Horace Tapscott – TAPSCOTT and WINDS
Horace Tapscott Conducting The Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra: Flight 17 – Pure Pleasure Records
Horace Tapscott Conducting The Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra: The Call – Pure Pleasure Records
There are certain albums you hear something new every time you revisit the music and this is one of those albums. An important part of Afro-American history; the politics and art which surrounded the album. If you get a chance check out the film ‘Horace Tapscott, Musical Griot’, by filmmaker Barbara McCullough, or buy the book ‘Songs Of The Unsung’: The Musical & Social Journey of Horace Tapscott’
UK VIBE Mark Jones
Howard McGhee – Maggie’s Back In Town! – Contemporary Records (Acoustic Sounds Series) 180g Vinyl
Just in time for summer comes this reissue featuring the criminally unsung Howard McGhee, the dexterous bebop trumpeter who’s frequently compared to greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Fats Navarro. Maggie’s Back in Town!! (Maggie was McGhee’s nickname), captures the musician’s triumphant return to music in 1961. AllMusicrates the album as, “McGhee’s finest recording of the period.” He overachieves in rhythmic fluidity, a through line that’s particularly potent in seemingly carefree songs such as “Sunset Eyes” and the title track.
This new edition, released as part of the Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds Series, features (AAA) lacquers cut from the original master tapes by Bernie Grundman and is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at QRP, and presented in a Stoughton Printing tip-on jacket.
Humble Pie – Smokin’ – Analogue Productions 45pm 180g Vinyl LP
80-gram 45 RPM double LP! Turn up the heat with the iconic Smokin’ 1972 album by Humble Pie! Mastered by Kevin Gray from a 1/2” flat tape copy of the original master Pressed at Quality Record Pressings
Shortly before cutting the hard-rock classic Smokin’, Humble Pie played the biggest US gig of them all: Shea Stadium, opening for Grand Funk Railroad. It was a make-or-break moment for the U.K. band, and just as the set was heating up, it began to rain. Playing during a storm is a risky situation in the best of times, but in 1971 it meant taking your life in your hands. Frontman Steve Marriott took the mic and dramatically announced that the group didn’t care: “It’s comin’ down rain, and we don’t give a f***! We’re gonna rock your asses all night long!”
Ike & Tina Turner – Feel Good – Pure Pleasure Records 180g Vinyl LP
“Feel Good” is quintessentially ’70s – the fuzztoned funk practically conjures up platform shoes and mile-wide collars – but it doesn’t belong to any one sound, it casually draws from Southern soul, James Brown funk, black pride, “Superfly” style and juke joint R&B, a sound that is uniquely identified with Ike & Tina. And while this contains no flat-out classics like “Nutbush City Limits” or “Proud Mary” as an album “Feel Good” undoubtedly ranks among their very best: it’s a non-stop party.
Ikeda HBC-MS-5000DR Tonearm Cable
The HBC-MS-5000 series, which is the product of many years of basic research and has excellent transmission efficiency, is a high-quality cable that uses a hybrid structure made of high-purity 6N copper and OFC material.
If you use it to connect your tone arm, you will enjoy a high S/N ratio, high density, and unparalleled natural sound.
The plug is machined with high precision, and the surface treatment is rhodium plating.
The structure of each connector is assembled using Teflon resin with good insulating properties.
The shield is braided with over 90% polyurethane (black).
Illinois Jacquet – Swing’s The Thing (Mono Version) 180g 45rpm Verve Re-Issue Vinyl
Illinois Jacquet's 1956 album Swing's The Thing features Roy Eldridge, Jimmy Jones, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown and Jo Jones.
"...these are all truly classic Verve titles that you simply don't want to miss...most importantly, the sound of these reissues is nothing short of astounding. Particularly the early Billie and Ella mono records are incredible treasures of sonic beauty. I'd definitely ask Santa for the whole set, or, if you want to cherry pick, the most classic titles. Whatever you decide, you owe yourself at least a half dozen!" Winner of a 2012 Positive Feedback Online Writers' Choice Award - Danny Kaey, Positive Feedback Online, November/December 2011
Iron Maiden – The Number of the Beast- 2024 Edition Vinyl LP
Iron Maiden – The Number of the Beast 2024 Edition Vinyl LP: Heavy Metal Mastery Re‑Pressed for Audiophiles
Epic, ferocious and timeless—Iron Maiden’s career‑defining album, reborn on premium vinyl for serious listeners.
Originally released in 1982, The Number of the Beast captured a seismic shift in metal: the arrival of Bruce Dickinson’s iconic vocals, blazing guitar work from Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, and songwriting with both thunder and melody. The album features genre‑defining tracks such as Hallowed Be Thy Name, Run to the Hills, and the title track The Number of the Beast—recordings ingrained in metal history.
This 2024 vinyl edition enhances the listening experience through improved mastering and pressing quality. From Steve Harris’s galloping bass lines to the twin‑axe guitar harmonies, the dynamic range and clarity let you hear the power and finesse in equal measure. A well‑set‑up hi‑fi rig will reveal the atmospheric intro of Invaders, the epic scope of Hallowed Be Thy Name, and the visceral impact of the choruses with full depth and warmth.
Whether you’re diving back into Maiden’s legacy or building the foundation of a metal vinyl collection, this pressing of The Number of the Beast delivers both musical greatness and sound fidelity—an essential gateway into high‑end heavy metal playback.
Jack Wilson – Easterly Winds – Blue Note (Tone Poet) 180g Vinyl
he six-song set presented four Wilson originals including the groovy opener “Do It” and the sublime ballad “Nirvanna” in addition to a tender rendition of the Johnny Mandel tune “A Time for Love” and “Frank’s Tune” by Frank Strozier, which was recently reimagined by Makaya McCraven on his 2021 Blue Note remix project Deciphering the Message.
