Nightclubbing is the fifth studio album by Jamaican singer Grace Jones, released on 11 May 1981 by Island Records. Recorded at Compass Point Studios with producers Alex Sadkin and Island Records' president Chris Blackwell, as well as a team of session musicians rooted by rhythm section Sly & Robbie, the album marked her second foray into a new wave style that blends a variety of genres, including reggae, art pop, dub, synth-pop and funk. The album comprises a mixture of cover versions from artists including Bill Withers, Iggy Pop and Astor Piazzolla, and original songs, three of which were co-written by Jones. The album received positive reviews upon its release, including being voted best album of the year by writers of the UK's best-selling music magazine NME, and continues to be praised by critics, with reviewers commending the singer's unique sound and organic fusion of genres. The album entered in the top 10 in five countries, and became Jones' highest-ranking record on the US Billboard mainstream albums and R&B charts. Six singles were released from the album, including the hits "Pull Up to the Bumper" and "I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)".

Swedish prog-rock legends THE FLOWER KINGS have returned with the newest full-length offering in their 25-year history, 'By Royal Decree'. The group's third studio record since introducing drummer Mirko DeMaio and keyboardist Zach Kamins into the lineup is a vintage affair in many respects. With virtually no touring to endeavor upon for the last two years, the band was free to focus on recording new material, as well as reviewing things left on the cutting room floor from previous sessions. Flower Kings lead singer and guitarist Roine Stolt elaborates on going into the way back machine for the new record, saying, "It was great to dig into that old treasure island of 'forgotten TFK music before TFK ever existed' and re-connecting made me realize why and what The Flower Kings are. This album is a journey through my history as a writer and my 'middle age' saga reflecting on that." Another significant change is that founding member Michael Stolt returns after more than two decades to contribute bass and vocals, splitting duties with current bassist Jonas Reingold.

DECADES - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION summarises the music of each decade from the 1950s to the 1990s - one per CD! The 1950s disc delves into classic rock'n'roll (Everly Brothers, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates), rhythm & blues (Ray Charles, The Coasters), and pop (Bobby Darin, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers). CD2 covers the 1960s and the remarkable breadth that the decade produced - from The Monkees to Marmalade, from Sam & Dave to Sonny & Cher, and The Drifters to The Searchers. The 1970s are captured on the third disc: be it disco favourites (You Sexy Thing, Young Hearts Run Free), glam rock (Tiger Feet, Ballroom Blitz), reggae (Everything I Own, Uptown Top Ranking), or joyous pop (Hooked On A Feeling, Love Is In The Air) - it's all there. CD4 features the 1980s and huge hits by Rick Astley, Duran Duran, a-ha, Kylie Minogue, Madness and Tina Turner, whilst the final disc rounds off the collection with the 1990s: Groove Is In The Heart, Love Shack, Return Of The Mack, and Rhythm Is A Dancer are just the tip of the iceberg.With 100 tracks across five discs and five decades, this is the best of the best.

Blues Guitar Duels is a pretty darn good compilation of excellent guitarist who have performed together on various recordings over the years. For example you get Buddy and Phil Guy performing one of the tracks from their joint CD, "DJ Play My Blues", Hubert Sumlin performing with Ronnie Earl on a cut from "Hubert Sumlin's Blues Party", Ronnie Earl and Duke Robillard on a track from the CD "Test of Time" and Guitar Shorty and Otis Grand from the CD "My Way On The Highway". One can certainly quibble over whether there are other tracks that could have been included on this disc or whether the tracks selected are the best from each duo but it would be a pointless debate. The facts are you get a very nice sampling of what these individuals have to offer.

20 Track Collection of Pagey's Early Pre-led Zeppelin Session Guitar Work. Includes Tracks with Nico, the Primitives, Chris Farlowe. and Eric Clapton Among Others.

The Goldberg Variations is the fourth and final part of Bach’s Clavierübung which was in a way his keyboard method book. Published in 1742, the Goldberg Variations were commissioned by Count Von Keyserling who was the former Russian ambassador at the Saxon court. Legend says that this work was intended to calm the count’s sleepless nights. The count was said to have asked Bach to write several pieces that the young harpsichordist, whose name was Goldberg and who was the count’s protégé and Bach’s student, was to play each day as a sort of “neuro-musical therapy”. Thus the name of the work we know today.

