VA - The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 3 (1963) [5 CD, 2005/FLAC]

 The Motown label crafted a uniform house sound so instantly identifiable that "Motown" unequivocally became a style unto itself. During the '60s, Berry Gordy, Jr.'s Detroit label became the biggest independent in the music industry, thanks to its smooth, sophisticated blend of R&B and memorable pop melodies.

 

VA - Our New Orleans (Expanded Edition) [2021]

 A remastered, expanded edition of the 2005 record Our New Orleans is available for the first time on vinyl and digitally here via Nonesuch Records. The new version includes five previously unreleased tracks: “Do You Know What It Means,” by Davell Crawford; “Let's Work Together,” by Buckwheat Zydeco and Ry Cooder; “Crescent City Serenade,” by Dr. Michael White; “Walking By the River,” by Dr. John; and “Do You Know What It Means,” by The Wardell Quezergue Orchestra featuring Donald Harrison.

01. Allen Toussaint - Yes We Can Can (4:15)

02. Dr. John - World I Never Made (4:01)

03. Irma Thomas - Back Water Blues (3:32)

04. Davell Crawford - Gather by the River (3:40)

05. Buckwheat Zydeco - Cryin' in the Streets (8:44)

06. Dr. Michael White - Canal Street Blues (3:40)

07. Wild Magnolias - Brother John Is Gone / Herc-Jolly-John (5:31)

08. Eddie Bo - When the Saints Go Marching In (2:19)

09. Dirty Dozen Brass Band - My Feet Can't Fail Me Now (4:38)

10. Carol Fran - Tou' les jours c'est pas la meme (Every Day Is Not the Same) (3:59)

11. BeauSoleil - L'ouragon (The Hurricane) (3:58)

12. Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans (2:42)

13. Charlie Miller - Prayer for New Orleans (2:15)

14. The Wardell Quezergue Orchestra - What a Wonderful World (feat. Donald Harrison) (3:51)

15. Allen Toussaint - Tipitina and Me (2:52)

16. Randy Newman - Louisiana 1927 (with Members of the New York Philharmonic) (3:05)

17. Davell Crawford - Do You Know What It Means (3:40)

18. Buckwheat Zydeco - Let's Work Together (3:13)

19. Dr. Michael White - Crescent City Serenade (5:27)

20. Dr. John - Walking By the River (3:48)

21. The Wardell Quezergue Orchestra - Do You Know What It Means (feat. Donald Harrison) (3:26)

Phish - Amsterdam [8 CD, 2015]

An all 8-CD Box Set from Phish's infrequent European shows. Full shows from 2/17/97, 7/1/97 and 7/2/97 at the Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. On February 17, 1997 Phish first played Paradiso, a converted former church turned rock- club/cultural center with a capacity of about 1500. Over the next four months, Phish logged three breakthrough shows at this historic venue where the intimate setting pushed the music to new heights again and again. From the Soul Shakedown party opener and fluid, psychedelic improvisation-clinic-of-a-set II (Down With Disease > Carini > Taste > Down With Disease) on 2/17/97 to the “back of the worm” Ghost opener, Reba and another peak transcendent Set II [Fish Keyboard Jam > Timber (Jerry) > Bathtub Gin > Cities] on 7/1/97 through the Mike’s Groove Sandwich and must-hear Stash > Llama > Wormtown Jam plus the double encore of 7/2/97, these three shows spread over 8 CD’s comprise some of the most experimental music Phish ever played. The three shows on the Amsterdam box, the only Phish shows to- date at Paradiso, combine to deliver the full impact of a shared peak experience in an exotic locale seamlessly integrated and sizzling with creative intensity. The shows were recorded by Paul Languedoc to multitrack tape, mixed by Jon Altschiller and mastered by Fred Kevorkian. Pick up this set and prepare for transport to the canals of Amsterdam…to the back of the worm.

 

Grateful Dead - Anthem Of The Sun (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, 2 CD, 2018) [FLAC]

Anthem of the Sun is the second album by rock band the Grateful Dead, released in 1968 on Warner Bros/Seven Arts. It is the first album to feature second drummer Mickey Hart. The band was also joined by Tom Constanten, who contributed avant-garde instrumental and studio techniques influenced by composers John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen.

The album was assembled through a collage-like editing approach helmed by members Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh (along with soundman Dan Healy), in which disparate studio and live performance tapes were spliced together to create new hybrid recordings. The band also supplemented their performances with instruments such as prepared piano, kazoo, harpsichord, timpani, trumpet, and güiro. The result is an experimental amalgam that is neither a studio album nor a live album, but both at the same time.

In 1972, a more commercial alternate mix of the album was officially released to capitalize on the band's recent success. A 2018 reissue on Rhino Records collects both the 1968 and 1972 mixes.

•     Jerry Garcia – lead guitar, acoustic guitar, kazoo, vibraslap, vocals, co-lead vocals on "That's It for the Other One" and "Born Cross-Eyed"
•     Mickey Hart – drums, orchestra bells, gong, chimes, crotales, prepared piano, finger cymbals
•     Bill Kreutzmann – drums, glockenspiel, gong, chimes, crotales, prepared piano, finger cymbals
•     Phil Lesh – bass guitar, trumpet, harpsichord, kazoo, piano, timpani, vocals
•     Ron "Pigpen" McKernan – Hammond and Vox organs, celesta, claves, vocals, lead vocals on "Alligator" and "Caution"
•     Bob Weir – rhythm guitar, 12-string guitar, acoustic guitar, kazoo, vocals, lead vocals on "New Potato Caboose", co-lead vocals on "That's It for the Other One" and "Born Cross-Eyed"

Additional personnel

    Tom Constanten – prepared piano, piano, electronic tape

 

 

Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter & James Cotton - King Biscuit Flower Hour 1977 (Live) (2022) [FLAC]

Steve Paul of Blue Sky Records, appeared as a saviour to both Johnny Winter and blues giant Muddy Waters, at a time when both musicians were facing hard times.

The result of his investment soon paid off, with the Hard Again tour combining the respected powerhouse of Waters and Winter joined by James Cotton, culminating in a further four albums being produced. Although this particular collaboration was short-lived, it has provided blues fans a rare opportunity to indulge in the work of two hugely important musical figures whose respect for each other is evidently unflinching.

Two live albums, Muddy Mississippi Waters Live and the more recent Breakin' It Up, Breakin' It Down have allowed a glimpse of the concerts from 1977-1978.

Keyhole proudly presents the entire King Biscuit Flower Hour broadcast of Waters, Winter and Cotton, live from New York's Palladium on March 4th 1977 fully remastered with in-depth liners and rare photos.