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Backyard Babies was formed in 1987 in Nässjö and can by rights be called Sweden’s most influential glam punk act. Between 1994 and 2019
they released eight studio albums of which both Making Enemies Is Good and Stockholm Syndrome won them a Swedish Grammy.

In 2005 they released their only live album, recorded at La Maroquinerie on May 6 2004, and features blistering, turbocharged renditions
of album hits such as "Minus Celsius", "Earn the Crown", and "Brand New Hate". The chops of guitarist Dregen (of The Hellacopters fame)
propel the whole thing forward with reckless abandon while singer Nicke Borg keeps riling up the crowd in between songs,
adding to the immediacy of a tightly recorded live album. This edition comes with a 4-page booklet containing concert photos.

Live Live In Paris is now available on vinyl for the first time as a 20th anniversary edition of 666 individually numbered copies on yellow & black marbled vinyl.

After being out of print for a good number of years, we are making 15 titles out of our Elvis Presley back catalogue available again between August 2025 and February 2026. Each title will see two different editions: one on regular-coloured vinyl and one very limited on mix-coloured, marbled vinyl, both housed in deluxe sleeves with a linen look and feel. Loving You from 1957 was Elvis Presley’s first soundtrack and accompanied the eponymous film that follows a delivery man who is discovered by a music publicist and a country–western musician who wants to promote the talented newcomer. This was Presley’s first major starring role. The fact that only the tracks on the A-side appeared in the movie couldn’t spoil the fun for the fans, as the LP contained hits such as “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” reaching #1 in the U.S., some covers and some lesser-known deep cuts. It’s not without reason that this album reached Certified Gold status. The Midas touch, so to speak. Loving You is available as a limited edition of 1500 individually numbered copies on yellow translucent coloured vinyl.

Nach Ihrem letzten Projekt in 2022 meldet sich das australische Pop-Rock Phänomen 5 Seconds of Summer endlich mit ihrem neuen Album Everyone’s A Star! zurück, welches am 14. November erscheint! Die
mehrfach Platin-ausgezeichnete Band konnte in ihrer Karriere bereits mehrere Alben auf Platz #1 in den
Billboard 200 platzieren, und weckt somit hohe Erwartungen an ihr neues Projekt.
Für Everyone’s A Star! hat 5SOS mit Top-Produzenten und Songwritern wie Julian Bunetta, John Ryan
und Jason Evigan zusammengearbeitet. Das sind Namen, die auch hinter Hits von One Direction, Sabrina
Carpenter, Maroon 5 und Dua Lipa stehen. So gelingt es der Band ihren Sound neu zu erfinden, ohne
dabei die Essenz zu verlieren, die 5 Seconds of Summer zu einer der bedeutendsten Pop-Bands unserer Zeit
gemacht hat.
Everyone’s A Star! erscheint am 14. November digital wie auch physisch.

Zum 25. Jubiläum erscheint das sechste Studioalbum von The Offspring, ”Conspiracy of One”, als Reissue.
Als Standard Version erhältlich auf „Opaque Silver“-Vinyl.
Das legendäre Album enthält Hits wie ”Original Prankster”, ”Want You Bad” und viele weitere.

Zum 25. Jubiläum erscheint das sechste Studioalbum von The Offspring, ”Conspiracy of One”, als Reissue.
Als Standard Version erhältlich auf „Opaque Silver“-Vinyl.
Das legendäre Album enthält Hits wie ”Original Prankster”, ”Want You Bad” und viele weitere.

*includes insert

Timely reissue of Only for the Headstrong, the seminal 12” from UK duo Psychotropic, arriving this November. Originally released in 1990 at the height of the Acid House explosion, the track quickly became a defining moment in UK dance music—melding house, breakbeat, and psychedelic pop influences into something utterly timeless. Revered by DJs, collectors, and ravers alike, Headstrong is a euphoric, genre-blurring anthem that retains a raw innocence and hypnotic pull even 35 years on.

