Dinah Washington - As Duke Ellington would have said, Dinah Washington was "beyond category." Subtle and inventive enough to hold an honored place in the jazz pantheon yet tough and forceful enough to command the attention of blues, R&B and rock n' roll audiences.

Jazz critic Owen Cordle once described Dick Oatts as “an uncompromising jazz musician, one who possesses monster chops without trumpeting them.” Dick Oatts has, since his move to NYC in the late 70s, been one of the most sought-after soloists on alto sax on both the NY scene and the international stage. Dick Oatts’ sensitive and cerebral approach to music enhanced by his “monster chops” manifested here again on his 11th leader album on SteepleChase. “… maybe the best showcase we've ever heard for the alto sax work of Dick Oatts!” (Dusty Groove on Sweet Nowhere SCCD 31778)

Vinyl LP pressing. Released in 1969, Aretha's Gold is the chart-topping greatest hits compilation that features her biggest hits from her early Atlantic albums: 'Respect', 'Think', '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman', 'Chain of Fools', and more.

The Otis Redding Now Playing compilation contains 10 tracks from across the legendary soul singer's catalog, including "These Arms of Mine," "That's How Strong My Love Is," "I've Been Loving You Too Long," "Try a Little Tenderness" and "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay."

“…The late Whitney Balliett dubbed jazz as "the sound of surprise". Well, Jack Walrath surprises us here on every selection. He deals in the unexpected and delivers it to us with a flowing flourish - and no concessions.” (Mark Gardner- from the linernotes) “Jack Walrath not only displays tremendous trumpet playing, a rich and varied approach to composition and wonderful band, he also puts something into this fantastic CD that's missing from too much new jazz: a sense of fun and humor. That's not to say that it isn't sensitive and touching at times—"An Hour Blessed" is arguably as gorgeous as anything ever recorded…” (Francis Lo Kee – allaboutjazz-New York)

GREAT WOMEN OF SONG: ELLA FITZGERALD - Known internationally as "The First Lady of Song," Ella Fitzgerald was also, importantly, the first lady of Verve Records - the label that was essentially created for her by her manager and label founder, Norman Granz. This collection brings together Ella's most cherished recordings in the company of American music's greatest performers and composers including Louis Armstrong, George & Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, among many others.

Debussy & Strauss is the first album to be released on the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's own record label, in partnership with LSO Live. For this debut recording, the MSO and conductor Jaime Martin are joined by outstanding Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg, the MSO's 2023 Artist in Residence. Together, they present two song cycles from opposite ends of life, exploring loves with vastly different essences. Debussy and Strauss inhabit such different musical worlds that it comes almost as a surprise to see them side by side and recognize they were members of the same generation. The fact that Debussy was more overtly modern in his work while Strauss was much longer lived-still writing halfway into the 20th century-reminds us that music history is a tangle of human lives and not a neat progression of movements and styles. Debussy's Ariettes oubliees (Forgotten Songs) is a 24-year-old's depiction of first love, the kind of thing that feels unbearably important at the time, but inevitably stumbles toward breakup and fades into the past. Strauss' Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs) is an 84-year-old's last word on a nearly 55-year marriage that ended only in death.