Welsh singer Shirley Bassey is arguably best known internationally for her poised, belting renditions of the themes to the cinematic James Bond series, with Goldfinger in 1964, 1971's Diamonds Are Forever, and 1979's Moonraker. Bassey earned the distinction as one of the most enduring, popular vocalists in Great Britain during the latter half of the 20th century. Known as "Bassey the Belter" and also the "Tigress of Tiger Bay," her early career in touring shows and cabaret brought her a recording contract with Philips by the late 1950s. After reaching the top of the British charts in 1959 with "As I Love You" and, later, "Reach for the Stars/Climb Every Mountain," Bassey's voice, at once brassy and seductive, conveyed the James Bond myth perfectly; the song "Goldfinger" also became a Top Ten hit in the States. Appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2000, she recorded well into her eighties, releasing I Owe It All to You in 2020. It became her first album in 50 years to reach the U.K. Top Five. Further, Bassey became the first female artist to chart Top 40 on the U.K. Albums Chart in seven consecutive decades. In 2025, Cherry Red released the multi-disc retrospective Dame Shirley Bassey: The Singer - Classic and Undiscovered Gems from the EMI/UA Years 1962-1979.

Drummer Bill Stewart (best known for having formerly been a regular member of John Scofield's group) has been developing into a notable bandleader and composer himself. In fact, seven of the nine numbers on this CD are his (they are joined by Jackie McLean's "Little Melonae" and an eccentric version of Thelonious Monk's "Rhythm-A-Ning"), and the interesting and unusual structures clearly inspire Stewart's sidemen to some of their best playing. Steve Wilson (on alto and soprano), tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake, pianist Bill Carrothers and bassist Larry Grenadier are all up and coming players, and someday this CD may be looked upon as an all-star group. The post-bop solos and occasional surprises make the stimulating set easily recommended.

Banco del Mutuo Soccorso's third LP, Io Sono Nato Libero, was released only a few months after the impressive Darwin!, and featured the same lineup (brothers Vittorio and Gianni Nocenzi on keyboards, Rodolfo Maltese on guitar, Pierluigi Calderoni on drums, Renato d'Angelo on bass, and Francesco Di Giacomo on vocals). It yielded one classic track, "Non Mi Rompete," a beautiful Italian ballad that would be part of the band's set list for the rest of its life. Another important track is "Traccia II," which develops the musical idea found at the end of the 1971 LP Banco del Mutuo Soccorso. Music history may have preserved these two pieces, but the real point of interest on Io Sono Nato Libero is the 15-minute opus "Canto Nomade per un Prigioniero Politico," a complex and very moving piece (the title translates to "Nomad Song for a Political Prisoner")…

Martha Argerich There are very few good pianists, many average ones, and only one Martha Argerich.

The Sessions VI contains a long instant live composition from the current Tangerine Dream line-up Thorsten Quaeschning, Ulrich Schnauss, Hoshiko Yamane and new TD member Paul Frick. This live session was recorded at the RBB Sendesaal in Berlin (November 3, 2018) during the Elektro Beats Festival organized by Radio Eins. Tangerine Dream are very much enjoying their new respectively revived concept of performing a so-called real time composition session at the end of their concerts.

The Smurfs Movie Soundtrack (Music From & Inspired By) was released on June 13, 2025, by Paramount Pictures. The soundtrack features music from and inspired by the live-action animated musical comedy film, "The Smurfs". The film stars Rihanna as the voice of Smurfette, alongside a large ensemble cast.

Promotion Only. Not For Sale. Interview with Neil Young and music from his Reprise Records release, Silver & Gold (4/2-47305).

Newcastle-born and -based, Charles Avison issued his string arrangements of harpsichord sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti in 1744. Forty-two of Scarlatti's sonatas had been published by Roseingrave in London five years earlier and it was these which, by and large, provided Avison with his material. 'By and large', since, as Stephen Roe remarks in his note, the sonatas included only two slow movements and Avison, planning 12 concertos in the slow-fast-slow-fast scheme favoured by his teacher, Geminiani, required 24.

Fleetwood Mac —Mirage. Numbered edition Hybrid SACD. Plays with absorbing clarity and insightful detail. Fleetwod Mac delivers soft-rock bliss on album featuring addictive pop hooks and three Top 25 hits!