Psychotropic was formed by Gavin Mills, a rising DJ with a deep love of house and hip-hop, and Nick Nicely, a seasoned psych-pop experimentalist whose history included cult releases with Arista and EMI. The pair met during the fever pitch of late '80s rave culture—bonding over illegal warehouse parties, makeshift home studios, and a shared impulse to explore new sounds and styles. Crafted using an Akai S900 sampler, a Fostex 8-track, and a Casio CZ-101, Only for the Headstrong emerged from Nicely’s South London home studio in a single inspired session, its unforgettable loops and soaring keys capturing both the chaos and euphoria of the era.

The track, and the Prince-style groove of B-side Out of Your Head, became underground hits, reaching the top of London’s independent record store charts and cementing Psychotropic’s reputation for marrying psychedelic sonic textures with club-ready grooves. Their sound stood out—rooted in DIY experimentation but elevated by emotional depth and melodic flair. Mills and Nicely’s unique chemistry would spawn further club classics like Hypnosis, Psychosis, and Feel Surreal, before diverging into solo paths in the mid-90s. Despite parting ways creatively, the duo has remained close friends, occasionally reuniting for remixes and digital reissues.
Now, in 2025, Only for the Headstrong returns to vinyl in its full analog glory—remastered and recontextualized for a new generation. With freshly penned liner notes by Nic Nicely, this nostalgic reissue captures the raw, open-minded energy of a pivotal moment in UK dance music and reconnects us with the heady, DIY spirit of early rave culture.

NOW Music proudly presents the next release in our “NOW That’s What I Call An Era” series – NOW That's What I Call An Era - Disco: 1973-1980 – a dazzling celebration of the golden age of disco.



This stunning 3LP set, pressed on blue, violet and pink vinyl, showcases 48 essential tracks that lit up the dancefloors, charts, and airwaves at the height of disco fever — an era when glittering anthems, euphoric grooves, and iconic vocal performances defined nightlife around the world.



LP1 opens in iconic style with Chic’s monumental ‘Le Freak’ followed by Sister Sledge’s equally legendary ‘We Are Family’, and Gloria Gaynor’s empowering #1 ‘I Will Survive’. Anthems follow from Sylvester with ‘You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)’ and Chaka Khan with ‘I’m Every Woman’, ahead of the timeless ‘Young Hearts Run Free’ by Candi Staton and the first side finishes with production by Chic’s Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards on massive hits for Diana Ross with ‘Upside Down’, and Sheila & B. Devotion with ‘Spacer’. Flip the LP over for Amii Stewart’s version of ‘Knock On Wood’ followed by The Three Degrees, Eruption and the first smash from Boney M., ‘Daddy Cool’. The Village People topped the chart with ‘YMCA’ which has become an enduring party favourite, which leads to the infectious ‘Let’s All Chant’ from the Michael Zager Band, Lipps Inc. with ‘Funkytown’ and to close the first LP, sci-fi disco from Dee D. Jackson with ‘Automatic Lover’.



LP2 begins with Donna Summer’s epic version of ‘MacArthur Park’, before Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions bring pure euphoria on ‘Boogie Wonderland’, and McFadden & Whitehead with the floor-filling ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now’. Great vocals from Marvin Gaye and Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes come ahead of George McCrae’s ‘Rock Your Baby’, one of the collections’ earliest and inspirational moments. UK artist Tina Charles hit the top with ‘I Love To Love’, and Andrea True Connection complete the side with the ear-worm ‘More More More’ whilst over on the other side legends Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons hit dancefloor gold and the #1 spot with ‘December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)’, ahead of The Trammps with their era-defining ‘Disco Inferno’. A Taste Of Honey, Grace Jones and a second appearance from Diana Ross are up next – before the LP closes with an enduring classic, ‘Follow Me’ from Amanda Lear, Patrick Juvet’s ‘I Love America’, and Frantique with ‘Strut Your Funky Stuff’.



