Category Archives: Records

Music from New York when New York was still cool, Parallel Lines is filled with singles that became huge hits. This 1978 album sold over 20 million copies and starts with Hanging on the Telephone, followed by One Way or Another. Side 2 opens with 11:59 and includes Heart of Glass, one of the best […]

What a Soul record this is, from one of the best Soul groups. The Love Unlimited Orchestra is best known for backing the man, The Prince of Pillow Talk, Barry White; he also wrote produced, conducted and arranged many of the songs on this album. Everything is immaculate on Rhapsody in White, including the Walrus […]

I’m a big fan of the The KLF, the highest selling singles band of 1991, due in no small part to this 12″. Along with 808 State, The KLF brought acid house to Europe and was a success in the U.S. too. 3 A.M. Eternal is a rave classic, and a great example of the […]

Earl Klugh, Heart String. It was owned by somebody named White, who marked up the inside cover and wrote his name on the label too. Did White buy it in 1979? Was he a kid, claiming an Earl Klugh record for himself and protecting it from a younger brother? An acoustic guitar player, hoping to […]

Isao Tomita released this album in 1978, and it takes space as its subject, a theme that Tomita and his Moog is definitely suited for. Possibly because the classical works are interpreted and performed using synthesizers, Tomita felt the need to descriptively outline his vision for each song, and how they fit into the greater […]

Voyeur was released in 1981 and moves between hard funk with horns and smooth alto saxophone, depending on whether its composed by David Sanborn, who plays alto sax, or Marcus Miller, who plays bass or Moog bass on all the tracks. Sanborn and Miller share songwriting credits evenly and play Rhodes on whichever song they […]

I bought this record online along with another couple contemporary jazz albums, and I was a little surprised. Touch was released in 1975 with John Klemmer playing tenor saxophone and making significant contributions to what would become smooth jazz. The album sounds really good, with great production and heavy effects on the sax. An Echoplex […]

This album is definitely more eclectic than Sun Goddess and is more focused on rhythmic sounds, though the vocals and strings still take their place on these songs. The cover and back cover photo tell the listener a lot about where this music is going, and it makes good on its promise. Released in 1976, […]

This album was produced by Ralph MacDonald and features Marcus Miller on the bass. It’s very funky throughout and has Washington Jr.’s smooth sax playing everything from the silky sound of Making Love to You to a version of Bob Marley’s Jammin’ that is among three tracks employing background vocals. Marcus Miller is excellent, and […]

Is Winelight a classic smooth jazz album? The perfect soundtrack to a romantic evening? Or the album with Just the Two of Us? That depends on you, your level of commitment and your opinion of “contemporary” jazz. There’s a lot here for many listeners, which makes it one for any collector. Grover Washington Jr. co-produced […]