Tribute to an outstanding 20th century pianist: SERGIO FIORENTINO - The legacy "He is the only other pianist," said legendary Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli about Sergio Fiorentino. How is it that one of the greatest musical geniuses of the 20th century is still so unknown? Sergio Fiorentino (1927-1998) was a remarkable Italian pianist whose career combined extraordinary artistry with a silent, almost mysterious presence in the music world. Born in Naples, Fiorentino showed an extraordinary talent at a young age and studied at the renowned San Pietro a Majella Conservatory with Alfredo Casella and Paolo Denza.

After years of friendship and shared music in France, the Netherlands, and Denmark, friends Camille Prenant and Casper Christensen release their first album together! Camille Prenant and Casper Christensen met in The Hague, the Netherlands, in 2019. They quickly became close and played together daily during their time in Holland. Since then, they have maintained their friendship through music by traveling across Europe, exploring new musical horizons, sharing their influences, and experiencing some memorable adventures during their tours and travels together.

Rhino released a comprehensive double-disc Otis Redding collection in 1998 called Dreams to Remember: The Otis Redding Anthology. It was a generous 50 tracks and contained not only his hits, but lots of great lesser-known singles and album tracks, plus some live recordings. Eight years later, Rhino released a second Otis Redding collection, 2006's The Definitive Soul Collection, which isn't nearly as comprehensive or definitive as Dreams to Remember. It's a good 20 tracks slimmer for one thing, nor is it as far-ranging in its scope or as attractively packaged, for that matter. But while The Definitive Soul Collection pales when judged against its stellar predecessor, taken on its own terms, it's quite a good compilation, containing all of his biggest songs – "These Arms of Mine," "Mr. Pitiful," "I've Been Loving You Too Long," "Respect," "I Can't Turn You Loose," "Try a Little Tenderness," and "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" – along with a good sampling of the best of the rest. Dreams to Remember may be the first choice for anybody looking for a double-disc set, but if that's hard to find, this is a good substitute.

Two welcome changes in style made Blue Valentine a fresh listening experience for Tom Waits fans. First, Waits alters the instrumentation, bringing in electric guitar and keyboards and largely dispensing with the strings for a more blues-oriented, hard-edged sound. Second, though his world view remains fixed on the lowlifes of the late night, he expands beyond the musings of the barstool philosopher who previously had acted as the first-person character of most of his songs. When Waits does use the first-person, it's to write a "Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis," not the figure most listeners had associated with the singer himself.

Dance, Dance, Dance: The Best of Chic is a greatest hits album of recordings by American R&B band Chic, released by Atlantic Records/Warner Music in 1991. The compilation covers the hits and best-known album tracks from the band's early career, 1977–1979, with the addition of 1982 track "Soup For One". (Note: the version used is the edited 7" version, the cover incorrectly lists the timing of the 12" mix.)

Nina Simone Van alle grote zangers en zangeressen uit de late twintigste eeuw was Nina Simone een van de moeilijkste artiesten om onder te brengen in een bepaalde groep. Ze nam op grote schaal soul-, jazz- en popnummers op die vaak ook op hetzelfde album verschenen. Ze ging ook gemakkelijk om met blues, gospelmuziek en Broadway. Op vlak van de emotie die ze overbracht, is het waarschijnlijk correct om haar te beschouwen als een soulzangeres. Net zoals Aretha Franklin of Dusty Springfield was Simone een eclecticus die een zeker soulgehalte toevoegde aan al haar werk. Dat was een van haar sterkste kwaliteiten en het is waarschijnlijk ook de reden waarom ze nooit een bijzonder grote massa fans had.

Kat is unashamedly bold & confident in her abilities as a vocalist and songwriter, effortlessly merging Soul, and classic R&B which transpired throughout the mature and well rounded 10 tracks from her debut opus released in 2021.

First-ever collection of Lulu’s complete recordings for Decca from 1964 to 1967. Includes the Top 10 hits ‘Shout!’ (here in its rarer mono single variation) and ‘Leave A Little Love’, plus other hits ‘Here Comes The Night’ and ‘Try To Understand’. Sleeve-notes include new quotes from Lulu. Includes two rare German language tracks. Great value with 42 tracks taken from two albums, a scarce EP and a raft of singles. Several tracks include session work from the legendary Jimmy Page. ‘Surprise, Surprise’ was an exclusive Jagger/Richards composition.

Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell is the sixth studio album by Meat Loaf and was written and produced by Jim Steinman. It was released sixteen years after Meat Loaf's first solo album Bat Out of Hell. The album reached number 1 in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. Three tracks were released as singles, including "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)", which reached number 1 in 28 countries. Just like the first album of the trilogy, Bat Out of Hell II was a huge commercial success and sold over 14 million copies worldwide.

The orchestral works of R. Strauss have been at the center of Paavo Järvi's programming and recording projects as principal conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra. He has recorded seven works on three discs, beginning with "Life of a Hero," and now comes the final installment, "Alpine Symphony," which will be the final installment of the series. Originally scheduled to be performed during Järvi's final season as principal conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra, the performance was postponed until April 2023 due to the Corona disaster, and was recorded live on that occasion.

Howlin' Wolf's second album brings together some of the blues great's best singles from the late '50s and early '60s. Also available as a fine two-fer with his debut, Moanin' in the Moonlight, the so-called Rockin' Chair Album represents the cream of Wolf's Chicago blues work. Those tracks afforded classic status are many, including "Spoonful," "The Red Rooster," "Wang Dang Doodle," "Back Door Man," "Shake for Me," and "Who's Been Talking?" Also featuring the fine work of Chess house producer and bassist Willie Dixon and guitarist Hubert Sumlin, Rockin' Chair qualifies as one of pinnacles of early electric blues, and is an essential album for any quality blues collection.

Ella was in danger of having almost exhausted all the great songs as the original liner notes worryingly allude to. “There are many outstanding songwriters, their reputations less glamorous than those of Porter, the Gershwin’s, Berlin, Rodgers & Hart and Duke Ellington, but who none the less produced many songs which slowly attained the status of standards. It is the work of these men that largely comprise the repertoire on these L.P’s.” Is she jazz or pop? Is that the question, should it be the question? Ella Fitzgerald is at home in either category. Here live “At the Opera House” with Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown and Jo Jones she is singing popular standards with a jazz quartet! As noted in the original liner notes “she is one of the few people who can please two publics without condescending to either, yet despite her attachment to jazz since the pre-war days with Chick Webb, there are many who still consider

Van Halen Het debuutalbum van de Amerikaanse hardrockband Van Halen uit 1978 werd direct een meesterwerk genoemd. De singles "You Really Got Me" en "Runnin' with the Devil" werden in vele landen hits. Gitarist Eddie Van Halen richtte met zijn broer Alex de groep op. Zijn speciale speeltechniek, gitaareffecten en -versterking beïnvloedden hele generaties gitaristen. Zanger Lee Roth raakte bekend door zijn flamboyante podiumoptredens. Door het album 1984 en de single "Jump" groeiden de bandleden uit tot ware supersterren. In de jaren erna werkte de groep ook met andere zangers. Begin 2012 maakte Van Halen een comeback met A Different Kind of Truth, het eerste volledige studioalbum sinds 1998.

In the realm of Norwegian music, a captivating new project has taken flight. Birds Are Better, the brainchild of singer-songwriter Stian Fjelldal, emerges from the ashes of unfaithfulness, breathing new life into the indie folk genre.

10 CD Wallet Box featuring the best of late 40s/early 50s rhythm & blues, jump blues, boogie blues and just plain ol' blues.