LP3 bursts to life with the international smash and UK #1, ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’ from Baccara, before a huge hit cover from Belle Epoque with ‘Black Is Black’. Next; Alicia Bridges, Rose Royce and UK chart toppers The Real Thing, ahead of funk-infused disco brilliance from Kool & The Gang and Barry White – whilst the side closer is Yvonne Elliman’s ‘If I Can’t Have You’, from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack and over on the final side there’s a stellar run of Disco nuggets: kicking off with Elton John’s irresistible ‘Are You Ready For Love’, originally released in 1979 and a #1 in 2003 along with ‘Boogie Nights’ from Heatwave, The Emotions with ‘Best Of My Love’, and LaBelle’s influential ‘Lady Marmalade’. The anthemic ‘Got To Be Real’ from Cheryl Lynn is next ahead of the trio of closing tracks: Odyssey with the sublime ‘Native New Yorker’, Thelma Houston’s Grammy-winning ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’, and fittingly, Donna Summer’s iconic ‘Last Dance’, ending the collection in perfect style.



An unforgettable journey through the songs that defined the dancefloor: NOW That’s What I Call An Era – Disco: 1973-1980 — the definitive celebration of disco’s golden age.

Delsin invites you to submerge into the prismatic electronica of Xenia Reaper. Across nine tracks of exquisitely rendered sonics, the shadowy producer engages in the time-honoured craft of introspective sound manipulation, folding gaseous pads into dissected breaks and running heavyweight machine pulses through achingly beautiful synthesis. The sound is sharply realised, modernist music that revels in the finegrain detail afforded by technology, but never at the expense of warmth and charm. It's nuanced electronica for deep listening, but it also hits on an instinctive, physical level.

For the first time ever, the only full-length album by Spanish soul and garage legends Z-66 is being reissued. Z-66's signature blend of powerful soul, psychedelia, and pop-clearly influenced by bands like The Move, Stones, Vanilla Fudge, and Blood, Sweat & Tears delivers a bold, modern sound that remains fresh and compelling. Unlike other Spanish bands of the time, Los Z-66 enjoyed unique conditions that allowed their sound to stand out as one of the most advanced on the local scene in the late 1960s. As was the case with many other groups, their repertoire for entertaining discotheques had to include the hits of the moment and was not always open to the songs of the most daring international bands, which was the sound that most stimulated the musicians. In the case of Los Z-66, being based in Mallorca meant they had privileged access to hard to-find records, imported by foreign tourists, and to a much more modern atmosphere than in other parts of the country. Songs in Italian and French soon gave way to English hits by the Animals, the Stones, and the Beatles. But it was the offer received from Mike Jeffries, manager of Jimi Hendrix, the Animals, and others, to serve as the house band at the newly opened club Sgt. Pepper's that allowed the group to raise their live performances to a level rarely seen in these parts... They even soon incorporated the distorted sound of fuzz into their guitar when they received a fuzz face pedal as a gift from Jimi Hendrix himself, who was invited to play at the club's opening! Their excellent blend of stunning soul, psychedelia, and pop became their hallmark, not only in the band's concerts but also in the handful of singles and EPs they released on the Regal label. We are now re-releasing for the first time their only full-length album, originally published in 1969, which is actually a compilation of songs previously released in 45 rpm format, complete with two bonus tracks not included on the original LP plus a booklet with liner notes and rare photos.

Recorded during that unique period in the late ‘60s when jazz, blues and rock musicians found common ground in London’s vibrant subterranean clubs, 1968s Definitely What! was the second of the run of the four ground-breaking Trinity albums. Showcasing Auger's open-minded approach and his masterful organ & piano skills, the album whips up a rich blend of jazz, R&B, psychedelic touches and soulful grooves, complemented by the tight, dynamic rhythm section of Dave Ambrose (bass) and Clive Thacker (drums).

After the previous year’s Open (1967) with its 'Summer of Love' feel and its melting pot of Mod R&B, cover versions of US soul hits led by Julie Driscoll’s inimitable vocals, Auger considered Definitely What! as his first solo album, and so he travelled deeper into jazz territory, balancing original pieces with audacious covers. Tracks include versions of Mose Allison's 'If You Live' and of Wes Montgomery’s ‘Bumpin’ On Sunset’. “I got a letter from Wes's wife,” recalls Auger, “saying that it was Wes' favourite version. Can you believe that, Wes's wife wrote to me!”