John Eliot Gardiner conducts his Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique through two concerts of Berlioz compositions. The 'Symphonie Fantastique' is an orchestral tour de force which is central to the repertoire of every major orchestra. It is performed here on original instruments in its original 1830s orchestration in the atmospheric old hall of the Paris Conservatoire where it was first heard. Also included is the first performance of the newly discovered 'Messe Solennelle' with the Monteverdi choir. Written when Berlioz was just 20 years old, it was thought lost until its rediscovery in 1992. The first performance of this large-scale Mass for 150 years was filmed in London's Westminster Cathedral. Gardiner's period-instrument orchestra gives characteristically idiomatic performances of these seminal works (which are also linked thematically, through Berlioz's extensive re-use of material from the Messe).

On Naxos the soaring opening Ave Maria, gloriously sung, immediately sets the seal on the inspirational power of Ockeghem’s music. It is followed by the plainchant, Alma redemptoris Mater, and they its polyphonic setting, simple and flowing and harmonically rich. The robust ballad, L’Homme armé, follows (‘The armed man must be feared’), sounding vigorously jolly, like a carol. It must have been hugely popular in its day since so many composers used it as a basis for a Mass. While the polyphony in the Gloria and Credo moves onward inventively, the work’s dramatic and emotional peak is readily found in the extended Sanctus (by far the longest section) and resolved in the sublime melancholy of the Agnus Dei.

English progressive rock group formed in 1971 with an original lineup of Andrew Latimer (guitar, flute, vocals), Peter Bardens (keyboards, synths, vocals), Doug Ferguson (bass, vocals) and Andy Ward (2) (drums. percussion). This lineup recorded the first four studio albums including their most commercially successful album, The Snow Goose, an entirely instrumental record released in 1975. It peaked at number 22 on the UK charts and is certified silver…

Comme les grands cuisiniers qui revisitent les recettes classiques pour mieux nous en faire percevoir les goûts et les textures, Jean-Paul Lécot a concocté pour nous un magnifique menu Bach qu’il nous sert sur l’orgue Grenzing de Bagnères de Bigorre. Il a méticuleusement choisi les pièces qu’il veut nous faire goûter et les a rassemblées harmonieusement en cinq « plats » différents. Dans chaque séquence, toutes les pièces ont la même tonalité.

Strut present the final instalment in their series of reissues of Sun Ra’s historic recordings in Egypt with The Sun Ra Arkestra meets Salah Ragab in Egypt plus the Cairo Jazz Band, originally released on Greek label Praxis in 1983.

Agnieszka Oszanca presents the world premiere recording of the first volume of Salvatore Lanzetti’s Sonatas for Violincello and Basso Continuo, Opus 1. This work was composed in 1736 and displays the composer’s great imagination and full command of his instrument. Polish cellist Agnieszka Oszanca plays on a Baroque cello and is accompanied by a rich continuo, composed of a cello, a theorbo and a harpsichord.

By the 1980's, Gil Evans orchestra's repertoire was a distinctive blend of Hendrix tunes, original pieces from band members and the occasional nod to Gil's earlier recordings. The set at Hamburg includes four songs from the Hendrix book, although just one of these ("Up From The Skies") was part of the original studio album. Regular appearances in Europe meant that the band had now acquired a younger following, such as many in the audience at Fabrik, one well accustomed to its rock-referent concerts. A year and a half after the concert at Fabrik, Gil Evans passed away in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Quite rightly he'll always be remembered for recording those brilliant, luminous albums with Miles Davis and under his own name, but he had, in fact, led at least three contrasting musical lives. His final years saw him directing his band at a regular Monday night gig at Sweet Basil, New York, so it's fitting that we now have this recording from Hamburg, one that serves as a memorial to his free-spirited later days. With an All Star Musicians Cast.

Elton John became a true superstar with 1972's Honky Chateau. He followed that album with Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, his most direct, pop-oriented album to date. Designed as a pastiche of classic and contemporary pop styles, the album almost sounds like an attempt to demonstrate the diversity of the John/Taupin team…

The Czech Philharmonic and its Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov present a new recording of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, laying the foundation of a complete Mahler symphonies cycle to appear on PENTATONE. It will be the label’s first ever full Mahler cycle, and the Czech Philharmonic’s first survey of this extraordinary symphonic opus since their recording under Vacláv Neumann between 1976 and 1982. Although chiefly active in Vienna during the heydays of his career, Mahler was born in what is now the Czech republic, and through this recording project, he returns to his native soil. For conductor Semyon Bychkov, Mahler’s symphonies are all about expressing the polyphony of life, and recording these works is the fulfilment of a life-long fascination. This cycle deliberately starts with the most popular and frequently-played Fourth, famous for its macabre scherzo, soothing slow movement and heavenly finale, sung by soprano Chen Reiss.