Volume Two (three CDs) in this series reissuing all the material found on the long out of print Ultimate Edition box sets (for more background on the series as a whole, see La Vie Electronique 1) is much more interesting than volume one, and the pick of the first six volumes. The music comes from 1972-1975 (but mostly 1972-1973), a rich period of experimentation, as Schulze was gradually forging what would be known as his "classic" sound, nearly palpable by "Blaue Stunde," the 38-minute piece from 1975 concluding the set. This second installment contains more finished works than the drafts-and-jams-packed volume one. "Das große Identifikationsspiel" (42 minutes) is a very good suite of rather experimental music written for a science fiction radio drama by Alfred Behrens. The 27-minute "Titanensee" was done with a ballet in mind, never to be produced; again, it is a strong work in Schulze's experimental vein. However, the undisputed highlight of volume two is a whole album's worth of collaborations with Hans-Jörg Stahlschmidt, a project that had been brought to completion, only to gather dust on a record company's shelves.

Behemoth's ascent is a story that can be told in many ways and from many perspectives. When one writes about a band that has written and rewritten the book on extreme metal for over 30 years that much is inevitable. However, it would be difficult to really capture the story's essence without focusing on the ambition and power which drive the band. While both power and ambition, as terms, can be tied in some way and some meaning to every story - their interpretation here is exact and carefully chosen. Ambition is the charioteer, navigating ever forwards to new horizons and visions and power are the horses, without whose prowess those horizons would be but a distant dream.
The new opus, The Shit Ov God, is emblematic of that. Here's a band that, 34 years in, is releasing it's most inflammatory and extreme record to date…

Verve's Great Songs/Great Performances series is yet another attempt in a seemingly never-ending stream of them to repackage – and hopefully resell – their vast catalog of jazz and blues. They're super cheap in both cost and presentation, but the music is almost always stellar. Jimmy Smith's Plays the Hits volume is no exception. These eight selection are covers of tunes by the Rolling Stones ("(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"), Fats Domino ("Blueberry Hill"), Don Covay ("Chain of Fools") James Brown ("Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"), Otis Redding ("Respect"), Al Green ("Let's Stay Together"), and others. It's a groove lover's cheap dream. Dana Smart's track selection here is terrific, and whether the producer is Creed Taylor, Esmond Edwards, or Eric Miller, whether it was a small-band jam or an orchestral session arranged and conducted by Oliver Nelson, the result is the same – funky soul-jazz that was a couple steps away from the Blue Note hard bop and early soul-jazz sound, toward something Smith heard in rock and soul music and big-band charts of '60s pop tunes.

2009 collection of heart-warming tracks by the UK's finest Pop/Reggae outfit. UB40 Love Songs brings together 20 of their best loved tracks that showcases the bands softer more sophisticated side. Featuring the huge #1 singles 'I Got You Babe' and '(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You', Love Songs also features many more UB40 favorites including 'Please Don't Make Me Cry', 'Homely Girl', 'Breakfast in Bed', 'I'll Be Your Baby Tonight' and 'Don't Break My Heart'. Formed in Birmingham in 1978, and featuring the same line-up of 8 musicians from 1978-2008, UB40 have placed more than 50 singles on the UK charts, and achieved massive international success selling millions of albums around the world.

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a Deluxe edition of the self titled album by Quatermass. Originally released in 1970 on the Harvest label, "Quatermass" is one of the most remarkable albums of the era. Featuring Peter Robinson (Keyboards), John Gustafson (Bass, Vocals) and Mick Underwood (Drums, Percussion), Quatermass were one of the most imaginative groups of the Progressive era. Their unique brand of powerful progressive rock encompassed classical music and hard rock, a unique combination that influenced contemporaries such as Deep Purple (indeed Ritchie Blackmore covered "Black Sheep of the Family" on the first Rainbow album). This Esoteric Recordings edition features stunning new mixes by Peter Robinson, along with three bonus tracks, two of which are previously unreleased. The set also features a lavishly illustrated booklet with new essay written by Peter Robinson.

People, Hell and Angels is a collection of quality studio tracks recorded (mostly) in 1968-1969 as the Experience was coming to an end and Jimi was renewing his friendships with Billy Cox and Buddy Miles, who appear here as sidemen on most of these tracks. The surprising thing about this set is not the sound quality (which is exceptional) or that these all sound like finished tracks, but the fact that even avid Hendrix bootleg collectors are unlikely to have heard most of this material.
A great version of "Earth Blues" kicks things off with just Jimi, Billy, and Buddy (whose drums were replaced by Mitch Mitchell on the Rainbow Bridge/First Rays version). It's a more forceful take than the other version and also has some different lyrics…

Record Store Day 2025. RSD 2025 Live edition of ‘None of Us are Getting Out of This Life Alive’, performed during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Recorded in 2020 during COVID lockdowns and livestreamed around the world on August 6th, 2020, later being pressed on vinyl for RSD 2025 to celebrate the fifth anniversary. Tracklist capitalisation as seen on back of vinyl.