Elsewhere, we find a dramatic re-arrangement of The Beatles’ ‘A Day In The Life’ complete with orchestral strings and a punchy horn section, alongside a supercharged version of Booker T & The MGs’ ‘Red Beans & Rice’ . 'George Bruno Money' was dedicated to Auger's drinking pal of the era, Zoot Money, and 'John Browns Body' both combine prime Hammond jazz with the very British surrealist humour that was in vogue at the time. The title track goes further “out” in a sprawling instrumental piece rooted in experimentation. Brian himself specifically states in his sleeve notes that his concept “lies along a straight line drawn between pop and jazz and aims at the 'fusion' of both elements” - ‘fusion’ at that time was not even a recognised musical term, further reinforcing Auger’s credentials as an innovator.

That forward-thinking approach was developed in Open and Definitely What! would come to fruition a year later with the release of Streetnoise (1969) featuring the Trinity and Julie Driscoll. At the time, the move to bring together jazz, rhythm & blues, folk, gospel and pop into a progressive new sound may have annoyed the purists and confused the less open- minded, but these albums stand today as a testament to Auger’s unique position within British music, foreshadowing his future 1970s explorations with the Oblivion Express and beyond. Definitely What! remains a fascinating snapshot of 1960s musical experimentation - raw, eclectic, and unapologetically Auger!

This new Strut reissue is curated by Impressive Collective’s Greg Boraman in partnership with Brian and Karma Auger. The album is remastered by Cosmic Audio from the original tapes, and is packaged in Brian's favourite version of the 3 different sleeves the album was originally issued in.

Since first bursting onto the scene with her classic Number One hit singles 'Can The Can' and 'Devil Gate Drive', Suzi Quatro has sold over 50 million records worldwide and is recognized as a true rock 'n' roll legend and feminist icon. Over her 50-year career, Suzi has inspired countless artists from Joan Jett to Debbie Harry and KT Tunstall. She is also known for her role as theLeather Tuscadero in 'Happy Days'. 'A's & B's' is a collection putting the spotlight on her classic '70s singles. Side one is packed with hits including 'The Wild One', 'Devil Gate Drive', '48 Crash' and 'Can The Can', whilst side two showcases the Quatro-penned B-sides which accompanied those iconic rock singles Available on vinyl for the first time, the compilation is remastered from the original master tapes by Phil Kinrade at AIR Mastering, and is pressed on 140g red glitter vinyl with a top-loading sleeve.

If there is one thing we at Real Gone have learned during our rollicking ride of reissuing The Donnas’ catalog, it’s that they never did anything halfway. And we’ve tried to do the same in bringing their music back to their devout fanbase. Now, by popular demand, and after years of pursuing the rights, we are thrilled to announce that we are releasing their last studio album, Bitchin’, in an expanded, newly annotated, and newly remastered edition! This 2007 release was put out by The Donnas’ own Purple Feather label, and marks a return to the girls’ glam metal and punk roots after the classic rock leanings of Gold Medal…they’ve escaped the major label machine, and are ready to have a good time! Singalong songs like “What Do I Have to Do” and “Don’t Wait Up for Me” have definitely entered The Donnas’ canon, and tunes like “Save Me” confirm that this band’s ability to set a hook in a chorus remains unabated. For this first-ever reissue, we’ve rounded up an entire side of bonus tracks, including the two songs (“Randi” and a cover of “Safety Dance”) that were only available on the vinyl release, a track (“New Kid in School”) that was previously available only as a download, two outtakes (“We Own the Night” and “She’s Out of Control”) that showed up on the Greatest Hits Vol. 16 comp, and a track that only came out in Japan (“Can’t Keep It a Secret”). The whole thing’s been remastered for vinyl by Mike Milchner at Sonic Vision, and our gatefold-plus-insert once again includes fresh commentary by Brett Anderson aka Donna A. Bitchin’ comes in a double scoop of strawberry with black swirl vinyl…we’re here for the party!

