"Beginnings" is Bonnie's thirteenth album but chronologically her first. Rich Warren recorded her in 1969 at the legendary Chicago folk club The Earl Of Old Town and at the University of Illinois, soon after Bonnie came to Chicago. She had quickly become the queen of the hot Chicago folk music scene with her clear powerful voice and her passionate performing style resulting in sold-out shows on a nightly basis, often several shows a night. "Beginnings" celebrates the forty-plus years of music comprising Bonnie's musical career to date with a selection of songs from those early recordings. The songs range from Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Steve Goodman and Eddie Holstein to Beatles, Gershwin and Billie Holliday, Bonnie's own song Rainy Day Lady, the rousing blues You've Been A Good Old Wagon and her version of Amelia Earhart's Last Flight. The accompaniments by Ray Frank on guitar and George Stevens on bass are outstanding throughout, at times enhanced by John Mathis on flute and the harmonica of Harmonica Bob, a fixture at The Earl Of Old Town. The CD graphic design features photos taken at the Earl in 1969 by Chuck Osgood. Other recent releases are "Here To Sing", a 2006 studio recording, "Timeless", a double CD of selected performances between 1970 and 1995, and "A Bestiary", an art book and accompanying CD of block prints and poems about farm animals set to music. All are available at cdbaby.

70s prog rockers Absolute Elsewhere finally release second album Playground. Absolute Elswhere recorded second album Playground in 1976 but the arrival of punk rock left it languishing in the vaults.Absolute Elsewhere, a mid-70s UK prog rock band who at various points featured both former King Crimson drummers Bill Bruford and Andrew McCulloch, have finally had their second album, Playground, released on Jambco Records. The band were originally signed to Warner Bros. by former Beatles publicist and manager of Apple Records, MD Derek Taylor, and recorded and released their 1976 debut album, the instrumental In Seach of Ancient Gods, which was inspired by the writings of Erich von Däniken, and featured Bruford on drums.

Giuseppe Porsile (1680-1750) was one of the very few representatives of the Neapolitan School at the otherwise rather conservative Imperial Court in Vienna. Inês d'Avena and the ensemble La Cicala continue their exploration of the Neapolitan repertoire, which had previously been ignored. The soprano Stefanie True lets several forgotten vocal jewels shine in first recordings featured on this disc.

Melancholia is Italian bass Andrea Mastroni's most recent recording project. Mastroni is a true custodian of this type of singing, and this release represents a journey of discovery of the work of Handel that was written especially for Antonio Montagnana, one of the most exceptional singers in England during the period the German composer was working there. Desperation, anger, incantations, warrior instincts and human passion are some of the diverse elements captured in these pieces. A worthy companion for this vocal marathon is the Accademia dell'Annunciata, a baroque orchestra of great quality, conducted by Riccardo Doni.

The fruitful partnership between the Alpha label, the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and the Palazzetto Bru Zane continues with this set of chamber music by Anton Reicha, performed by the musicians of the Chapel, young talents of an exceptionally high standard, ready and willing to take up the challenge of this music. A key figure of the early nineteenth century, this Czech composer who became a naturalised French citizen did not leave his contemporaries indifferent. Both his music and his theoretical writings set zealous partisans against fierce detractors.

The Body Acoustic is the ninth studio album released by Cyndi Lauper. It consists of ten previously released tracks which have been re-recorded and re-arranged acoustically, as well as two entirely new songs. The album title is a play on Walt Whitman's poem "I Sing the Body Electric", with the word body in this case referring to Lauper's body of work as a recording artist. The album features a number of special guests, including Adam Lazzara, Shaggy, Sarah McLachlan, Jeff Beck, Vivian Green, Ani DiFranco, and Puffy AmiYumi. A DualDisc edition of the album was released which contained the entire album in enhanced stereo, four new videos directed by Lauper herself as well as a "Behind The Scenes" featurette on the making of the album.

Let Love Rule is the debut studio album of American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on September 6, 1989 by Virgin Records. Then-wife Lisa Bonet wrote the lyrics to "Fear" and co-wrote the lyrics on the song "Rosemary"; other than that the album is virtually a one-man Kravitz show, as he wrote and produced all the songs and played nearly all the instruments. Let Love Rule reached number 61 on the Billboard 200, while it peaked at number 56 on the UK Albums Chart. The album is also featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The video for the lead single "Let Love Rule" was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist.

