Horace Parlan – Speakin’ My Piece (Classic Vinyl Series) Blue Note Vinyl
Best known for his work with Charles Mingus, pianist Horace Parlan began recording for Blue Note in 1960 with an excellent run of hard bop classics including Speakin’ My Piece, a quintet date featuring a frontline of Stanley Turrentine on saxophone and Tommy Turrentine on trumpet with the rhythm team of George Tucker on bass and Al Harewood on drums. This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.
Horace Tapscott – TAPSCOTT and WINDS
Horace Tapscott Conducting The Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra: Flight 17 – Pure Pleasure Records
Horace Tapscott: Dial ‘B’ For Barbra – 2 x LP Pure Pleasure Vinyl
“The best of pianist Horace Tapscott’s recordings for the tiny Nimbus label is this 1981 LP which features him in a sextet with trumpeter Reggie Bullen, altoist Gary Bias, tenor saxophonist Sabir Matteen, bassist Roberto Miranda and drummer Everett Brown, Jr. The group stretches out on a couple of Tapscott’s originals plus a 19½-minute version of Linda Hill’s”Dem Folks.” Although the music could be called avant-garde, its use of rhythms and repetition keep the results from being forbidding and the performances have a momentum of their own.”
Scott Yanow/AMG
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!”
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.
J.Geils Band – The Morning After – 180g Mofi Vinyl
Jaco Pastorius – Jaco Pastorius (Groove Classics Edition) Vinyl Record
“Bass reinvented — a fusion masterpiece that changed modern jazz.”
A warm and detailed vinyl pressing of Jaco Pastorius’ groundbreaking 1976 debut. The album highlights his revolutionary fretless bass tone and expressive technique. Tracks like “Donna Lee” and “Portrait of Tracy” benefit from clear analogue separation. The pressing delivers smooth dynamics and instrumental balance. A must-own record for jazz fusion collectors.
James Brown – Live at the Apollo 1962 Vinyl LP
James Brown – Live at the Apollo 1962 | Classic Remastered Vinyl LP
Experience the explosive energy of James Brown at his peak with this essential Live at the Apollo 1962 vinyl LP. Captured in Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater, the recording showcases unmatched intensity, crowd electricity, and Brown’s signature showmanship. Remastered for vinyl, the sound gains warmth, presence, and live-room realism. Every shout, horn stab, and dynamic shift hits with greater clarity. A foundational soul masterpiece that belongs in every serious vinyl collection.