Der Breakthrough-Artist sombr hat sein Debütalbum "I Barely Know Her" veröffentlicht. Das 10-Track-Album ist jetzt über Warner Records erhältlich und enthält die Hits „back to friends”, „undressed” und „12 to 12” (inklusive Musikvideo mit Addison Rae), die weiterhin international die Charts stürmen – darunter die globalen Spotify-Charts, die UK Official Singles Charts sowie die US-amerikanischen „Top 40 Radio“ und „Alternative Radio“-Charts. In diesen erreichte sombr schneller als jeder andere neue Künstler der letzten zehn Jahre Platz 1. Auch in den Billboard Hot Rock Songs setzte er ein Ausrufezeichen und verdrängte Hozier nach einem Jahr von der Spitze. In Deutschland befinden sich mit „back to friends”, "12 to 12" und „undressed” mittlerweile 3 Singles in den Top 30 der deutschen Single-Charts und das Debutalbum schoss auf Platz #16 der offiziellen deutschen Albumcharts!
"I Barely Know Her" wurde komplett von sombr geschrieben und vom 20-jährigen Künstler zusammen mit dem renommierten Produzenten Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, The Replacements) co-produziert. Gegenüber i-D gibt er zu Protokoll, die Songs seien inspiriert von „young romance, dimly lit rooms, late nights, and love, loss, and life.” Die Veröffentlichung folgt auf die Nachricht, dass sombr sein Debüt bei den MTV Video Music Awards geben wird – live aus New York am 7. September –, wo er als Best New Artist und Best Alternative Artist nominiert ist.

sombr (bürgerlich Shane Boose) wuchs im New Yorker Stadtteil Lower East Side auf und entdeckte seine Liebe zur Musik als Teenager im eigenen Schlafzimmer. Parallel dazu studierte er klassische Musik an der renommierten LaGuardia High School. Mit dem viralen Hit „Caroline“ (2022) wurde er über Nacht zum Internetphänomen. Seitdem hat er mehrere EPs und Singles veröffentlicht und bringt es inzwischen auf über 400 Millionen monatliche Streams über alle Plattformen hinweg. Heute lebt sombr in Los Angeles und verarbeitet in seinen Songs die Höhen und Tiefen junger Liebe – alles selbst geschrieben, co-produziert und veröffentlicht über Warner Records.

Sometimes there are discoveries that hit like thunderbolts! Matt Pascale & The Stomps are undoubtedly one of them-and a major one at that. Everything here is simply perfect. Musically, the backbone of this album remains blues, but rock, funk, soul, and even hip-hop are never far off. The compositions flow like a string of potential hits. It only takes listening to this album once or twice for certain melodies to lodge themselves firmly in your brain. As for the performance, it"s downright incredible. Matt Pascale has a raspy voice with a "more Italian you couldn"t get" vibe, his guitar playing is a sheer marvel of precision and feel, and The Stomps are a rhythmic and groovy powerhouse capable of waking the dead. Un-be-lie-va-ble!

At last, after fifty years, the first ever vinyl album by British 60s band The
Montanas!Despite having "turntable hits" such as 'Ciao Baby', 'You've Got To
Be Loved' and 'Let's Get A Little Sentimental', they never had a UK hit
'You've Got To Be Loved', a Tony Hatch & Jackie Trent song, made the US Top 100, but
no album followed.
Includes the US-only 45s 'Heaven Help You' and 'I'm Gonna Change'.
Digitally remastered and released on 180 gram vinyl / 300 gsm board.
Also available on BGO Records: BGOCD1438 The Complete Studio Sessions.
Other vinyl releases available on BGO Records: BGOLP2005 Bang (The James Gang);
(The Searchers) BGOLP2007 A and B Sides 1963-67, BGOLP2009 Meet The Searchers,
BGOLP2010 Sugar & Spice, BGOLP2011 It's The Searchers, BGOLP2012 Sounds Like
Searchers, BGOLP2013 Take Me For What I'm Worth; and BGOLP2015 In Town (Rockin
Berries).