Here you'll find great studio recordings - "Chicago Daily Blues" and "Came up the hard Way". Special bonus tracks on this CD were recorded in the Kingston Mines nightclub in Chicago on a trip in 1977.
Once dismissed by purists as a Chuck Berry imitator (and an accurate one at that), tall, lean, and lanky Chicago southpaw Eddy Clearwater became recognized as a prime progenitor of West Side-style blues guitar. That's not to say he wouldn't liven up a gig with a little duck-walking or a frat party rendition of "Shout"; after all, Clearwater brought a wide array of influences to the party. Gospel, country, '50s rock, and deep-down blues were all incorporated into his slashing guitar attack. But when he put his mind to it, "The Chief" (a nickname accrued from his penchant for donning Native American headdresses on-stage) was one of the Windy City's finest bluesmen.

Record Store Day 2025. Demon Days Live was a limited concert tour performed by the British alternative rock virtual band Gorillaz, in support of their second studio album Demon Days. Demon Days Live consisted of two residencies, with five shows played at the Manchester Opera House in England, and another five played at New York City's Apollo Theater. The Manchester residency was later released onto DVD as Demon Days: Live at the Manchester Opera House. One of the New York shows was broadcast on MHD (now MTV Live) as Gorillaz: Live in Harlem The Manchester Opera House film was later nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Music Film. A live recording of the Apollo Theater performance was released as a double LP for Record Store Day in April 2025

In 1903, Gustav Mahler conducted his own work with the Concertgebouw Orchestra for the first time. He was delighted with orchestra, choirs and audiences: "The musical culture of this country is amazing! How these people can listen!" The collaboration with the orchestra lasted until his death in 1911 and established the orchestra's Mahler tradition. Since then, all chief conductors of the RCO have maintained the special relationship with Mahler's music. On May 9, 2025, the RCO opens the Concertgebouw Mahler Festival with Mahler's 1st Symphony under the direction of designated chief conductor Klaus Mäkelä. For this occasion, the Box Mahler - The Chief Conductor Edition appears with all Mahler symphonies of his predecessors Eduard van Beinum, Willem Mengelberg, Bernard Haitink, Riccardo Chailly, Mariss Jansons and Daniele Gatti, including The Song of the Earth and Deryck Cookes version of the 10th Symphony.

Gary Brooker wrote music and lyrics for all the songs on his second album and acted as his own producer, resulting in perhaps his most personal statement as an artist. Unlike No More Fear Of Flying, on which he sometimes just seemed to be the singer on his own record, here Brooker delivered his songs with feeling, enabling him to overcome the star power of his backup musicians, who included Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and Phil Collins. This was partly because Brooker no longer felt the need to separate himself from The Procol Harum sound that was so much a part of his natural musical identity. Brooker's lyrics weren't as philosophical as longtime writing partner Keith Reid's, but they could be just as intriguingly oblique.

Nine Objects of Desire is Suzanne Vega's fifth studio album, released September 10, 1996. It peaked at number 92 in the Billboard 200.

Colors of Love is a Grammy Award winning 1999 album of contemporary choral music by Chanticleer to a concept designed by Frank Albinder. The album won Grammy Award for Best Small Ensemble Performance at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards. On COLORS OF LOVE the versatile 12-voice mail vocal ensemble Chanticleer - exclusive to Teldec - sings eight distinctive works by contemporary composers. Five of the compositions were written specifically for Chanticleer, notably John Tavener's "Village Wedding," a frequent encore and one of the group's favorite works. Prominent composers from both Eastern and Western traditions are represented, including Steven Stucky, Zhou Long, and the young America woman composer, Augusta Read Thomas.

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Lost Themes, we are thrilled to present an expanded art edition of the album with art by Greg Ruth. This special release includes an additional 7-inch featuring two previously unreleased tracks from the original recording session - “Cruisin’ With Mr. Scratch” and “Dominator.” and is a one time limited pressing. Upon its initial release, Lost Themes was praised for its evocative soundscapes ranging from horror to science fiction, each track conjuring a distinct atmosphere without the need for accompanying visuals. The expanded edition of Lost Themes not only celebrates a decade of Carpenter’s standalone musical journey but also enriches the album’s legacy with new material that captures the spirit of its original sessions. Whether revisiting this masterpiece or experiencing it for the first time, listeners will find themselves immersed in Carpenter’s hauntingly beautiful worlds once again.

Songs of Experience is the second studio album by American composer and producer David Axelrod, released in October 1969 by Capitol Records. It was composed, arranged, and produced by Axelrod, who worked with session musicians such as guitarist Al Casey, drummer Earl Palmer, and conductor Don Randi. As with his 1968 debut album Song of Innocence, Axelrod composed musical interpretations of English poet William Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience, an 18th-century illustrated collection of poems. A jazz fusion album, Songs of Experience explores darker sounds than its predecessor, as the poems Axelrod drew on for inspiration dealt with the darker side of humanity. Its music was partly inspired by composer Gunther Schuller's Third Stream concept. Axelrod composed Baroque orchestrations with rock, R&B, pop, and folk music elements. Songs of Experience received retrospective acclaim from music critics, who found Axelrod's compositions musically varied and innovative. Contemporary musicians praised it as a source for sampling in hip hop production. Some of its songs have been sampled frequently by hip hop artists and producers. In 2000, the album was reissued by EMI.