Isaac Hayes at Wattstax is a live album released in 2003 that captures Isaac Hayes' iconic performance at the Wattstax Festival on August 20, 1972. The festival, often referred to as the "Black Woodstock," celebrated African American culture and raised funds for the Watts community in Los Angeles. Hayes was one of the headliners and delivered an electrifying set that included funk and soul classics showcasing his unique blend of deep vocals, orchestral arrangements, and charismatic stage presence.

Utla (1992) is a collaboration between Norwegian musicians Håkon Høgemo (hardanger fiddle) and Karl Seglem (saxophone). The album blends Nordic folk music with contemporary jazz, creating a distinctive fusion of traditional and modern sounds. Høgemo is renowned for his mastery of the hardanger fiddle, an iconic instrument in Norwegian folk music, while Seglem is celebrated for his innovative saxophone work in both jazz and folk contexts.

For their 25th band anniversary Solar Project releases the debut album The Final Solution from 1990 together with the album EMP - A Tribute To Pink Floyd consisting of the classic tracks Echoes, Money and Pigs as a limited special edition digipak CD.
The Final Solution is a gigantic art-rock spectacle, an opulent sound setting and an intense hodgepodge of electronic-symphonic drama and baroquish friskiness.

Five years after the release of Hearts of No Light, Swiss avant garde experimentalists Schammasch return with the follow up, The Maldoror Chants: Old Ocean - set for release via Prosthetic Records on October 25. This upcoming release will be the second in an ongoing series of works by Schammasch that draws from Les Chants de Maldoror - one of the 19th century’s most fascinating literary works which would later become part of the foundation of the surrealist movement. Sonically, the album charts the continued evolution in the sound of Schammasch; dark, gothy undertones rise often to the surface with sultry spoken word taking centre stage at various points. A pulsating, monolithic rhythm flows through the album with their atmospheric take on post-black metal providing a majestic backdrop - replete with a love for detail and the use of unusual elements like accordions, classical orchestration or industrial soundscapes…

Prosa (1996) is a collaborative album by Norwegian artist Jon Fosse and saxophonist Karl Seglem. Fosse, known for his work as a playwright and poet, provides vocal recitations, while Seglem leads the musical elements with his distinctive jazz compositions, which include saxophone and Norwegian folk instruments like the Hardingfele (Hardanger fiddle). This project blends contemporary jazz with spoken word, creating a unique fusion that is both atmospheric and emotionally resonant.

The album Comfort Call (2010) by the Jon Eberson Group features a blend of jazz, rock, and orchestral elements. Led by Norwegian guitarist and composer Jon Eberson, the album showcases his collaboration with vocalist and songwriter Hilde Marie Kjersem and bassist Sigurd Hole. It includes compositions by both Eberson and Kjersem, with Kjersem's vocals providing a central emotional tone to the music. The album also features string arrangements performed by Det Norske Kammerorkester, which adds a classical touch to the jazz base.

Dikt (2005) is a collaboration between Norwegian saxophonist Karl Seglem and renowned playwright Jon Fosse. The album features a blend of Seglem’s evocative saxophone and soundscapes paired with Fosse's spoken word poetry. The music, which intertwines jazz, electronic elements, and improvisation, complements the minimalist, meditative nature of Fosse’s writing. This project is a poetic exploration of themes such as silence, nature, and existential reflection.

Brought up in the Roman Catholic faith, which he abandoned in 1917 following the death of his father, Poulenc returned to the Church in 1936 after the death of his close friend and fellow composer Pierre-Octave Ferroud. Together these events caused a spiritual crisis in Poulenc’s life which led to a series of important compositions for chorus. The powerful Mass in G major, dedicated to the memory of his father, is notable for its daring use of tonality, though the playfulness of Poulenc’s ‘Les Six’ period is not absent. In the Sept Chansons, set to surrealist texts, and in the two sets of Motets - both very personal and penitential - Poulenc generates a huge range of emotion.