TRON: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
24 neue Tracks von Nine Inch Nails: das Duo aus Trent Reznor und Atticus Ross veröffentlicht am 19.
September 2025 sein Album zum Disney-Kultfilm „TRON: Ares“, inklusive der neuen Single „As Alive As
You Need Me To Be”. Damit setzt die Band eine erfolgreiche Soundtrack-Geschichte fort: ihre vorherigen
Untermalungen zu Filmen wie „The Social Network“ (2010), „Soul“ (2020) oder „Challengers“ (2024)
wurden unter anderem mit zwei Oscars, drei Golden Globes, einem Emmy und einem Grammy ausgezeichnet. Die düstere Industrial-Handschrift Trent Reznors fängt die Stimmung der Sci-Fi-Reihe „TRON“, für
deren letzten Film Daft Punk komponierten, perfekt ein. Reznors Einfluss auf die alternative Musikwelt ist
seit den späten 80ern ungebrochen: mit Hits wie „Closer“ und „Hurt“ sowie Alben wie „The Downward
Spiral“ kombinierte das Mastermind elektronische Sounds mit Rockmusik wie nie zuvor. „TRON: Ares“ ist
die erste NIN Veröffentlichung seit fünf Jahren und liefert gleich 70 Minuten neue Musik – erhältlich ab
dem 19.09. auf CD und Vinyl.

Cyphon Recordings proudly presents the latest release from Berwick, a Sheffield by Bristol
producer and DJ carving out a reputation for razor-sharp electro and forward-thinking club
sounds. With a background steeped in underground electronic music, Berwick has steadily built
his name through a string of uncompromising releases and energetic live and DJ sets, blending
the grit of classic electro with a modern rave-inspired touch. His new EP showcases his most
refined work yet—four tracks built for the floor, designed to move bodies and shake systems.
Opening with Fall & Melt, Berwick sets the tone with a punchy, contemporary electro cut. Its
driving percussion, crisp groove, and propulsive energy make it a peak-time weapon, balancing
raw dancefloor impact with seriously fat production finesse. Next up, Powerflip dives deeper
into the shadows. Gnarly synth lines, guttural bass, and clipped vocal hits collide to create a
darker, more menacing side of Berwick’s electro vision. With eyeball-rattling low-end, it’s a track
that demands a big system to unleash its full force.
On Impossible, Berwick shifts gears into an even faster lane. Elasticated bass and synths bounce
around the crisp drum groove, pushing the pace with an adrenaline-fuelled rhythm that’s as
urgent as it is infectious. Rounding off the EP, fellow Bristolian Sam Lester takes Powerflip into
new territory with a remix that leans towards wonky tech house. Stripping back some of the
raw menace of the original, Lester reshapes it with a 4 on the floor kick, layering in hypnotic
textures and a slick low-end that makes it a tripped-out weapon for house and techno sets
alike.
This release cements Berwick’s position as an artist unafraid to push electro into bold and
uncompromising spaces, while also opening the door to cross-genre interpretations.

Tremor erscheint zu einem Zeitpunkt, an dem Averys Arbeitspensum für Außenstehende kolossal erscheint. Als Produzent, DJ, Musiker und Remixer, der ständig mit anderen zusammenarbeitet, hat er kürzlich DRONE:NODRONE von The Cure neu interpretiert, wofür er allgemeine Anerkennung erhielt. Seine Arbeit als eines von drei Mitgliedern von Demise of Love (eine Gruppe, die gemeinsam mit Ghost Culture und Working Men’s Club gegründet wurde) liefert derzeit den Soundtrack für die verschwommenen, undurchsichtigen Ränder der Tanzflächen auf der ganzen Welt. Das Album ist Averys erste Veröffentlichung bei Domino.

Die Platte ist voller unerwarteter Kollaborationen, darunter: Yeule, Art School Girlfriend, Ryan von bdrmm, Yune Pinku, Cécile Believe, Walter Schreifels von Rival Schools, Julie von New Dad und Alison Mosshart. „Tremor” wurde teilweise von David Wrench und teilweise vom legendären Alan Moulder gemischt. Es ist ein Breitwand-Album, auf dem sich Daniel mehr denn je auf Instrumentierung stützt und diese Klänge mit seiner charakteristischen, dunklen, techno-ähnlichen Produktion ergänzt. Es gibt wunderschöne melodische Parts, große elektronische Hits, härtere Grunge-Parts und wunderschöne Ambient-Momente, die einen wieder zur Ruhe kommen lassen.

