Empire ft. Peter Banks & Sydney Foxx - Complete Recordings (3 CD, 2017/FLAC)

 EMPIRE was a band project, or rather three band projects, set up by former Yes guitarist Peter BANKS when his band Flash folded. The initial start of this venture came to be while Banks was out recruiting musicians for a brand new line-up of Flash. While meeting various possible candidates he met singer Sydney Foxx (Sidonie Jordan), and they soon developed a strong personal and professional relationship, the former leading to them marrying and the latter to the band assembled given a unique moniker - Empire.

The first album was recorded in 1974. However, the record labels weren't at all interested in the final result, and Empire disbanded. Banks and Foxx moved to the US shortly after. In 1977 a new line-up was assembled and a second album made. The record labels didn't take much interest in this second effort by the band either, and Empire dissolved yet again.

A third attempt with a new line-up came to be in 1978, but yet again the record labels found the end result wanting. Empire eventually dissolved in 1980, ending the professional relationship between Banks and Foxx - their personal one had disintegrated some time before.

Sam Cooke - The Complete Keen Years: 1957-1960 (5 CD, 2020/FLAC)

 

The Complete Keen Years: 1957–1960, collects Sam Cooke’s body of work as he began releasing secular albums, stepping away from the Soul Stirrers where he found great success as a gospel singer. Cooke had been releasing and dominating the gospel sales market over the six years previous to “You Send Me” and “Summertime” being released. Within this newly remastered collection are his unique versions of standards alongside performances that showcase his songwriting skills. Sam Cooke defined himself as a voice ahead of his time elevating the sound of soul at the turn of the decade.

The Complete Keen Years: 1957–1960 offers the Sam Cooke aficionado an opportunity to experience all of Cooke’s Keen album and single tracks for a comprehensive overview of his time at the label. The 5-CD set includes the content of his five originally released Keen LPs plus multiple bonus tracks, a total of 65 tracks in all.

Jefferson Airplane - Original Album Classics (3 CD, 2011/FLAC)

 

1969 Volunteers

1971 Bark

1972 Long John Silver

VA - Children Of Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The Second Psychedelic Era 1976-1996 [4 CD, 2005/FLAC]

 

These four discs, though chaotically sequenced, scour all sides of the ponds to capture the vitality and innovation of mostly 1980-'85, introducing (or reintroducing) to-be-influential bands like San Francisco's Flamin' Groovies, New York's Raybeats, England's Soft Boys, Australia's the Church and Sweden's Nomads. Where else can you find XTC spin-off Dukes of Stratosphear, the La's "There She Goes" and the Bangles a half-decade prior to their manic Monday, along with the Cramps, the Plimsouls, the db's and the Bevis Frond in a single shebang—and with Rhino's ample, informative, transcendent liner notes, to boot?

Cream - 4 Studio Albums Collection 1966-1969 (6 CD, 2014/FLAC)

 

Cream - 1966 - Fresh Cream (2CD)

Cream - 1967 - Disraeli Gears

Cream - 1968 - Wheels Of Fire (2CD)

Cream - 1969 - Goodbye