A Universe of Pop: Fleetwood Mac’s Tango in the Night Features Meticulous Production, Includes the Hits “Big Love,” “Everywhere,” “Seven Wonders,” and “Little Lies” Mobile Fidelity’s Numbered-Edition Hybrid SACD of 1987 Album Captures the Perfectionist Details, Plays with Extraordinary Airiness and Clarity.

2015 five CD set. Creation Records was one of the most important, vital independent labels of the 80s and 90s, born in the post-punk era and progressing to define the Britpop generation. Creation Artifact is the first comprehensive box set devoted to the early years of Creation Records. The label was born from a hip London club night and won the plaudits with a string of limited edition 7" singles and a handful of albums - including the acclaimed debut 'Upside Down' by the Jesus & Mary Chain. During this period 1983-1985, the label also issued vinyl by Primal Scream (their debut 45), The Pastels, The Bodines, The Loft, The Membranes, The Jasmine Minks et al. Housed in a lavish 'book' set, Creation Artifact pays tribute to that seminal period with two discs comprising early A's and B's, a third CD of rarities and album tracks, another comprising previously unissued demos and a fifth disc of rare BBC sessions. Awash with rare memorabilia, a 12,000-word essay from journalist Neil Taylor, band biographies, personal reminiscences and numerous archive finds, Creation Artifact is the ultimate tribute to the dawn of Creation Records 1983-1985!

The musical genre known as World Music provides a characteristic sound from many different countries that reflects the diverse cultures and rituals of peoples around the world. World Music Trilogy is an unforgettable voyage around the globe. The three CD's provide classics from artists such as Camarón De La Isla, Atahualpa Yupanqui, Edith Piaf, Robert Johnson, Joao Gilberto, Compay Segundo and Jaime Torres. The sounds of folklore are complimented by new trends in World Music in the hands of artists such as Buika, Nitin Sawhney, Caetano Veloso, Papa Hamilton and Dissidenten. World Music Trilogy is a trip around the world on three CDs.

Metallica is continuing to release remasters of their catalog, with the latest being the 5x-platinum Load, available everywhere on June 13th. Produced by Bob Rock, Load is the follow-up to Metallica, the best-selling album of the Soundscan era. Load contains fan favorites including “Until It Sleeps,” “Hero of the Day,” “King Nothing,” and, for the first time ever, the original extended version of “The Outlaw Torn,” which was originally edited due to manufacturing limits.
The 3CD Expanded Edition includes 41 tracks across 3 CDs of the newly remastered album, previously unreleased, demos, rough mixes, & live tracks from their worldwide tour. The CDs are housed in a digipak with an embossed cover and includes a 36-page booklet.

No matter which edition one hears of the Great Jazz Trio, leader Hank Jones can be counted upon to deliver the goods. This live LP, originally recorded for the Japanese label East Wind and briefly available in the U.S. on Inner City prior to its premature demise, showcases excerpts from two evenings at the Village Vanguard. On this occasion, Jones is ably accompanied by Ron Carter and Tony Williams, so it is no surprise the fireworks begin right away with an exciting interpretation of Charlie Parker's "Moose the Mooche." Jones immediately cools the crowd with an expressive arrangement of John Coltrane's beautiful ballad "Naima." The pianist previously recorded Claus Ogerman's "Favors" two years earlier for his LP Hanky Panky, but this extended version proves to be an even better post-bop vehicle. Ron Carter's bluesy "12+12" proves to be a suitable closing number for this rewarding live date.

From the fertile San Francisco ballroom scene, the Sopwith Camel emerged in 1966 with a refreshingly melodic spin on the overamplified electric kool-aid coming from their psychedelic peers the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Quicksilver Messenger Service. The band's name was almost snatched by Bay Area concert impresario Chet Helms, who was looking for a catchy moniker to promote the new blues-based group being fronted by Janis Joplin and eventually settled on Big Brother & the Holding Company. Unfortunately, the band has suffered the double indignation of either being cast in the same lot as its trippy hippie counterparts or as sunshine pop lightweights – neither of which is wholly accurate. Their one hit - the title track, "Hello, Hello" - did reach the Top Ten…