Ein unverzichtbares Album von Roy Ayers, das soulige Jazz-Wurzeln mit knackigem 1970er-Jahre-Funk verbindet. Mit Ayers' charakteristischen Vibes, präzisen Arrangements und herausragenden Tracks wie "The Boogie Back" (gesampelt von NWA, 2Pac, De La Soul_) und "Change Up the Groove" ist diese LP ein Muss für jeden Fan von Jazz-Funk und Vintage-Grooves, ein etwas verstecktes Juwel aus Roy Ayers Ubiquitys frühen Polygram-Jahren. Dieses soulige Album, das oft zugunsten von Ayers' größeren Hits übersehen wird, ist eine Meisterklasse in Jazz-Funk-Fusion und fängt die Essenz von Ayers' sich entwickelndem Stil ein, als er die Lücke zwischen seinen Jazz-Wurzeln und dem rhythmischen Snap der Funk-Revolution der 70er Jahre überbrückte. Vom ersten Track an steht Ayers' charakteristischer Vibraphon-Sound im Mittelpunkt, der vor Emotionen und Groove nur so sprüht. Das Album besticht durch seine instrumentale Vielfalt, zu der Jazzgrößen wie der legendäre Bernard Purdie am Schlagzeug einen herausragenden Beitrag leisten. Streicher verweben sich subtil und unterstreichen Ayers' ohnehin schon tiefgründige und strukturierte Arrangements. Zu den Höhepunkten gehören der unverkennbare Funk von "The Boogie Back", ein Breakbeat-Favorit für Crate-Digger und DJs (der oft gesampelt wird, um andere Tracks zu garnieren), und eine üppige, elektrifizierte Interpretation von "Feel Like Makin' Love", die vor sanfter Soul-Musik nur so glüht. Der Titeltrack "Change Up the Groove" liefert den typischen, emotional aufgeladenen Funk, der diese Ära geprägt hat. "Change Up the Groove" ist nicht nur ein Album - es ist eine Momentaufnahme von Roy Ayers' künstlerischer Entwicklung, voller Rhythmus, Herz und zeitlosem Groove. Egal, ob Sie ein langjähriger Fan sind oder nun neun entdecken. Essential listening!

‘Icon’ is an overused word when it comes to describing singers and musicians, but when it comes to Nina Simone there are few artists that the word describes more accurately. The ‘High Priestess Of Soul’ is surely one of the most iconic singers of the 20th century, and one whose fame and acclaim stretches far beyond conventional black American music circles. 

Nina Simone has featured on Ace and Kent CDs before but this is the first time she’s had one all to herself. “Let It All Out” is the first and only Nina Simone collection to draw repertoire from every label she recorded for between the late 1950s to the late 1970s. 

Not a traditional ‘Best Of’ or ‘Greatest Hits’ package (although the performances included here ARE among her very best, and do include most of her Greatest Hits!) it is a singles collection that presents Nina Simone’s soul and R&B-slanted 45s in chronological order. Invariably they are the definitive versions of the songs, whether she recorded the original versions or not. 

As well as almost all of her American pop and R&B chart hits from 1960 onwards, “Let It All Out” also contains all of Simone’s UK chart hits from the same period – several of which were more successful here than they were back home, including both versions of her biggest British hit ‘Ain’t Got No; I Got Life’, a UK #2 that did not chart at all in the US as was the case with the belated UK Top 5 hit ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me’ which also made no chart impression on its home turf…

Carefully curated and concisely annotated, “Let It All Out” lets the listener in to two dozen of Nina Simone’s most celebrated singles. There have been many compilations of her works since she passed away 20+ years ago, but none that gets to the heart – and soul – of her catalogue in quite so direct a manner as this one does.